Comparison
GHRP-2 vs L-Theanine
Side-by-side of GHRP-2 and L-Theanine. 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.
GHRP-2
GHRP-2 peptide (pralmorelin, KP-102) is a synthetic hexapeptide ghrelin-receptor agonist that triggers pulsatile growth hormone release via the pituitary.
L-Theanine
L-theanine is a non-protein amino acid found in tea leaves. The most-replicated nootropic; pairs with caffeine at 1:1 (100-200 mg each) for acute focus.
Effects at a glance
GHRP-2
- •Hexapeptide ghrelin-receptor agonist that stimulates pulsatile GH release within 15 to 30 minutes
- •Strongest appetite signal among GHRPs at standard doses; centrally mediated via NPY/AgRP
- •Produces measurable cortisol and prolactin rise (more than ipamorelin, less than GHRP-6)
- •Approved in Japan as pralmorelin for GH-deficiency diagnostic provocation; not FDA approved
- •Anecdotal protocols use 100 to 300 mcg subcutaneously 2 to 3 times daily on an empty stomach
- •Banned by WADA under S2; detection methods validated in accredited labs
L-Theanine
- •Non-protein amino acid in tea; the most-replicated nootropic in the human RCT literature
- •Caffeine + theanine at 1:1 (100-200 mg each) is the gold-standard acute focus stack
- •Solo doses of 200-400 mg reduce subjective stress and improve sleep quality
- •Increases alpha-wave EEG activity within 30-45 minutes of 200 mg oral dose
- •Crosses blood-brain barrier; bioavailability high, half-life 60-90 minutes
- •Clean safety record; minimal interactions at supplement doses
Side-by-side
| Attribute | GHRP-2 | L-Theanine |
|---|---|---|
| Category | peptide | supplement |
| Also known as | Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide 2, Pralmorelin, KP-102, GPA-748 | theanine, gamma-glutamylethylamide |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 0.5 | 1.5 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 0.1 | 200 |
| Dosing frequency | 2-3x daily | as needed (with caffeine) or daily |
| Routes | subcutaneous, intranasal, intravenous | oral |
| Onset (hr) | 0.25 | 0.5 |
| Peak (hr) | 0.5 | 1 |
| Molecular weight | 817.97 | 174.2 |
| Molecular formula | C45H55N9O6 | C7H14N2O3 |
| Mechanism | Hexapeptide agonist of the growth-hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a). Suppresses hypothalamic somatostatin tone and stimulates pituitary somatotrophs, producing a pulsatile GH release with secondary cortisol, prolactin, and ACTH elevation. | Crosses BBB; modulates GABA/dopamine/serotonin (modest); increases alpha-wave EEG activity; dampens stress-induced sympathetic response without sedation. |
| Legal status | Not FDA approved; approved in Japan as pralmorelin (diagnostic); research-use-only grey market in US/EU; banned by WADA | OTC dietary supplement |
| WADA status | banned | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | Not scheduled in US (research chemical); approved diagnostic in Japan | OTC supplement |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data; not recommended | Insufficient supplement-dose data; tea-source intake safe |
| CAS | 158861-67-7 | 3081-61-6 |
| PubChem CID | 9919072 | 439378 |
| Wikidata | Q7235681 | Q909931 |
Safety profile
GHRP-2
Common side effects
- acute hunger
- head pressure or flushing
- water retention
- vivid dreams
- tingling at injection site
- transient lethargy
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- active malignancy
- history of pituitary tumor
- uncontrolled diabetes
- severe insulin resistance
Interactions
- CJC-1295: synergistic GH release; commonly co-administered for larger pulse(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)
L-Theanine
Common side effects
- mild GI upset (rare)
- headache (rare)
Contraindications
- pregnancy / lactation (insufficient data at supplement doses)
- concurrent strong GABAergics without caution
Interactions
- caffeine: synergistic for acute focus; dampens jitter without blunting alertness(minor)
- benzodiazepines / alcohol: potential additive sedation(minor)
Which Should You Take?
L-Theanine comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, OTC dietary supplement, oral dosing, with a Tier-A outcome catalogued. GHRP-2 is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is growth-hormone axis, pick GHRP-2.
- → If your priority is post-training recovery, pick GHRP-2.
- → If your priority is focus or working memory, pick L-Theanine.
- → If your priority is stress and HPA-axis regulation, pick L-Theanine.
Edge case: If you want to avoid research-only / gray-market sourcing, L-Theanine is the more accessible choice.
Default choice: L-Theanine. Lower friction to source, a Tier-A evidence outcome catalogued, and broader goal coverage. Reach for GHRP-2 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 GHRP-2 and L-Theanine?
GHRP-2 and L-Theanine differ in category (peptide vs supplement), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, GHRP-2 or L-Theanine?
GHRP-2 half-life is 0.5 hours; L-Theanine half-life is 1.5 hours.
Can you stack GHRP-2 with L-Theanine?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper