Comparison
Hexarelin vs TB-500
Side-by-side of Hexarelin and TB-500. 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.
TB-500
TB-500 peptide, a 17-aa thymosin beta-4 fragment. Preclinical tendon and wound healing via actin sequestration. Typical dosage 2 to 5 mg weekly. No human RCTs.
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
TB-500
- •17-amino-acid fragment of endogenous Thymosin Beta-4, an actin-sequestering peptide
- •Preclinical models show accelerated tendon, ligament, and dermal wound healing
- •Equine veterinary use for soft-tissue injury is the most documented real-world application
- •Anecdotal human protocols use 2 to 5 mg twice weekly subcutaneously for 4 to 6 weeks
- •WADA banned under S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors) since 2018
- •No completed phase II or III human RCTs as of 2026; long-term safety unestablished
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Hexarelin | TB-500 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | peptide | peptide |
| Also known as | Examorelin, EP-23905, His-D-2-methyl-Trp-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH2 | Thymosin Beta-4 fragment, TB4-Frag, Thymosin Beta 4 |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 1 | 2 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 0.1 | 2.5 |
| Dosing frequency | 1-2x daily | 2x weekly (anecdotal protocols) |
| Routes | subcutaneous, intranasal, intravenous | subcutaneous, intramuscular |
| Onset (hr) | 0.25 | - |
| Peak (hr) | 0.5 | - |
| Molecular weight | 887.04 | 4963.4 |
| Molecular formula | C47H58N12O6 | C212H350N56O78S |
| 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. | Sequesters G-actin monomers, modulates cell migration and angiogenesis, and upregulates VEGF and myosin transcription. Promotes endothelial differentiation and stem-cell migration to injury sites 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 | Not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market; banned by WADA |
| WADA status | banned | banned |
| DEA / Rx | Not scheduled (research chemical) | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data; not recommended | Insufficient data |
| CAS | 140703-51-1 | 885340-08-9 |
| PubChem CID | 3037387 | 62707662 |
| Wikidata | Q5743550 | Q7799921 |
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)
TB-500
Common side effects
- injection-site irritation
- fatigue (anecdotal)
- lethargy in early dosing (anecdotal)
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- active malignancy (theoretical angiogenic concern)
- no established human safety profile
Interactions
- BPC-157: Frequently co-administered in anecdotal healing protocols; no controlled interaction data(minor)
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. TB-500 is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is growth-hormone axis, pick Hexarelin.
- → If your priority is cardiac function, pick Hexarelin.
- → If your priority is tendon repair, pick TB-500.
- → If your priority is wound healing, pick TB-500.
Default choice: Hexarelin. Wider use case, and broader goal coverage. Reach for TB-500 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 TB-500?
Hexarelin and TB-500 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 TB-500?
Hexarelin half-life is 1 hours; TB-500 half-life is 2 hours.
Can you stack Hexarelin with TB-500?
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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