Sermorelin
A short GHRH analogue (the active 1-29 fragment) that stimulates the body’s own growth hormone. It was formerly FDA-approved as a branded product, but that product was discontinued — today it is supplied mainly through compounding pharmacies.
Quick take
- What it is: a synthetic copy of the active 1-29 fragment of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH).
- What people use it for: raising the body’s own GH; historically also used to test pituitary GH reserve.
- What we actually know: it reliably stimulates GH release; its original branded product was discontinued and it is now mostly compounded.
- Status: previously FDA-approved (branded product withdrawn from the market), now mainly compounded, and banned in competitive sport.
What it is
Sermorelin is a synthetic analogue of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). It reproduces the first 29 amino acids of GHRH — the GRF 1-29 fragment — which is the shortest portion that retains full GH-releasing activity.1 Because it mirrors a natural signalling fragment, it acts through the body’s own GH machinery rather than supplying GH directly.
Sermorelin has a notable regulatory history: it was previously approved by the FDA as a branded finished product (used to assess pituitary GH reserve and in paediatric GH deficiency). That branded product was later discontinued. Today the substance is supplied mainly through compounding pharmacies, which is a different regulatory pathway from an approved, marketed drug.
How it works
Sermorelin binds the GHRH receptor on the pituitary and stimulates release of the body’s own growth hormone (GH), which then raises IGF-1.1,2 Because it is short-acting, it produces a relatively brief, pulse-like GH release that resembles natural physiology more than a sustained elevation does. Its dependence on a functioning pituitary is also why it was historically useful as a diagnostic agent.
What the evidence shows
Animal & mechanistic studies
The GHRH pathway is well characterized, and Sermorelin’s ability to stimulate pituitary GH release is established pharmacology.2
Human studies
There is reasonable historical human evidence for Sermorelin’s original indications — it was studied and used to evaluate pituitary GH reserve and to treat paediatric GH deficiency, which underpinned its former approval.3 The popular contemporary use — “anti-aging,” recovery and body composition in adults — is much less well supported by long-term controlled outcome trials. As with the GH-secretagogue class generally, short-term GH elevation is clear; durable benefit and long-term safety in these newer uses are not established.
Dosages reported in the literature
Informational only. The figures below describe doses reported in research and clinical settings. They are not a recommendation or a prescription, and appropriate use should be determined by a qualified healthcare professional who can account for your individual situation.
| Setting | Route | Reported range |
|---|---|---|
| Historical diagnostic use | Subcutaneous / IV | Single weight-based test dose |
| Paediatric GH deficiency (historical) | Subcutaneous | Microgram-per-kilogram amounts, usually nightly |
| Adult / anecdotal (compounded) | Subcutaneous | Commonly reported in the low-hundreds-of-microgram range, often at bedtime |
Reported adult protocols vary between sources and are not supported by long-term outcome trials.
Safety & side effects
In its studied use, Sermorelin was generally well tolerated, with the most common issues being injection-site reactions (redness, swelling, pain).3 Less common reports include flushing, headache and difficulty swallowing. Because the natural feedback loop on the pituitary is preserved, GHRH analogues are sometimes described as less prone to extreme GH spikes than direct GH injection — though this does not eliminate risk.
With compounded products specifically, purity, potency and quality depend on the compounding pharmacy, and standards vary. This is one reason clinician oversight and reputable sourcing matter.
Legal & regulatory status
Sermorelin was previously FDA-approved as a branded finished drug, but that branded product was discontinued and is no longer marketed. It is now supplied mainly through compounding pharmacies, a separate regulatory category that does not carry the same finished-drug approval. It is also banned in competitive sport — the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibits GHRH analogues and growth-hormone secretagogues at all times (category S2).4 Rules vary by country and change over time.
References
- Prakash A, Goa KL. Sermorelin: a review of its use in the diagnosis and treatment of children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency. BioDrugs. 1999;12(2):139-157. [PMID 18031173]
- Mayo KE, Miller T, DeAlmeida V, Godfrey P, Zheng J, Cunha SR. Regulation of the pituitary somatotroph cell by GHRH and its receptor. Recent Prog Horm Res. 2000;55:237-266. [PMID 11036940]
- Prakash A, Goa KL. Sermorelin: a review of its use in the diagnosis and treatment of children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency. BioDrugs. 1999;12(2):139-157. [PMID 18031173]
- World Anti-Doping Agency. The 2026 Prohibited List (International Standard). Section S2: Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics — S2.2 Growth Hormone Releasing Factors (GHRH and its analogues, e.g. CJC-1293, CJC-1295, sermorelin, tesamorelin; and growth hormone secretagogues). Effective 1 January 2026. [wada-ama.org]