Comparison
Hexarelin vs Lion's Mane
Side-by-side of Hexarelin and Lion's Mane. 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.
Hexarelin
Hexarelin peptide is a ghrelin-receptor hexapeptide. Largest acute GH pulse in the GHRP class, highest cortisol and prolactin lift, CD36 cardioprotective sign.
Lion's Mane
Lion's mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) supplement profile: hericenones and erinacines stimulate NGF in vitro. Human cognition trials are small.
Effects at a glance
Hexarelin
- •Synthetic hexapeptide GHS-R1a agonist; produces the largest acute GH pulse of the synthetic GHRP class
- •Independent CD36 signaling produces cardioprotective effects in rodent ischemia models, GH-independent
- •Pronounced tachyphylaxis: GH response attenuates over 2 to 4 weeks of daily dosing
- •More cortisol and prolactin elevation than GHRP-2 or ipamorelin
- •Anecdotal protocols use 100 to 200 mcg subcutaneously 1 to 2 times daily for 2 to 4 week pulses
- •Banned by WADA under S2; advanced through phase 2 trials but never reached registration
Lion's Mane
- •Edible medicinal mushroom containing NGF-stimulating hericenones and erinacines
- •Mori 2009 trial (n=30) in mild cognitive impairment showed cognitive improvement at 3 g/day for 16 weeks, reversing 4 weeks after discontinuation
- •Saitsu 2019 (n=31) in older adults reported MoCA improvements at 3.2 g/day over 12 weeks
- •Multiple small mood trials suggest reduced anxiety and depression scores at 1 to 4 g/day extract
- •Mechanistic case rests on NGF stimulation and remyelination support; in vivo human NGF measurement is absent
- •Product quality varies substantially; mycelium-on-grain products can be over 50% grain by weight
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Hexarelin | Lion's Mane |
|---|---|---|
| Category | peptide | natural |
| Also known as | Examorelin, EP-23905, His-D-2-methyl-Trp-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH2 | Hericium erinaceus, Yamabushitake, Bearded Tooth, Hou Tou Gu |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 1 | 6 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 0.1 | 1000 |
| Dosing frequency | 1-2x daily | 1 to 2 times daily |
| Routes | subcutaneous, intranasal, intravenous | oral |
| Onset (hr) | 0.25 | 168 |
| Peak (hr) | 0.5 | 1344 |
| Molecular weight | 887.04 | - |
| Molecular formula | C47H58N12O6 | mixed extract |
| Mechanism | Hexapeptide agonist of GHS-R1a producing acute GH release with cortisol and prolactin co-elevation. Independent CD36 binding produces GH-independent cardioprotective signaling in preclinical models. | Hericenones and erinacines stimulate NGF mRNA expression and NGF protein release in cultured neurons; secondary anti-inflammatory and remyelination-supportive activity in preclinical models. |
| Legal status | Not FDA approved; advanced through phase 2 trials in EU but never registered; research-use-only grey market; banned by WADA | Dietary supplement and food worldwide; unscheduled and unrestricted |
| WADA status | banned | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | Not scheduled (research chemical) | OTC supplement and food |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data; not recommended | Insufficient data for routine supplementation; consumed historically as food without documented harm |
| CAS | 140703-51-1 | |
| PubChem CID | 3037387 | |
| Wikidata | Q5743550 | Q146050 |
Safety profile
Hexarelin
Common side effects
- water retention
- vivid dreams
- head pressure or flushing
- transient lethargy
- tingling at injection site
- moderate hunger
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- active malignancy
- history of pituitary tumor
- uncontrolled diabetes
- prolactin-sensitive states
Interactions
- CJC-1295: synergistic GH release; accelerates tachyphylaxis if used continuously(minor)
- sermorelin: additive GH release via parallel GHRH and ghrelin pathways(minor)
- insulin: sustained GH can blunt insulin sensitivity over weeks(moderate)
- corticosteroids: amplify cortisol load; blunt GH response(moderate)
Lion's Mane
Common side effects
- mild GI upset
- occasional skin rash
- contact dermatitis (rare)
Contraindications
- mushroom allergy
Interactions
- anticoagulants: theoretical antiplatelet effect, no documented clinical events(minor)
Which Should You Take?
Lion's Mane comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, OTC dietary supplement, oral dosing, with a Tier-B outcome catalogued. Hexarelin is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is growth-hormone axis, pick Hexarelin.
- → If your priority is post-training recovery, pick Hexarelin.
- → If your priority is focus or working memory, pick Lion's Mane.
- → If your priority is nerve health, pick Lion's Mane.
Edge case: If you want to avoid research-only / gray-market sourcing, Lion's Mane is the more accessible choice.
Default choice: Lion's Mane. Lower friction to source, and broader goal coverage. Reach for Hexarelin 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 Hexarelin and Lion's Mane?
Hexarelin and Lion's Mane differ in category (peptide vs natural), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, Hexarelin or Lion's Mane?
Hexarelin half-life is 1 hours; Lion's Mane half-life is 6 hours.
Can you stack Hexarelin with Lion's Mane?
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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