--- title: "Sermorelin: Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects & Results" description: "Sermorelin explained: how this GHRH peptide works, what studies in children and older adults found, side effects, and why Geref left the market." canonical: "https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin" last-updated: 2026-08-22 --- # Sermorelin: Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects & Results > Sermorelin explained: how this GHRH peptide works, what studies in children and older adults found, side effects, and why Geref left the market. ![A Polish-American man, 55, broad, thick white hair, clean shaven, ruddy cheeks, sits sideways on a wooden bench in a sunlit spare room with plants…](https://www.vitalsvault.com/_next/image?url=%2Fpublic-v3%2Fshoot%2Fpeptides%2Fpep-sermorelin.webp&w=3840&q=75&dpl=shadow-production-f0162cb4d465-40992538108-1) Peptide Guide · Growth hormone and muscle # Sermorelin GRF(1-29), Geref Sermorelin was once a prescription growth hormone medicine for children, sold as Geref. Its maker stopped making it in 2008, and the reason was not safety. [Get early access to peptide care](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides-waitlist)[Start with 120+ lab tests · $99](https://www.vitalsvault.com/labs#plans) Free to join · One email when peptide care opens · Most lab results in 3–5 business days Studied forGrowth hormone release in children, diagnostic testing and older adults EvidenceHuman trials Taken asInjection, as prescribed Studied forGrowth hormone release in children, diagnostic testing and older adults EvidenceHuman trials Taken asInjection, as prescribed ## Sermorelin, in short Sermorelin is the first 29 amino acids of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH), the shortest piece with the full activity of the natural signal. It prompts the pituitary gland to release the body’s own growth hormone in pulses. It was used to test pituitary function and help children with growth hormone deficiency grow, and has been studied in small trials in older adults. Medically reviewed by [Robert Lufkin, MD (opens in a new tab)](https://www.robertlufkinmd.com/) Chief Medical Officer, Vitals Vault · Updated October 29, 2026 · 13 sources ## At a glance Human trials TypeSynthetic peptide, the first 29 amino acids of GHRH[2](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-prakash-1999) Past FDA approvalGeref: approved 1990 (diagnostic) and 1997 (children with growth failure)[1](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-fr-geref-2013) Why Geref endedDiscontinued by its maker in 2008; FDA found it was not withdrawn for safety or effectiveness[1](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-fr-geref-2013) Studied forDiagnostic testing and growth in selected children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency; older adults[2](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-prakash-1999)[3](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-corpas-1992) Taken asInjection, as prescribed FDA status todayNo approved sermorelin product[1](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-fr-geref-2013) SportGrowth hormone releasing factors are prohibited by WADA[13](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-wada) ## Before you consider Sermorelin - Safety In the pediatric review sermorelin was well tolerated, with flushing and injection site pain most common. Long-term safety has not been established.[2](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-prakash-1999)[4](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-sigalos-2018) [Side effects and safety](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#safety) - Legal status No sermorelin product is FDA approved today. Geref was approved in 1990 and 1997, then discontinued in 2008, and it is not in the October 2026 policy.[1](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-fr-geref-2013)[12](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-ncpa) [FDA status](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#fda-status) - How it’s taken Geref was injected under the skin for children’s growth or into a vein for testing. Pharmacy sermorelin today is a prescriber’s decision, not an approved product.[2](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-prakash-1999) [Forms and dosage](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#how-taken) ## How does Sermorelin work? Sermorelin copies the body’s own growth hormone signal and asks the pituitary to release more. - ### Asks the pituitary to release Injected sermorelin specifically stimulates growth hormone release from the pituitary, a gland at the base of the brain.[2](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-prakash-1999) - ### Keeps the body’s feedback Release stays pulsed and under the body’s own feedback. In older men, the higher dose of a GHRH fragment brought levels near young men’s.[3](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-corpas-1992)[4](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-sigalos-2018) - ### Works as a diagnostic test An intravenous dose shows whether the pituitary can still release growth hormone, a rapid test for deficiency.[2](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-prakash-1999) ## Sermorelin benefits: what it is studied for Sermorelin has a human track record going back decades. Its approved use was in children, and the adult data are small. 1. Human study01 ### Growth in children In some children with growth hormone deficiency, sermorelin raised height velocity for 12 months. Schedules other than the recommended one gave smaller gains than somatropin.[2](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-prakash-1999) 2. Human study02 ### Diagnosing deficiency An intravenous sermorelin test is a rapid check for growth hormone deficiency, with fewer false positives than other provocative tests. A normal response cannot rule out a problem in the hypothalamus.[2](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-prakash-1999) 3. Human study03 ### Older adults, short term In 10 healthy older men given two 14-day courses, the higher dose of GHRH(1-29) raised growth hormone and IGF-1 to levels like young men’s, without affecting fasting glucose.[3](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-corpas-1992) ## What the research shows Human trials 1. 1 · Cells in a labNot cited This guide cites no findings at this level. Shows a mechanism 2. 2 · AnimalsNot cited This guide cites no findings at this level. Shows an effect in a body 3. 3 · People Studied In children with growth hormone deficiency, it raised height velocity for 12 months. Adult studies in older men were small and short.[2](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-prakash-1999)[3](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-corpas-1992) Shows it works in people Sermorelin’s evidence is old and focused on children. The adult studies cited here, from the 1990s, were short and small. Reviews of the whole secretagogue class say few long, rigorous studies exist and call for more study of long-term safety, including cancer incidence.[2](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-prakash-1999)[3](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-corpas-1992)[4](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-sigalos-2018) The full guide to Sermorelin 9 min read · Medically reviewed by Robert Lufkin, MD ## The growth hormone drug that left without being pushed In 2008, a growth hormone medicine that pediatric endocrinologists had used for years stopped being made. Its name was Geref, and its active ingredient was sermorelin. When a drug disappears, people tend to assume something went wrong. Five years later, the US government formally concluded that this one had not left for reasons of safety or effectiveness. Sermorelin’s family history starts with a tumor. In 1982, Roger Guillemin’s team isolated a 44-amino-acid peptide from a pancreatic tumor that had caused acromegaly, a condition of excess growth hormone. The tumor was making growth hormone releasing hormone, GHRH, the signal the hypothalamus normally sends to tell the pituitary to release growth hormone. Chemists then trimmed it down. The first 29 amino acids turned out to be the shortest synthetic piece with the full biological activity of GHRH. That fragment, written GRF(1-29), is sermorelin. As Geref, FDA approved it in December 1990 as a test of pituitary function and in September 1997 for children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency and growth failure. Its maker, EMD Serono, discontinued both forms in 2008, and the applications were withdrawn effective June 18, 2009. In March 2013, a Federal Register notice recorded FDA’s determination that Geref was not withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness. That finding is why sermorelin still comes up whenever people ask about gentler ways to raise growth hormone.[1](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-fr-geref-2013)[5](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-guillemin-1982)[2](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-prakash-1999) ## How sermorelin works: the gas, the brake and the pituitary Growth hormone release is run by two signals from the hypothalamus. GHRH steps on the gas. Somatostatin steps on the brake. Ghrelin, from the stomach, adds a third input. The pituitary releases growth hormone in pulses, largest in deep sleep, and growth hormone prompts the liver and other tissues to make IGF-1, the growth factor that carries much of growth hormone’s effect. Sermorelin is a copy of the gas pedal. Given intravenously or under the skin, it specifically stimulates growth hormone secretion from the anterior pituitary. It does not replace growth hormone. It asks the pituitary to release what it has made, so the amount is limited by the pituitary’s stores and by somatostatin’s brake. That is the core of the argument for GHRH-based drugs. Reviews of growth hormone secretagogues describe release that stays pulsatile and subject to negative feedback, which can prevent the very high levels that injected growth hormone can produce. The trade-off is that sermorelin needs a pituitary that can still respond, and a short half-life means each push is brief.[2](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-prakash-1999)[4](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-sigalos-2018) ## Sermorelin as a test: asking the pituitary a direct question Sermorelin’s first job was diagnostic. A single intravenous dose works like a knock on the pituitary’s door. If growth hormone rises quickly, the gland can make and release it. A 1999 review in BioDrugs described this as a rapid and relatively specific test for growth hormone deficiency. It also produced fewer false alarms than older tests. Fewer children without growth hormone deficiency were wrongly flagged after sermorelin than after other provocative tests, which matters when the result decides whether a child starts years of injections. In adults, combining sermorelin with the amino acid arginine was more specific still. The test has one blind spot that teaches something about the whole system. Sermorelin goes straight to the pituitary and skips the hypothalamus. A child whose problem lies in the hypothalamus, upstream of the pituitary, can respond normally to sermorelin and still be deficient. That is why the review advised confirming the diagnosis with other tests.[2](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-prakash-1999) ## Sermorelin for children’s growth: what the studies found Sermorelin’s longest-running human data, limited as they are, come from prepubertal children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency. In the studies reviewed in 1999, injections under the skin significantly increased height velocity in some children, and the gains held through 12 months. Data from a few children suggested the effect lasted for 36 months of continued use. Most of the children had catch-up growth. Those who responded best tended to be slow-growing, shorter children whose bone age and height age lagged behind their calendar age. The review does not say why. One possible reading is that these children had a pituitary that could still answer a push. It did not clearly match the standard. In studies using other sermorelin schedules, gains in height velocity were smaller than in children receiving daily somatropin, recombinant growth hormone, and the recommended regimen was never compared directly. Its effect on final adult height had not been determined when the review was written.[2](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-prakash-1999) ## The aging pituitary still answers Growth hormone and IGF-1 fall steadily with age, and it would be easy to assume the pituitary simply wears out. A 1992 study at the National Institute on Aging tested that idea directly, and the result is worth knowing. Researchers compared 9 healthy young men, average age 26, with 10 healthy older men, average age 68. At baseline the older men had lower IGF-1 and shorter bursts of growth hormone. Yet when both groups received an intravenous GHRH test, the older pituitaries released as much growth hormone as the young ones. The gland was still capable. One reading is that it was getting less of a push, though the study did not measure that directly. Then the older men took GHRH(1-29), the sermorelin sequence, by injection in two 14-day courses at two doses, with 14 days off in between. At the higher dose, their 24-hour growth hormone, pulse size and IGF-1 rose to levels not statistically different from the young men’s. Fasting glucose, blood pressure and routine blood tests did not change. This suggests that the signals reaching the pituitary change with age while the gland keeps much of its capacity, at least in healthy, lean older men. It is a small, short study, and restoring a hormone level is a different thing from improving health. Still, it explains why researchers kept testing GHRH in older adults.[3](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-corpas-1992) ## Sermorelin benefits in older adults: the small trials Two 1997 studies took the next step and looked for real-world changes. At Johns Hopkins, 11 healthy men aged 64 to 76 with low IGF-1 used GHRH(1-29) at home for six weeks. Nighttime growth hormone rose, yet IGF-1 did not. Two of six strength measures and one endurance test improved, while weight, body composition, glucose and lipids did not change. The Hopkins authors suggested that how the peptide is given may matter. Their single nightly injection appeared less effective at producing growth hormone and IGF-1 effects than earlier approaches, which fits the short life of the peptide, though the study did not compare schedules directly. A University of California study ran longer. Ten women and nine men aged 55 to 71 used a close analog of sermorelin for 16 weeks, after 4 weeks of placebo. IGF-1 rose within two weeks and drifted back toward baseline by the end. Skin thickness increased in both sexes. Lean mass, insulin sensitivity, well-being and libido improved in men only, and sleep quality did not change in either. Read together, these trials show a real but modest and uneven signal. Hormones moved reliably, body changes were small, the response faded in at least one study, and some results reached significance in men but not in women. Reviews of the whole secretagogue class reach a similar place and call for longer, rigorous trials.[6](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-vittone-1997)[7](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-khorram-1997)[4](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-sigalos-2018) ## What we actually know in people Sermorelin’s human record goes back decades, and it splits cleanly in two. In children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency, it was studied as a diagnostic test and as a daily treatment, reviewed in detail, and sold for years as a prescription medicine. That record is real, and it is old. In adults, the sermorelin studies highlighted here are a handful of small ones from the 1990s; later, larger trials of GHRH analogs in older adults deserve their own reading. They agree on the hormones: GHRH(1-29) and its close analogs raise growth hormone in older people, and over a few weeks can bring IGF-1 up toward young-adult levels. They disagree, or simply run out of power, on what that means for the body. Strength, lean mass, skin and insulin sensitivity moved in some groups and not others. What is missing from sermorelin’s record is the trial people actually want: a large, placebo-controlled study in adults, lasting a year or more, with outcomes such as muscle function, fat, bone and long-term safety. Reviews of the secretagogue class say rigorous long-term trials are few across the family, and findings from other secretagogues cannot settle sermorelin’s case. Until that trial exists, adult use rests on physiology and small studies. That justifies more controlled research, but it does not establish a favorable balance of benefit and risk for age-related use, and it is a weak basis for big promises.[2](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-prakash-1999)[3](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-corpas-1992)[6](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-vittone-1997)[7](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-khorram-1997)[4](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-sigalos-2018) Know your baseline before any peptide 120+ lab tests at Quest Diagnostics, every result reviewed by a licensed clinician. Most results in 3–5 business days. A baseline today gives your clinician something to compare against if you start Sermorelin later. [Start with 120+ lab tests · $99](https://www.vitalsvault.com/labs#plans)[Get early access to peptide care](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides-waitlist) Full refund before your blood draw · No membership ## Sermorelin vs CJC-1295 and tesamorelin Sermorelin is the parent of a small family of GHRH-based peptides. CJC-1295 starts from the same 29 amino acids, swaps four of them to resist enzymes, and in its DAC form adds a group that binds albumin so it lasts about a week. Tesamorelin goes the other way, building on the full 44-amino-acid GHRH sequence. The practical differences come down to duration and evidence. Sermorelin is short-acting and has the oldest record, mostly in children. CJC-1295 with DAC raises growth hormone for days but has only small trials in healthy adults. Tesamorelin has phase 3 trials and a current approval for a specific use in people with HIV. All three need a working pituitary and stimulate the body’s own release, though keeping feedback in place does not guarantee that growth hormone or IGF-1 stays in a normal range. All three share the same metabolic watch points, since they end in more growth hormone and IGF-1.[2](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-prakash-1999)[8](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-jette-2005)[9](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-teichman-2006)[10](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-falutz-2010)[4](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-sigalos-2018) ## Sermorelin side effects and safety In the pediatric studies, both single intravenous doses and daily injections under the skin were well tolerated. Transient facial flushing and pain at the injection site were the most commonly reported adverse events. The adult studies were small and short but broadly reassuring. The 1992 study found no change in fasting glucose, blood pressure or routine blood tests, the Hopkins study reported no significant adverse effects, and the only adverse effect in the 16-week analog study was a temporary rise in blood lipids that resolved by the end. The open questions are the ones shared by every growth hormone secretagogue. Reviews of the class note some concern for higher blood glucose from lower insulin sensitivity, and they describe long-term safety, including cancer incidence, as insufficiently studied. Growth hormone and IGF-1 encourage cell growth, so a cancer history deserves a careful conversation. People with a pituitary condition or prior pituitary surgery, diabetes or prediabetes, a pregnancy, or tested-sport obligations should talk to a clinician first. And with no approved product today, quality depends on ingredient sourcing, preparation, testing, storage and handling.[2](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-prakash-1999)[3](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-corpas-1992)[6](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-vittone-1997)[7](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-khorram-1997)[4](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-sigalos-2018) ## The labs worth checking before and after Because growth hormone lowers insulin sensitivity, the labs most relevant to that concern are metabolic, and IGF-1, the direct readout of the pathway, is a specialist test a clinician can add. Fasting glucose gives the quick snapshot. HbA1c averages blood sugar over about three months, so it shows a slow drift that one morning reading would miss. Fasting insulin adds context. Higher insulin with steady glucose can be consistent with the pancreas working harder to keep sugar in range, though it is not diagnostic on its own. None of this is a validated monitoring protocol for sermorelin; it is baseline context a clinician interprets. In the 16-week analog study, insulin sensitivity actually improved in men, which is a reminder that people differ and only measurement tells you which way you are going. Vitals Vault starts peptide care with a blood panel. A licensed clinician reviews the results with your history and decides what fits, and a retest of the same markers shows how your body responded.[7](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-khorram-1997)[4](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-sigalos-2018) ## Where sermorelin stands in 2026 No sermorelin product is FDA-approved today. Geref’s applications were withdrawn in 2009, and in 2013 FDA determined that it was not withdrawn for reasons of safety or effectiveness. Sermorelin is not one of the six peptides covered by FDA’s October 2026 enforcement-discretion policy. In sport, the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibits growth hormone releasing factors, including GHRH and its analogs, in and out of competition.[1](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-fr-geref-2013)[12](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-ncpa)[13](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-wada) ## What this means for you Sermorelin is the original GHRH drug: the shortest fully active piece of the body’s own growth hormone signal. It helped some growth hormone deficient children grow, served as a clean test of pituitary function, and, by FDA’s own finding, was not withdrawn for reasons of safety or effectiveness. In older adults, it reliably raises growth hormone, while the body changes in small trials were modest and uneven. The most useful lesson comes from the 1992 study. In healthy older men, the pituitary could still answer when asked. That makes it worth asking, with a clinician, how sleep, visceral fat, insulin or something else may be shaping your own numbers, and whether changing those first would move them.[2](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-prakash-1999)[1](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-fr-geref-2013)[3](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-corpas-1992) Know your baseline before any peptide 120+ lab tests at Quest Diagnostics, every result reviewed by a licensed clinician. Most results in 3–5 business days. A baseline today gives your clinician something to compare against if you start Sermorelin later. [Start with 120+ lab tests · $99](https://www.vitalsvault.com/labs#plans)[Get early access to peptide care](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides-waitlist) Full refund before your blood draw · No membership ## What to expect with Sermorelin Hormone changes come quickly. In the 1992 study, two weeks of the higher GHRH(1-29) dose brought older men’s growth hormone and IGF-1 to levels not statistically different from young men’s, and in the 16-week analog study IGF-1 rose within two weeks. In children, height velocity gains were measured over 12 months. Body changes are slower and less certain. A six-week study saw no change in body composition, and the 16-week study found lean mass gains in men only, with IGF-1 drifting back toward baseline by the end. A baseline panel and a retest are how you see your own response.[3](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-corpas-1992)[7](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-khorram-1997)[6](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-vittone-1997)[2](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-prakash-1999) ## Key Sermorelin studies - Guillemin et al., 1982[5](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-guillemin-1982) Isolation and sequencing study · Tumor tissue from a patient with acromegaly Identified the 44-amino-acid GHRH that sermorelin is drawn from Limits: Laboratory discovery, not a treatment study - Corpas et al., 1992[3](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-corpas-1992) Treatment study with crossover of two doses · 10 healthy older men, 9 young men as comparison Older pituitaries responded like young ones to a GHRH test; the higher dose brought growth hormone and IGF-1 to levels not statistically different from young men’s Limits: Small; two 14-day courses; hormone levels only - Vittone et al., 1997[6](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-vittone-1997) Before-and-after treatment study, 6 weeks · 11 healthy men aged 64 to 76 Nighttime growth hormone rose; some strength measures improved; IGF-1 and body composition unchanged Limits: Small; no placebo comparison described - Khorram et al., 1997[7](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-khorram-1997) Single-blind, placebo-controlled, 5 months · 10 women and 9 men aged 55 to 71 IGF-1 rose then faded; skin thickness up in both; lean mass and insulin sensitivity up in men only Limits: Small; used a close analog of sermorelin - Prakash and Goa, 1999[2](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-prakash-1999) Review · Children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency Height velocity rose and held through 12 months in some children; well tolerated; other schedules gave less growth than somatropin Limits: Limited data; recommended regimen not compared directly with somatropin; final adult height not known Key studies on Sermorelin | Study | Design | Who | What it found | Limits | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Guillemin et al., 1982[5](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-guillemin-1982) | Isolation and sequencing study | Tumor tissue from a patient with acromegaly | Identified the 44-amino-acid GHRH that sermorelin is drawn from | Laboratory discovery, not a treatment study | | Corpas et al., 1992[3](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-corpas-1992) | Treatment study with crossover of two doses | 10 healthy older men, 9 young men as comparison | Older pituitaries responded like young ones to a GHRH test; the higher dose brought growth hormone and IGF-1 to levels not statistically different from young men’s | Small; two 14-day courses; hormone levels only | | Vittone et al., 1997[6](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-vittone-1997) | Before-and-after treatment study, 6 weeks | 11 healthy men aged 64 to 76 | Nighttime growth hormone rose; some strength measures improved; IGF-1 and body composition unchanged | Small; no placebo comparison described | | Khorram et al., 1997[7](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-khorram-1997) | Single-blind, placebo-controlled, 5 months | 10 women and 9 men aged 55 to 71 | IGF-1 rose then faded; skin thickness up in both; lean mass and insulin sensitivity up in men only | Small; used a close analog of sermorelin | | Prakash and Goa, 1999[2](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-prakash-1999) | Review | Children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency | Height velocity rose and held through 12 months in some children; well tolerated; other schedules gave less growth than somatropin | Limited data; recommended regimen not compared directly with somatropin; final adult height not known | ## Sermorelin myths and evidence - ### Sermorelin was pulled from the market because it was unsafe Its maker discontinued Geref in 2008. In 2013, FDA determined it was not withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness.[1](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-fr-geref-2013) - ### Sermorelin is the same as taking growth hormone It contains no growth hormone. It prompts the pituitary to release its own, so the amount stays limited by the gland’s stores and the body’s feedback.[2](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-prakash-1999)[4](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-sigalos-2018) - ### Older people stop making growth hormone because the pituitary is worn out In a 1992 study, healthy older men’s pituitaries released as much growth hormone as young men’s when given a GHRH test, and the higher dose of GHRH(1-29) brought levels close enough to young men’s that the difference was not statistically significant.[3](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-corpas-1992) - ### Sermorelin reliably builds muscle and burns fat in older adults Small trials found modest, uneven changes. One six-week study saw no change in body composition; a 16-week analog study found more lean mass in men only.[6](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-vittone-1997)[7](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-khorram-1997) Know your baseline first 120+ lab tests at Quest, every result reviewed by a licensed clinician. Most results in 3–5 business days. [Start with 120+ lab tests · $99](https://www.vitalsvault.com/labs#plans) ## How is Sermorelin taken? Geref was injected, under the skin for children’s growth or intravenously for testing. Today, any sermorelin made by a pharmacy is an injection decided by a prescriber, not an approved product.[2](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-prakash-1999) ## Sermorelin dosage There is no currently approved sermorelin dose. Geref was dosed by weight: a single test dose into a vein, and a nightly injection under the skin for children with growth hormone deficiency. Small trials in healthy older men used fixed doses under the skin, once nightly or twice daily, for two to six weeks. The dosage table lists each one. Your clinician sets your dose.[2](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-prakash-1999)[3](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-corpas-1992)[6](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-vittone-1997) ## Typical Sermorelin dosage Sermorelin is not currently sold as an approved drug. As Geref, it was given as a single weight-based test dose into a vein, and as a nightly weight-based injection under the skin for children with growth hormone deficiency. Trials in older men used fixed doses under the skin for weeks. A clinician sets the actual dose. These are reference doses from FDA labels, studies in people and clinical practice reports, shown for education. They are not a recommendation or a prescription. Your dose, form and schedule should be set by a licensed clinician who knows your history and lab results. Already have a prescribed dose? The [peptide dosage calculator](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/tools/dosage-calculator) turns it into the units to draw on an insulin syringe. - Clinical practice report · Injection into a vein 1 µg/kg Single dose, as a test[2](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-prakash-1999) Diagnostic test for growth hormone deficiency, as Geref was used - Clinical practice report · Injection under the skin 30 µg/kg Once daily at bedtime[2](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-prakash-1999) Prepubertal children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency (Geref); not an adult dose - Human trial · Injection under the skin 0.5 mg or 1 mg Twice daily for 14 days[3](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-corpas-1992) Healthy men aged about 68; only the higher dose raised IGF-1 significantly. Studied as GHRH(1-29) - Human trial · Injection under the skin 2 mg Once nightly for 6 weeks[6](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-vittone-1997) 11 healthy, non-obese men aged 64 to 76 with low baseline IGF-1, self-injected at home; nightly growth hormone release rose, IGF-1 did not change Typical Sermorelin doses in people, by source | Source | Form | Amount | How often | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Clinical practice report[2](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-prakash-1999) | Injection into a vein | 1 µg/kg | Single dose, as a test | Diagnostic test for growth hormone deficiency, as Geref was used | | Clinical practice report[2](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-prakash-1999) | Injection under the skin | 30 µg/kg | Once daily at bedtime | Prepubertal children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency (Geref); not an adult dose | | Human trial[3](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-corpas-1992) | Injection under the skin | 0.5 mg or 1 mg | Twice daily for 14 days | Healthy men aged about 68; only the higher dose raised IGF-1 significantly. Studied as GHRH(1-29) | | Human trial[6](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-vittone-1997) | Injection under the skin | 2 mg | Once nightly for 6 weeks | 11 healthy, non-obese men aged 64 to 76 with low baseline IGF-1, self-injected at home; nightly growth hormone release rose, IGF-1 did not change | ## Is Sermorelin right for you? A clinician makes the call. These are the questions they will ask first. ### It may suit - Adults who want a clinician to review sleep, body composition and hormone labs, including IGF-1, before considering any growth hormone secretagogue - People who will retest glucose and insulin as part of care ### Talk to a clinician first if you are - A personal history of cancer or a tumor (growth hormone and IGF-1 promote cell growth) - Diabetes, prediabetes or glucose-lowering medicine - A pituitary condition or prior pituitary surgery - Pregnant or breastfeeding - Tested athletes (WADA prohibits growth hormone releasing factors) Vitals Vault peptide care starts with a blood panel and a licensed clinician, and ends with a retest. [Get early access to peptide care](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides-waitlist) ## Sermorelin vs CJC-1295 Sermorelin vs CJC-1295 | Attribute | Sermorelin | CJC-1295 | | --- | --- | --- | | Based on | GHRH first 29 amino acids, unmodified | GHRH first 29 amino acids with four substitutions; with DAC, an albumin-binding group | | Duration | Short | Days with DAC; short without | | Past FDA approval | Yes, as Geref, since discontinued | Never approved | | Current FDA status | No approved product | Not approved | ## The brake matters as much as the gas Growth hormone release is governed by two signals from the brain. One steps on the gas and the other steps on the brake. With age the system drifts toward more brake and less gas, and growth hormone and IGF-1 fall. Sermorelin pushes the gas without overriding the brake. Results depend on a pituitary that works and on the signals around it: sleep, body fat, insulin and training.[4](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-sigalos-2018)[3](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-corpas-1992) ### What else moves the same system 1. 01Protect deep sleepThe biggest growth hormone pulse arrives with slow-wave sleep. 2. 02Resistance trainLifting raises growth hormone and builds the tissue it acts on. 3. 03Lower visceral fatExcess belly fat dampens growth hormone release. 4. 04Know your sugar and insulinGrowth hormone raises glucose, so fasting insulin and HbA1c are worth tracking. ## Labs to check with Sermorelin A blood test before you start and a retest after shows what actually changed for you. It is how Vitals Vault approaches every treatment. 1. TestA baseline panel at Quest Diagnostics. 2. DecideA licensed clinician reviews your history and results. 3. RetestThe same markers again, side by side. [Start with 120+ lab tests · $99](https://www.vitalsvault.com/labs#plans) - [Fasting glucoseA simple metabolic marker to retest.](https://www.vitalsvault.com/biomarkers/glucose) - [HbA1cYour average blood sugar over about three months.](https://www.vitalsvault.com/biomarkers/hemoglobin-a1c) - [Fasting insulinShows insulin resistance earlier than glucose alone.](https://www.vitalsvault.com/biomarkers/insulin) ## Is Sermorelin FDA approved? Not currently. FDA approved Geref (sermorelin acetate) in 1990 as a diagnostic and in 1997 for children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency. EMD Serono discontinued both products in 2008, and FDA withdrew the applications effective June 18, 2009. In 2013 FDA determined they were not withdrawn for reasons of safety or effectiveness. No sermorelin product is approved today, and sermorelin is not one of the six peptides in the October 2026 policy.[1](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-fr-geref-2013)[12](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-ncpa) ### Sermorelin timeline 1. December 28, 1990 FDA approves Geref (sermorelin acetate) for evaluating pituitary growth hormone secretion.[1](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-fr-geref-2013) 2. September 26, 1997 FDA approves Geref for idiopathic growth hormone deficiency in children with growth failure.[1](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-fr-geref-2013) 3. 2008 to 2009 EMD Serono discontinues Geref; FDA withdraws the applications effective June 18, 2009.[1](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-fr-geref-2013) 4. March 2013 FDA determines Geref was not withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness.[1](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin#source-fr-geref-2013) ![A Middle Eastern man, 66, stout, silver hair, black-rim glasses, hands folded listens at a courtyard table](https://www.vitalsvault.com/_next/image?url=%2Fpublic-v3%2Fshoot%2Fpeptides%2Ffaq-sermorelin.webp&w=3840&q=75&dpl=shadow-production-f0162cb4d465-40992538108-1) ## Sermorelin questions What is sermorelin used for? Sermorelin was approved as Geref to diagnose growth hormone deficiency and to treat children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency and growth failure. It has also been studied in older adults. No sermorelin product is approved today. What are the benefits of sermorelin? In children it increased height velocity. In a short study of healthy older men, the higher dose brought growth hormone and IGF-1 to levels not statistically different from young men’s. No large trial has shown benefits for adult body composition or aging. How does sermorelin work? It is the first 29 amino acids of GHRH and binds the GHRH receptor on the pituitary to release growth hormone. The body’s own feedback still limits each pulse. What are the side effects of sermorelin? Transient facial flushing and pain at the injection site were the most common in studies. Reviews of the secretagogue class note possible effects on blood sugar and say long-term safety is poorly characterized. What is the sermorelin dosage? There is no currently approved dose. Geref was dosed by weight, mainly for children, and trials in older men used fixed nightly or twice-daily injections under the skin. Your clinician sets your dose. Why was Geref discontinued? Its maker, EMD Serono, discontinued it in 2008 and requested withdrawal of the applications, which FDA withdrew effective June 18, 2009. In 2013 FDA determined it was not withdrawn for reasons of safety or effectiveness. Sermorelin vs CJC-1295: what is the difference? Both are GHRH analogs built on the first 29 amino acids. CJC-1295 has four amino acid substitutions, and the DAC version adds an albumin-binding group, so it lasts days. Sermorelin is unmodified and short-acting. Is sermorelin FDA approved? Not at present. Geref was approved in 1990 and 1997, then discontinued. No sermorelin product is approved today. Is sermorelin banned in sports? Yes. The World Anti-Doping Agency prohibits growth hormone releasing factors in and out of competition. Can I get sermorelin through Vitals Vault? Vitals Vault is opening clinician-led peptide care that starts with a blood test. Join the peptides waitlist to hear first. A licensed clinician reviews your history and labs and decides whether sermorelin is right for you. ## Peptides, prescribed and measured Vitals Vault is opening peptide care that starts with your blood work, is prescribed by licensed US clinicians and ends with a retest. Join the waitlist to hear first. - Prescription only - Licensed US clinicians - Quest Diagnostics labs [Get early access to peptide care](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides-waitlist)[Start with 120+ lab tests · $99](https://www.vitalsvault.com/labs#plans) ## Keep reading [Full Peptide Guide](https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides) - CJC-1295A long-acting growth hormone releasing hormone analog, studied for raising growth hormone and IGF-1. - TesamorelinAn FDA-approved growth hormone releasing factor analog (Egrifta) for excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy. - IpamorelinA five-amino-acid growth hormone secretagogue that mimics ghrelin, studied for its selective release of growth hormone. - MK-677An oral, non-peptide ghrelin-receptor agonist that raises growth hormone and IGF-1. FDA lists a heart failure concern. ## Sources 1. 1. [Federal Register. Determination that GEREF (sermorelin acetate) injection was not withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness. March 4, 2013 (opens in a new tab)](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2013/03/04/2013-04827/determination-that-geref-sermorelin-acetate-injection-05-milligrams-basevial-and-10-milligrams) 2. 2. [Prakash A, et al. Sermorelin: a review of its use in the diagnosis and treatment of children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency. BioDrugs. 1999 (opens in a new tab)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18031173/) 3. 3. [Corpas E, et al. Growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone-(1-29) twice daily reverses the decreased GH and insulin-like growth factor-I levels in old men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1992 (opens in a new tab)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1379256/) 4. 4. [Sigalos JT, et al. The safety and efficacy of growth hormone secretagogues. Sex Med Rev. 2018 (opens in a new tab)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28400207/) 5. 5. [Guillemin R, et al. Growth hormone-releasing factor from a human pancreatic tumor that caused acromegaly. Science. 1982 (opens in a new tab)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6812220/) 6. 6. [Vittone J, et al. Effects of single nightly injections of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH 1-29) in healthy elderly men. Metabolism. 1997 (opens in a new tab)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9005976/) 7. 7. [Khorram O, et al. Endocrine and metabolic effects of long-term administration of [Nle27]growth hormone-releasing hormone-(1-29)-NH2 in age-advanced men and women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1997 (opens in a new tab)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9141536/) 8. 8. [Jetté L, et al. Human growth hormone-releasing factor (hGRF)1-29-albumin bioconjugates activate the GRF receptor on the anterior pituitary in rats: identification of CJC-1295 as a long-lasting GRF analog. Endocrinology. 2005 (opens in a new tab)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15817669/) 9. 9. [Teichman SL, et al. Prolonged stimulation of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I secretion by CJC-1295, a long-acting analog of GH-releasing hormone, in healthy adults. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006 (opens in a new tab)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16352683/) 10. 10. [Falutz J, et al. Effects of tesamorelin (TH9507), a growth hormone-releasing factor analog, in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with excess abdominal fat: a pooled analysis of two multicenter, double-blind placebo-controlled phase 3 trials with safety extension data. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 (opens in a new tab)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20554713/) 11. 11. [FDA. Certain bulk drug substances for use in compounding that may present significant safety risks (current as of April 22, 2026) (opens in a new tab)](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/certain-bulk-drug-substances-use-compounding-may-present-significant-safety-risks) 12. 12. [NCPA. FDA grants enforcement discretion for compounding six peptides. October 29, 2026 (opens in a new tab)](https://ncpa.org/newsroom/qam/2026/10/29/fda-grants-enforcement-discretion-compounding-six-peptides) 13. 13. [World Anti-Doping Agency. Prohibited List (opens in a new tab)](https://www.wada-ama.org/en/prohibited-list) Written by the Vitals Vault editorial team, medically reviewed by Robert Lufkin, MD, and updated October 29, 2026. This is general education, not medical advice. None of these peptides is FDA-approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and compounded medicines are not FDA-reviewed for safety, effectiveness or quality. Talk to a licensed clinician before starting any treatment. --- Canonical HTML: https://www.vitalsvault.com/peptides/sermorelin - [llms.txt](https://www.vitalsvault.com/llms.txt) - [sitemap.xml](https://www.vitalsvault.com/sitemap.xml) - [Developer portal](https://www.vitalsvault.com/developers)