Peptide Reference · Growth Hormone
Sermorelin
Sermorelin is a growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) analogue, the first 29 amino acids of human GHRH, used to prompt the pituitary to produce the body’s own growth hormone.
Prescription / compounded medication · Educational reference only · Not medical advice
In Brief
Sermorelin is a shortened, synthetic copy of the body’s own growth-hormone-releasing hormone. Instead of supplying growth hormone directly, it signals the pituitary gland to make and release more of its own, which preserves the natural rhythm and safety brakes of the growth hormone system.
Unlike most peptides on this site, sermorelin was an FDA-approved drug (Geref), used to assess and treat growth hormone deficiency in children. The manufacturer discontinued it in 2008 for commercial reasons, not safety, and it is now supplied mainly through compounding pharmacies and prescribed in adult wellness settings. It is taken as a once-daily injection before bed and is banned in competitive sport.
Overview
Sermorelin is a synthetic analogue of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH). It consists of the first 29 amino acids of natural human GHRH, written as GRF (1-29), which is the shortest fragment that keeps the full hormone’s activity. Rather than replacing growth hormone, it acts one step upstream and tells the pituitary gland to produce and release its own.
Sermorelin has a genuine pharmaceutical history. It was approved by the FDA in 1997 under the brand name Geref for assessing and treating growth hormone deficiency in children. The manufacturer discontinued production in 2008 for commercial reasons rather than concerns about safety or effectiveness, and the FDA has formally noted it was not withdrawn for those reasons. Today it is supplied largely through compounding pharmacies and prescribed off-label in adult wellness and anti-aging practice, frequently alongside a growth-hormone-releasing peptide such as ipamorelin.
Clinical & research uses
Sermorelin has both an approved history and ongoing off-label clinical use:
- Pediatric growth hormone deficiency: the original FDA-approved use, both as a diagnostic test of pituitary function and as treatment.
- Adult growth hormone optimisation: compounded and prescribed off-label to raise growth hormone and IGF-1 in adults with age-related decline.
- Body composition and recovery: used in wellness practice with the goal of supporting lean mass, recovery, and energy.
- Sleep quality: the natural overnight growth hormone pulse occurs during deep sleep, and nightly dosing is intended to support it.
- Diagnostic testing: used historically to probe the pituitary’s capacity to release growth hormone.
- Combination protocols: often paired with a GHRP such as ipamorelin, which acts on a separate receptor for a larger combined pulse.
Adult anti-aging use is off-label and unproven for that purpose, and sermorelin is prohibited in competitive sport under WADA rules.
Mechanism of action
Sermorelin works through the same pathway as the body’s own GHRH:
- GHRH receptor agonism: binds the GHRH receptor on pituitary somatotroph cells, the natural trigger for growth hormone production.
- Stimulates synthesis and release: prompts the pituitary both to make and to secrete growth hormone, rather than supplying the hormone from outside.
- Preserves feedback: because release still passes through the body’s own regulation (including the somatostatin brake), there is less risk of the sustained overshoot seen with injected growth hormone.
- Short, natural pulse: its very short half-life of around 11 to 12 minutes produces a brief pulse that resembles normal physiology.
- Complementary to GHRPs: it acts on a different receptor than ghrelin-mimetic peptides, which is why sermorelin and a GHRP are often combined.
Protocols
Quick Reference
Syringe units assume a 5 mg vial reconstituted with 2 mL BAC water (2.5 mg/mL) drawn on a 1 mL / 100-unit insulin syringe.
Titration schedule
A common approach is to start low and step the dose up over the first month to gauge tolerance, then hold at the maintenance dose. All doses are taken nightly before bed, 5 nights per week. Add each step to your calendar and they line up back to back.
| Phase | Step 1 · IntroWeeks 1–2 | Step 2 · RampWeeks 3–4 | Step 3 · MaintenanceWeeks 5–12 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dose | 0.1 mg | 0.2 mg | 0.3 mg |
| Units (1 mL syringe) | 4 | 8 | 12 |
| Timing | Before bed | Before bed | Before bed |
| Frequency | 5 nights / week | 5 nights / week | 5 nights / week |
| Add to calendar |
A tolerability ramp reflecting common adult compounded-sermorelin practice, not an official label titration. Source: clinical references ↗. The original FDA-approved pediatric dosing was weight-based and set by a physician.
Pick one cycle start date, then add all three steps. Each is scheduled at the correct offset. Events are created locally in your browser.
Administration Routes
Sermorelin is given by subcutaneous injection. Because its half-life is only minutes, timing relative to sleep and food matters more than route.
Subcutaneous (SC)
Injection into the fat layer under the skin, usually the abdomen, with a short insulin needle. The standard route, easy to self-administer at home.
Timing & fasting
Dosed before bed to align with the body’s largest natural growth hormone pulse during deep sleep. Food, especially carbohydrate, blunts the response, so it is taken on a relatively empty stomach.
Stacking
Sermorelin is a GHRH, so it is commonly paired with a ghrelin-mimetic GHRP, which acts on a separate receptor, to produce a larger combined growth hormone pulse.
Reconstitution Guide
Sermorelin is supplied as a lyophilised powder and must be reconstituted before use. New to this? See Peptides 101 for the fundamentals.
Gather supplies
Bacteriostatic water (BAC water), alcohol swabs, a 1 mL insulin syringe, and the peptide vial. BAC water contains 0.9% benzyl alcohol which prevents bacterial growth across multiple uses.
Calculate your dilution
A common dilution for a 5 mg vial: add 2 mL BAC water for a concentration of 2.5 mg/mL. At that strength a 0.3 mg dose is roughly 12 units on a U-100 syringe. Use the calculator below for your own numbers.
Add the water slowly
Wipe both vial tops with an alcohol swab. Draw the BAC water into the syringe. Insert the needle and angle it so the stream runs down the inside wall of the vial, not directly onto the powder cake.
Mix gently
Once all water is added, swirl gently in a circular motion until the powder is fully dissolved. Do not shake or vortex; agitation can degrade the peptide structure.
Store correctly
Reconstituted peptide: refrigerate at 2–8°C, away from light. Use within 4 weeks. Lyophilised powder: store frozen at −20°C for long-term. Label with the reconstitution date.
Reconstitution Calculator
Enter your vial size, water volume, and intended dose to calculate the exact volume and syringe markings.
⚠ This calculator is a reference tool only. Verify all calculations independently before use.
Active compound & chemistry
Sermorelin is a 29-amino-acid peptide corresponding to residues 1 to 29 of human growth hormone releasing hormone, written as GRF (1-29) amide. Its molecular formula is C₁₄₉H₂₄₆N₄₄O₄₂S and its molecular weight is approximately 3,358 Da. It is typically supplied as the acetate salt. The 1 to 29 fragment is the shortest portion of GHRH that retains the full hormone’s ability to stimulate the pituitary.
Its plasma half-life is very short, around 11 to 12 minutes, which is by design: a brief signal produces a natural pulse of growth hormone rather than a sustained elevation. Look up the compound in PubChem for full structural data, canonical SMILES, and InChI.
Evidence summary
Sermorelin has a stronger regulatory pedigree than most peptides on this site, with formal approval in children, though its adult anti-aging use rests on much thinner evidence.
FDA approval for pediatric growth hormone deficiency
Sermorelin was approved as Geref in 1997 to assess and treat growth hormone deficiency in children, having demonstrated that it reliably stimulates pituitary growth hormone release. The FDA later confirmed it was discontinued for commercial reasons, not safety or effectiveness.
FDA / Geref labeling · View on PubMed →
Growth hormone and IGF-1 response in adults
Studies in older adults have shown that GHRH analogues, including sermorelin, can increase growth hormone and IGF-1 levels and may affect body composition. The long-term clinical benefit and safety of this approach for healthy aging adults remain unproven.
Walker RF (2006) · Clin Interv Aging · View on PubMed →
Use as a diagnostic agent
Because it directly probes the pituitary’s capacity to release growth hormone, sermorelin was used as a diagnostic tool for evaluating growth hormone secretion, a well-characterised and reproducible application of the peptide.
Prakash A, Goa KL (1999) · BioDrugs · View on PubMed →
Warnings & cautions
- No longer a marketed FDA-approved product. Geref was discontinued in 2008. Current use relies on compounding pharmacies and is off-label in adults.
- Banned in competitive sport by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) under S2 (peptide hormones and releasing factors).
- Raises growth hormone and IGF-1, which is a theoretical concern for anyone with active or recent cancer, since these signals can promote cell growth. It should be avoided with active malignancy.
- May affect blood sugar. Growth hormone can reduce insulin sensitivity, which is relevant for anyone with diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance.
- Common side effects include injection-site reactions, flushing, headache, and transient dizziness. Hypersensitivity reactions are uncommon but possible.
- Compounding quality varies. Potency and purity depend on the pharmacy or supplier, since this is no longer a standardised commercial product.
References
- Prakash A, Goa KL. (1999). Sermorelin: a review of its use in the diagnosis and treatment of children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency. BioDrugs. PubMed
- Walker RF. (2006). Sermorelin: a better approach to management of adult-onset growth hormone insufficiency? Clinical Interventions in Aging. PubMed
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration (2013). Determination that GEREF (sermorelin acetate) injection was not withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness. Federal Register
- StatPearls. Sermorelin. NCBI Bookshelf. NCBI
Reference links resolve to PubMed search queries or source pages. Verify the specific record before citing.
Important: This page is educational and reference-only. Sermorelin is a prescription compounded medication and is prohibited in competitive sport. Nothing here is medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about your health.