Sermorelin

The first 29 amino acids of natural GHRH. It was once FDA-approved for children with growth hormone deficiency; today it's mostly compounded.

Evidence: Limited human research
Half-life: Minutes
Sources: 2 cited

Is sermorelin FDA-approved?

The branded product is discontinued; compounded versions aren't FDA-approved.

Is sermorelin banned in sport?

Banned in sport by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Overview

Sermorelin is the shortest fully active piece of growth-hormone-releasing hormone. It nudges the pituitary to release growth hormone in natural pulses. It was approved in the US as Geref for testing and treating growth hormone deficiency in children, then discontinued by its maker. Research in healthy or older adults is small.

How it works

It binds GHRH receptors in the pituitary, which then releases growth hormone. Your body's own feedback (somatostatin, IGF-1) still limits how high levels go.

How long does sermorelin stay in the body?

Short: minutes in the blood. The growth hormone pulse it triggers lasts a few hours.

What it's studied for

Growth hormone deficiency in children
Growth hormone release in older adults

Reported side effects

Injection-site reactions
Flushing, headache

Sources

The studies and prescribing labels this page is written from.