Growth hormone · Stimulation of natural growth hormone production
Sermorelin
0.2–0.3 mg nightly
A 29-amino-acid GHRH analogue, the shortest fully active GHRH fragment, approved by the FDA in the 1990s for pediatric growth hormone deficiency and diagnostics, then discontinued commercially in 2008 for business reasons, not safety. It prompts natural pulsatile GH release and remains available through compounding pharmacies, often for off-label age-management use.
Reconstitution
| Vial | 2 mL water | 3 mL water |
|---|---|---|
| 10 mg | 5 mg/mL | 3.33 mg/mL |
Sermorelin can leave a small welt at the injection site. Reconstituting with bac water that contains 0.9% sodium chloride (rather than plain) reduces that reaction for some people. Either works.
- Use bacteriostatic water as the diluent.
- Add the water slowly, letting it run down the inside wall of the vial rather than onto the powder.
- Swirl gently to mix, then leave it to dissolve. Do not shake.
- Give it a few minutes. The finished solution should be clear and colourless.
Protocol
Route: Subcutaneous
Standard protocol (subcutaneous)
- 0.2 mg to 0.3 mg once nightly before bed, on an empty stomach, to ride the natural deep-sleep GH pulse
- Daily dosing, since the half-life is very short (about 30 minutes)
Dosing detail
- Common dose is 0.2 mg to 0.3 mg, once nightly before bed.
- Inject on an empty stomach; food blunts the GH pulse.
- Short half-life means daily dosing is needed for steady effect.
- A brief flush after injecting is common and passes quickly.
Duration
- Run 8 to 12 weeks, often 5 days on and 2 off, then take a break. Sleep improvements often show up first, within a couple of weeks.
Notes
- A GHRH analogue that nudges your own GH output rather than replacing it.
- A brief flush after injecting is common and passes quickly.
- Inject subcutaneously and rotate sites.
Storage and handling
- Keep the powdered (lyophilized) vial in a cool, dark place. Refrigerate it for longer-term storage before mixing.
- Once reconstituted and refrigerated at 2–8 °C away from light, use the vial within 90 days.
- Do not freeze a reconstituted vial, and keep it away from heat and sunlight.
- If the solution turns cloudy, develops floating particles, or shows any other sign of degradation, stop using that vial.