GHRHs vs. GHRPs

Happy Tuesday!

I just dropped a new episode on Spotify all about GHRHs vs GHRPs, and I think this one is going to clear up a ton of confusion.

It might seem basic at first, but even seasoned peptide users will get something out of this.

In the episode, I break down exactly what these peptides do, how they’re different, and how to actually stack them for longevity, fat loss, and recovery without wasting money or overcomplicating things.

In today’s email, I provide a quick written summary of everything I cover in the video.

Now let’s get into it.

Why People Get Lost

In the research peptide world, the growth hormone peptide category is a mess.

Every company has a different blend.

You’ll see bottles with four or five peptides mixed together, and no one explains what any of them do.

You read the label, see words like “CJC,” “Ipamorelin,” or “Tesamorelin,” and think, “Well, they all increase GH, so I’ll just stack them all.”

But that’s not how this works.

In the video, I explain that there are two distinct classes:

• GHRH analogs (Growth Hormone Releasing Hormones), and

• GHRPs (Growth Hormone Releasing Peptides).

They hit completely different receptors in your body, use distinct signaling pathways, and serve different purposes.

If you stack the wrong ones together, you’re just doubling up on the same pathway.

A Tale of Two Pathways

Here’s how I like to think about it.

GHRH analogs are the “primers.”

They tell your pituitary, “Hey, get ready to release GH.”

They bind to the GHRH receptor, trigger cAMP and PKA signaling, and get GH ready to go.

GHRPs, on the other hand, are the “ignition.” They act on the ghrelin receptor (GHSR-1a) and actually fire the pulse.

They increase calcium inside the cell, lower somatostatin (the hormone that stops GH), and push growth hormone out into circulation.

So if you combine the two, one primes the pump and the other lights the fuse.

1+1 = 3 in this case.

That’s the synergy everyone talks about, but most people don’t really understand why it works.

It’s because you’re hitting both systems that control GH, not repeating the same one twice.

The Main Players

Let’s run through the main ones quickly:

• Sermorelin – The original GHRH analog. Short-acting, clean, and physiologic. I think it’s weaker than the others we have access to.

• CJC-1295 (no DAC) – The upgraded version of Sermorelin. Lasts a little longer, still short-acting enough to mimic natural GH pulses. It’s one of my go-tos.

• Tesamorelin – The strongest of the three. It’s full-length, clinically proven to reduce visceral fat, and massively increases IGF-1. This one feels powerful, but it can also cause water retention in some people.

Now on the GHRP side:

• Ipamorelin – This is the cleanest and most selective of all the GHRPs. It increases GH without touching cortisol or prolactin. No crazy hunger like the old ones.

• MK-677, GHRP-2, and GHRP-6 – The older brothers. They work, but they’re messy. GHRP-6 and MK will make you hungry enough to eat a buffet, and GHRP-2 can raise cortisol.

For anti-aging and longevity, the best combo is almost always CJC no DAC + Ipamorelin or Tesamorelin + Ipamorelin, depending on how aggressive you want to go.

How to Stack

Here’s what NOT to do.

You don’t combine multiple GHRH analogs (like CJC + Tesamorelin + Sermorelin). That’s just three versions of the same signal.

And you don’t combine multiple GHRPs either (like Ipamorelin + MK-677 + GHRP-6).

That’s too much on the ghrelin side.

When stacking, what you do want is one GHRH analog + one GHRP.

That’s it. Simple.

The conservative longevity stack:

• CJC-1295 (no DAC) 100–200 mcg + Ipamorelin 100–200 mcg

• Taken subcutaneous, at night, on an empty stomach

The more aggressive body-composition stack:

• Tesamorelin 500 mcg–2 mg + Ipamorelin 200 mcg nightly (I personally like a 3:1 ratio of Tesamorelin to Ipamorelin)

And yes, timing matters.

Inject two hours after your last meal and wait 30 minutes before eating again.

High insulin and GH don’t play well together.

Expectations

If you’re dosing properly, you’ll notice three things improve:

1. Sleep — deeper, more restorative, vivid dreams, and waking up energized.

2. Recovery — faster muscle repair, better endurance, less soreness, stronger tendons and joints.

3. Body composition — leaner midsection, fuller muscles, better skin elasticity.

Over time, GH secretagogues improve skin hydration, collagen synthesis, and connective tissue strength.

That’s why people notice subtle but real anti-aging effects even without massive changes in the gym.

If you’re consistent, these peptides change how you recover and age.

Cycling

You don’t need to overcomplicate it.

I like running 8–12 week blocks, sometimes switching pathways afterward.

For example:

• Run CJC + Ipamorelin for 12 weeks.

• Then move to Tesamorelin solo for another cycle.

• Then rest, test IGF-1, and see how your body feels before repeating.

Rotating like this keeps receptor sensitivity high and prevents plateauing.

And here’s my personal rule of thumb.

Always use each compound in isolation first.

That’s how you learn your own response.

Some people love Tesamorelin but hate the bloat. Some people flush on CJC. Some sleep like a rock on Ipamorelin but get nothing from Sermorelin.

Test, learn, then stack.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, when we understand the why behind our protocols, we are much more likely to get the results we desire.

If you know the mechanism, you know how to build your own protocol.

Thank you for being part of this community.

I say it every time because I mean it.

I have the best audience in the world.

I’m grateful every single day that I get to learn, teach, and grow with you all.

Best,

Hunter Williams