Comparison
Clomiphene vs GHRP-6
Side-by-side of Clomiphene and GHRP-6. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
Clomiphene
Clomiphene citrate raises LH/FSH and endogenous testosterone in men. SERM TRT alternative, 25 to 50 mg, fertility preserved, visual side effects flagged.
GHRP-6
First-generation hexapeptide ghrelin-receptor agonist. Pioneered the GHS-R1a pathway in the 1980s. Produces the strongest hunger response among GHRPs and a mo.
Effects at a glance
Clomiphene
- •SERM that blocks estrogen-receptor negative feedback at the hypothalamus, raising LH and FSH
- •FDA approved 1967 for ovulation induction in anovulatory women at 50 to 100 mg cycle days 5 to 9
- •Off-label in men at 12.5 to 25 mg daily raises endogenous testosterone while preserving fertility
- •Enclomiphene (trans-isomer) is preferred for male use; cleaner PK and less estrogenic side effect burden
- •Visual disturbances occur in ~1 to 2% of users; persistent symptoms warrant immediate cessation
- •Letrozole has displaced clomiphene as first-line ovulation induction in PCOS (Legro 2014)
GHRP-6
- •First-generation hexapeptide ghrelin-receptor agonist; foundational to the GHRP class
- •Strongest appetite stimulation of any synthetic GHRP at equivalent GH doses
- •Produces measurable cortisol and prolactin rise alongside the GH pulse
- •Anecdotal protocols use 100 to 200 mcg subcutaneously 2 to 3 times daily on an empty stomach
- •Largely superseded by ipamorelin (cleaner profile) and GHRP-2 (stronger pulse) for body-composition use
- •Banned by WADA under S2; detection methods validated in accredited labs
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Clomiphene | GHRP-6 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | pharmaceutical | peptide |
| Also known as | Clomid, clomiphene citrate, Serophene, enclomiphene | Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide 6, SKF-110679, Histidyl-D-Tryptophyl-Alanyl-Tryptophyl-D-Phenylalanyl-Lysinamide |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 168 | 0.5 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 25 | 0.1 |
| Dosing frequency | 5-day pulse cycle days 5 to 9 (women); daily or every other day (men, off-label) | 2-3x daily |
| Routes | oral | subcutaneous, intravenous |
| Onset (hr) | 6 | 0.25 |
| Peak (hr) | 7 | 0.5 |
| Molecular weight | 405.96 | 872.44 |
| Molecular formula | C26H28ClNO | C46H56N12O6 |
| Mechanism | Selective estrogen receptor modulator that antagonizes estrogen at the hypothalamus and pituitary, increasing GnRH and gonadotropin output, which drives gonadal steroidogenesis. | Hexapeptide agonist of GHS-R1a (ghrelin receptor). Suppresses hypothalamic somatostatin and stimulates pituitary somatotrophs, with strong central NPY/AgRP appetite signaling and modest cortisol and prolactin release. |
| Legal status | Prescription only (FDA approved for ovulation induction; off-label in men) | Not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market; banned by WADA |
| WADA status | banned | banned |
| DEA / Rx | Rx only (not a controlled substance) | Not scheduled (research chemical) |
| Pregnancy | Category X; contraindicated in pregnancy | Insufficient data; not recommended |
| CAS | 911-45-5 | 87616-84-0 |
| PubChem CID | 1548953 | 9919072 |
| Wikidata | Q416785 | Q5519921 |
Safety profile
Clomiphene
Common side effects
- hot flushes
- mood changes
- abdominal discomfort
- breast tenderness
- visual disturbances (rare)
- headache
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- active liver disease
- ovarian cysts (not PCOS-related)
- uncontrolled thyroid or adrenal disorder
- abnormal uterine bleeding of undetermined origin
- hormone-sensitive cancer
Interactions
- tamoxifen: competing SERM activity; not used together(moderate)
- ospemifene: competing SERM activity(moderate)
- anastrozole: additive estrogen reduction; sometimes combined in male protocols(minor)
- TRT (exogenous testosterone): TRT suppresses HPT axis that clomiphene targets; do not combine(moderate)
GHRP-6
Common side effects
- intense hunger
- water retention
- vivid dreams
- head pressure or flushing
- tingling at injection site
- transient lethargy
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- active malignancy
- history of pituitary tumor
- uncontrolled diabetes
- prolactin sensitivity
Interactions
- CJC-1295: synergistic GH release; commonly co-administered(minor)
- sermorelin: additive GH release via parallel GHRH and ghrelin pathways(minor)
- insulin: sustained GH can blunt insulin sensitivity over weeks(moderate)
- corticosteroids: blunt GH response and amplify cortisol load(moderate)
Which Should You Take?
Clomiphene comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 2 catalogued goals, prescription-only, oral dosing, with a Tier-A outcome catalogued. GHRP-6 is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is hormonal optimization, pick Clomiphene.
- → If your priority is fertility, pick Clomiphene.
- → If your priority is growth-hormone axis, pick GHRP-6.
- → If your priority is appetite regulation, pick GHRP-6.
Edge case: If you cannot self-administer injections, Clomiphene is the only oral option in this pair.
Default choice: Clomiphene. Wider use case, a Tier-A evidence outcome catalogued, and broader goal coverage. Reach for GHRP-6 only if your priority sits squarely in the goals it owns above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between Clomiphene and GHRP-6?
Clomiphene and GHRP-6 differ in category (pharmaceutical vs peptide), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, Clomiphene or GHRP-6?
Clomiphene half-life is 168 hours; GHRP-6 half-life is 0.5 hours.
Can you stack Clomiphene with GHRP-6?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
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