Growth hormone secretagogue
Sermorelin
A GHRH fragment that briefly triggers growth-hormone release; it once had a licensed diagnostic use and now circulates only as a research or compounded product.
What it is
Sermorelin is the first 29 amino acids of growth-hormone-releasing hormone, the signal the brain uses to tell the pituitary to release growth hormone. A licensed version existed for testing growth-hormone reserve but was withdrawn from the market; today it is sold as a research or compounded peptide, most often promoted for sleep, recovery and 'anti-ageing'. It is prohibited in sport.
How it works
- 1
Binds GHRH receptors on the pituitary, prompting growth-hormone release.
- 2
Its 29-amino-acid length gives it a half-life of only about ten to twenty minutes, so it produces a brief pulse.
- 3
The pulse mimics the body's own nocturnal release pattern, which is why dosing is usually discussed for bedtime.
- 4
Increases IGF-1 secondarily with repeated use; that is the marker older studies measured.
- 5
Frequently paired with a ghrelin-receptor secretagogue because the two act at different points of the same axis.
What it's studied for
Reported and studied effects
- A measurable growth-hormone pulse within 15–30 minutes of injection
- Modest IGF-1 rise with repeated nightly use
- Reported better sleep and recovery, from user accounts rather than trials
- Fluid retention and joint stiffness, as with the growth-hormone class
Research protocol notes
Research context onlyResearch context only — sermorelin had a licensed diagnostic product in the past, given at around 1 microgram per kilogram intravenously for testing growth-hormone reserve. Compounded 'anti-ageing' regimens using nightly subcutaneous doses in the hundreds of micrograms were never approved on the strength of controlled outcome trials, and the numbers circulated online are not clinical evidence.
These figures are described so you can understand what researchers did. They are not a dose, a schedule, or a suggestion — and they are not a substitute for a doctor.
Possible side effects and contraindications
Safety profile
Possible side effects
- Injection-site reactions
- Headache, flushing, dizziness
- Water retention and joint aches
- Increased appetite in some users
- Unknown long-term effects of sustained IGF-1 elevation
Contraindications and cautions
- Cancer history or active malignancy
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding and childhood
- Diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance
- Prohibited in competitive sport
A side-effect list is never complete, and these are not the only situations that warrant caution. Anything unexpected, or anything you are unsure about, should be discussed with a doctor before use.
Evidence assessment
Small human studies document growth-hormone release after dosing, but no modern trial has tested the body-composition or anti-ageing claims, and the approved product was withdrawn from the market.
References
- 01Sermorelin growth hormone response studies — PubMed search
- 02Sermorelin (Geref) withdrawal — FDA information
- 03World Anti-Doping Agency — Prohibited List
References link to published literature, regulator pages or literature indexes. Where a link points to a search, it collects the peer-reviewed work on that molecule rather than a single study.
Related
Related peptides
Other entries in Growth hormone secretagogue.
Growth hormone secretagogue
CJC-1295
A modified growth-hormone-releasing hormone analogue whose albumin binding gives it an unusually long action. Studied in small human trials; not an approved medicine.
Growth hormone secretagogue
CJC-1295 (no DAC) + Ipamorelin blend
The classic growth-hormone stack in one vial: a GHRH fragment with a secretagogue, unapproved and prohibited in sport.
Growth hormone secretagogue
CJC-1295 (no DAC) / mod GRF 1-29
The short-acting sister of CJC-1295: a GHRH fragment that produces brief growth-hormone pulses instead of sustained elevation.