COMPOUND

Compounds / GH secretagogues

Sermorelin

Sermorelin Acetate (GRF 1-29)

GH secretagogues SubQ FDA approved, off-label

The first 29 amino acids of human growth hormone-releasing hormone, the minimum fragment needed for full bioactivity. Stimulates pituitary GH release through native receptor signaling.

At a glance

Half-life
~12 min ~10-20 min SC. Plasma clearance is very rapid. The GH pulse it triggers persists much longer than the peptide itself; dosing timing matters more than serum half-life.
Routes
SubQ
Evidence base
2 studies 2 review

Mechanism

Binds the GHRH receptor on anterior pituitary somatotrophs, triggering cAMP-mediated release of stored GH. Because the signal flows through the native axis, GH release remains pulsatile and subject to somatostatin-mediated negative feedback: no ceiling-breach like exogenous rHGH.

Dosing

No standardized human dosing has been established. Every catalogued study for Sermorelin is preclinical or a literature review. Amounts used in animal models do not translate directly to humans.

Published evidence

  1. Review 2006

    Sermorelin: a better approach to management of adult-onset growth hormone insufficiency

    Walker RF, et al. Clin Interv Aging

    Sermorelin preserves pituitary feedback control; pulsatile release mirrors endogenous physiology rather than the tonic exposure of exogenous rHGH.

  2. Review 1999

    Sermorelin: a review of its use in the diagnosis and treatment of children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency

    Prakash A, Goa KL. BioDrugs

    Reviews sermorelin's PK, mechanism, and pediatric GHD clinical use; stimulates endogenous pulsatile GH release with better safety profile than exogenous rHGH.

Reported side effects

Injection site reaction
Occasional Mild · Redness, itching, or minor pain at injection site.
Flushing / warmth
Occasional Mild · Transient facial flushing within minutes of injection. Self-limiting.
Headache
Occasional Mild · Typically mild and self-limiting in the first weeks of use.
Water retention / edema
Occasional Mild · Mild fluid retention common with any GH-elevating protocol. Typically resolves within 2-4 weeks.

Reconstitution and storage

Lyophilized powder. Reconstitute with bacteriostatic water (0.9% benzyl alcohol). 2mL BAC water per 5mg vial yields 2.5 mg/mL. Gentle swirl. Do not shake.

Lyophilized: freezer (-20°C). Reconstituted: refrigerate 2-8°C, use within 14-28 days. Protect from light.

Open the reconstitution calculator for Sermorelin