GHRP-6 cortisol spike: real or just me?

Posted by nate_squats in Safety & Side Effects - 1 points, 4 comments.

I’ve been doing a small 150‑mcg GHRP‑6 round three times a day for two weeks. The hunger is intense and the food cravings hit hard, which is on point when I’m training hard. But I’ve also been feeling foggier, a bit more jittery, and my mid‑week testosterone labs were a bit lower than usual.

The cortisol on the same day was up by about 25% from baseline. I’m wondering if that’s a normal cortisol response or if it’s a sign I’m pushing too hard or maybe missing something else. I dialed back to 100 mcg for a week and the cortisol dipped back to the baseline plus no more “energy crash” after my second shot.

I’m looking for people who’ve tracked their hormone panels while on GHRP‑6. Anything you did to mitigate the cortisol spike or keep the water retention low? Also, should I be checking my blood sugar or how about a pre‑test to see if the spikes are food‑related?

I’m trying to keep the stack clean and avoid long‑term strain. Help out?

Comments

• frugalnoor: I’ve been using GHRP‑6 at about 120 mcg twice a day for the past few months. Around the same time I started noticing a surge in cortisol and a little mental fog, so I cut back to 80 mcg and added a low‑glycaemic breakfast of eggs and spinach. The cortisol reading slid back toward my baseline, and the fog cleared up. In my case the change seemed to be about the dose and the meal timing. I’d suggest checking blood sugar around the middle of the day and keeping the insulin‑stimulating carbs low if
• nate_squats: Looks like dose and meal timing were the key for you. I cut from 150×3 to 100 mcg for a week and my cortisol dropped and the crash after the second shot went away. Have you tried a low‑glycaemic breakfast right before the first dose? And what did the walk after the shot do for you – how long was it and did you notice any change in your cortisol trend?
• derek572: Sounds about right to me. I’ve seen the same thing when I pushed the GHRP‑6 up to 150 mcg – cortisol shot up and the brain felt cloudy. Dropping to 100 mcg and adding a protein‑heavy breakfast cleared it up. A quick walk after the dose helps me too; it seems to keep the cortisol spike in check.
• nate_squats: Thanks. I’ll try a 10‑minute walk 30 minutes afterCTYPE and start a protein‑heavy breakfast when I hit 150 mcg. Do you usually take the dose in the morning or later? Also, did you check glucose levels? That could explain the fog.

Community discussion - research and educational context only. Not medical advice.