What is Orexin B (hypocretin-2)?
Orexin B is a neuropeptide made in the hypothalamus that acts mainly on the orexin-2 receptor and helps regulate wakefulness, appetite and energy balance. Loss of orexin nerve cells is the cause of narcolepsy type 1.
How well studied is Orexin B (hypocretin-2)?
The peptide's effects are known mainly from animal and laboratory studies. Direct administration of orexin B to humans is not documented; the peptide is rapidly broken down in the blood before reaching the brain. Medicine instead uses tablets that activate the orexin-2 receptor (e.g. oveporexton, approved in the US in 2026 for narcolepsy type 1).
What side effects and risks does Orexin B (hypocretin-2) have?
There are no human safety data for the peptide itself. The approved orexin-2 agonists show which effects occur via this receptor: insomnia, frequent urination and increased salivation. Injected or nasal grey-market peptides are unpredictable in effect and purity.
Is Orexin B (hypocretin-2) approved in Germany?
In short: no. Orexin B is not approved as a medicine anywhere. Orexin receptor agonists (as separate drugs) are approved in the US but not yet in the EU. Orexin B is not named on the WADA list; as a non-approved substance it falls under S0.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Orexin
- Drugs.com 2026: FDA approves Orzeyful (oveporexton) for narcolepsy type 1
- NeurologyLive 2019: Exploring the promising orexin receptor pathway
Note: We deliberately do not list any doses here. For approved medicines, your doctor sets the dose; for unapproved substances there is no reliable information.