Comparison
Hexarelin vs MOTS-c
Side-by-side of Hexarelin and MOTS-c. 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.
MOTS-c
MOTS-c peptide is a 16-amino-acid mitochondrial-derived peptide. Preclinical signals for insulin sensitivity, exercise capacity, dosage notes.
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
MOTS-c
- •16-amino-acid peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA (12S rRNA region); discovered 2015
- •Activates AMPK in skeletal muscle and liver; improves insulin sensitivity in rodent models
- •Circulating endogenous levels decline with age, motivating the longevity-restoration hypothesis
- •CohBar's MOTS-c analog CB4211 discontinued after phase 1b NASH readout did not meet endpoints
- •Anecdotal protocols use 5 to 10 mg subcutaneously 2 to 3 times weekly
- •Not on the WADA Prohibited List as of 2026; future scrutiny likely given exercise-mimetic mechanism
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Hexarelin | MOTS-c |
|---|---|---|
| Category | peptide | peptide |
| Also known as | Examorelin, EP-23905, His-D-2-methyl-Trp-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH2 | Mitochondrial Open Reading Frame of the Twelve S rRNA-c, MOTSc |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 1 | 0.5 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 0.1 | 5 |
| Dosing frequency | 1-2x daily | 2-3x weekly |
| Routes | subcutaneous, intranasal, intravenous | subcutaneous |
| Onset (hr) | 0.25 | 1 |
| Peak (hr) | 0.5 | 4 |
| Molecular weight | 887.04 | 1880.18 |
| Molecular formula | C47H58N12O6 | C82H132N22O25S2 |
| 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. | Mitochondrial-derived peptide that activates AMPK in skeletal muscle and liver, improves insulin sensitivity, and translocates to the nucleus under metabolic stress to modulate nuclear gene expression in retrograde mitochondrial signaling. |
| Legal status | Not FDA approved; advanced through phase 2 trials in EU but never registered; research-use-only grey market; banned by WADA | Not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market; not currently on WADA Prohibited List |
| WADA status | banned | unknown |
| DEA / Rx | Not scheduled (research chemical) | Not scheduled (research chemical) |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data; not recommended | Insufficient data; not recommended |
| CAS | 140703-51-1 | 1627580-64-6 |
| PubChem CID | 3037387 | 139599184 |
| Wikidata | Q5743550 | Q24832108 |
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)
MOTS-c
Common side effects
- injection-site irritation
- transient fatigue
- headache (anecdotal)
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- lactation
- active malignancy (theoretical)
- severe hypoglycemia risk on concurrent insulin or sulfonylurea
Interactions
- insulin: additive insulin sensitization may increase hypoglycemia risk(moderate)
- metformin: both activate AMPK; theoretical additive metabolic effect, no controlled data(minor)
- sulfonylureas: increased hypoglycemia risk via additive insulin sensitization(moderate)
Which Should You Take?
Hexarelin comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, research-only / gray-market sourcing, with a Tier-B outcome catalogued. MOTS-c 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 healthspan extension, pick MOTS-c.
- → If your priority is metabolic health and glucose control, pick MOTS-c.
Default choice: Hexarelin. Wider use case, and broader goal coverage. Reach for MOTS-c 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 MOTS-c?
Hexarelin and MOTS-c differ in category (peptide vs peptide), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, Hexarelin or MOTS-c?
Hexarelin half-life is 1 hours; MOTS-c half-life is 0.5 hours.
Can you stack Hexarelin with MOTS-c?
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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