Sermorelin
Also known as: Geref, GRF 1-29
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Key Facts: Sermorelin
- Category
- Growth Hormone
- FDA Status
- Not FDA Approved
- Clinical Status
- Previously FDA Approved (discontinued) - Off-label use continues
- Administration
- Subcutaneous injection at bedtime
- Typical Dose
- 200-500 mcg before bed
- Frequency
- Once daily, typically before bed
- Duration
- 3-6 months typical
Mechanism of Action
Sermorelin copies the first 29 amino acids of natural GHRH and binds the GHRH receptor on the anterior pituitary, which is the body's normal on-switch for growth hormone production. Activating that receptor tells the pituitary to synthesize and release GH in pulses. A useful safety feature falls out of this design: because the pituitary still answers to its own inhibitory hormone somatostatin, the GH rise stays under negative-feedback control, which makes a true overdose of GH much harder to produce than with injected recombinant GH.
Research Summary
Sermorelin has a real clinical pedigree, unlike many gray-market peptides. The FDA approved it in 1990 as a diagnostic for GH deficiency and in 1997 for treating idiopathic GH deficiency in children with growth failure, after studies showed about six months of daily injections increased GH release and growth velocity. Published work found intravenous sermorelin is a relatively specific test for GH deficiency with few false positives, and once-daily subcutaneous dosing promoted growth in some GH-deficient prepubertal children. Where the evidence gets thin is the popular adult anti-aging use: a 2006 editorial argued sermorelin is a smarter way to address age-related GH decline than recombinant GH, but it openly conceded that few long-term clinical studies exist. The drug was discontinued commercially in 2008 for business reasons, not safety, so current adult use rests on compounded product and limited modern trial data.
Dosing Information
Note: Animal study doses may not translate directly to humans.
Typical Dosingⓘ
Community experience
200-500 mcg before bed
100-500 mcg daily
Once daily, typically before bed
Take on empty stomach at least 2 hours after last meal. Bedtime dosing aligns with natural GH pulse during sleep.
Research Dosingⓘ
Scientific studies
Doses from clinical practice
Doses from Studies
100-500 mcg before bed
200-300 mcg typical
Duration
3-6 months typical
Administration
Subcutaneous injection at bedtime
Timing & Administration
Best Time to Take
Before bed (fasted)
Once daily before bed
Food Recommendation
Take on empty stomach
Why This Timing?
Sermorelin mimics natural GHRH and works best when taken before sleep to enhance natural nighttime GH release.
Possible Side Effects
Not everyone experiences these effects. Individual responses vary based on dosage, duration, and personal factors.
- ●Facial flushing (most common)
- ●Injection site reactions
- ●Headache
- ●Nausea
- ●Dizziness
- ●Joint pain
- ●Water retention
- ●Elevated IGF-1 levels
- ●Allergic reactions (rare)
References
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sermorelin
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18031173/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2699646/
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/rco2.9
Research This Peptide Further
Buy in shop
Sermorelin from $77/kit
4 verified vendors, ≥99% purity, COAs included.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sermorelin do?
Sermorelin is a 29-amino-acid fragment of human growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), and it is the shortest piece of GHRH that still works fully. It asks the pituitary to make and release its own growth hormone rather than injecting GH itself. It was once an FDA-approved drug for diagnosing and treating growth hormone deficiency in children, but the manufacturer pulled it from the market in 2008, so today it is available mainly through compounding pharmacies for off-label use.
How does Sermorelin work?
Sermorelin copies the first 29 amino acids of natural GHRH and binds the GHRH receptor on the anterior pituitary, which is the body's normal on-switch for growth hormone production. Activating that receptor tells the pituitary to synthesize and release GH in pulses. A useful safety feature falls out of this design: because the pituitary still answers to its own inhibitory hormone somatostatin, the GH rise stays under negative-feedback control, which makes a true overdose of GH much harder to produce than with injected recombinant GH.
Is Sermorelin FDA approved?
No, Sermorelin is not currently FDA approved. Current status: Previously FDA Approved (discontinued) - Off-label use continues
What are the side effects of Sermorelin?
Reported side effects include: Facial flushing (most common), Injection site reactions, Headache, Nausea, Dizziness. Individual responses vary based on dosage, duration, and personal health factors.
What is the typical dose of Sermorelin?
Community-reported common dose: 200-500 mcg before bed (Once daily, typically before bed). Range: 100-500 mcg daily. Administration: Subcutaneous injection at bedtime. Community-reported doses. Not medical advice. Consult healthcare provider.
Related Peptides
Peptides commonly compared with Sermorelin or used in similar applications.
Ipamorelin
Clinical TrialsIpamorelin is a synthetic pentapeptide growth hormone secretagogue developed by Novo Nordisk and derived from GHRP-1. It is researched mainly for stimulating the body's own growth hormone (GH) release, and was studied in humans primarily for postoperative ileus and gut motility rather than anti-aging. It is not an approved drug anywhere: it reached Phase II trials, was discontinued for insufficient efficacy, and is now sold only as a research chemical.
Growth HormoneMK-677
Clinical TrialsMK-677 (ibutamoren) is not actually a peptide, it is a small, orally active non-peptide molecule that mimics ghrelin, your hunger and growth-hormone hormone. Taken as a daily pill, it reliably pushes up growth hormone and IGF-1 levels, which is why it is popular for muscle and recovery. It has been through real human trials but was never approved as a drug, and the trials that mattered most for older adults and Alzheimer's came up short.
Growth HormoneCJC-1295 (No DAC)
Clinical TrialsCJC-1295 is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), specifically a modified GHRH(1-29), engineered for a long duration of action. The form most people mean by CJC-1295 includes a Drug Affinity Complex (DAC) that binds blood albumin to extend its half-life to roughly 6 to 8 days, raising GH and IGF-I for days from a single injection. It was developed by ConjuChem, reached Phase II trials and was abandoned; it is not an approved drug and is sold only as a research chemical. A version without DAC (Modified GRF 1-29) acts for only about 30 minutes.
Growth HormoneTesamorelin
FDATesamorelin is a stabilized analog of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH 1-44) with a chemical modification that protects it from rapid breakdown. It is FDA-approved (brand name Egrifta) to reduce excess visceral abdominal fat in people with HIV-associated lipodystrophy, which makes it one of the few growth-hormone-axis peptides with a real approval behind it. Its evidence base is solid for that specific population and thinner for the general anti-aging and fat-loss uses it gets promoted for online.
Growth HormoneGHRP-6
Clinical TrialsGHRP-6 is a synthetic six-amino-acid peptide (His-D-Trp-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH2) that tricks the body into releasing its own growth hormone. It was one of the first growth hormone secretagogues ever made, and the hunt to find out why it worked led scientists straight to the discovery of ghrelin. It has no approval as a drug anywhere and is used only as a research compound.
Growth HormoneGHRP-2
Clinical TrialsGHRP-2 (generic name pralmorelin) is a synthetic hexapeptide growth hormone secretagogue and a second-generation cousin of GHRP-6. It prompts the pituitary to release growth hormone and is the one peptide in this family with an actual regulatory approval: it is licensed in Japan as a diagnostic agent for growth hormone deficiency. Outside that narrow diagnostic use it has no approval and is sold elsewhere only as a research compound.
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