Sermorelin
A growth hormone-releasing hormone analog that stimulates natural GH production at the pituitary level.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Jonathan Snipes, MD. Last reviewed May 6, 2026.What It Is
Sermorelin is a truncated form of GHRH (growth hormone-releasing hormone). It's one of the most studied and widely prescribed GH peptides.
How It Works
It binds to GHRH receptors on the pituitary gland, stimulating your body to produce and release more of its own growth hormone in a natural pulsatile pattern.
Who It's For
Adults over 30 experiencing age-related GH decline. Those looking for gentle, natural GH support without the intensity of synthetic HGH.
Who Should Avoid It
Not for those with active cancer, pituitary tumors. Use with caution in diabetic retinopathy.
Protocol & Pricing
OBP Pharmacy Price
$80/15mg
You pay pharmacy price. No markup.
Starting Dose
20 units (0.6mg)
Form
Injectable vial (5mL, 3mg/mL, 15mg total)
Dosing Protocol
20 units subcutaneous injection daily, Monday–Friday. Take in evening to amplify natural nocturnal GH surge. 20 units = 0.2mL × 3mg/mL = 0.6mg per injection.
Beyond Use Date
90 Days from compounding (USP <797>)
Use within this window from the date your vial is compounded. BUD is set per USP <797> sterile compounding standards and printed on every label.
Stacking Guide
Stacks Well With
Related Peptides
Common questions about Sermorelin
- What is sermorelin and what does it do?
- Sermorelin is a 29-amino acid peptide that mimics the active fragment of natural growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). It binds to GHRH receptors on the pituitary gland and stimulates the body's own pulsatile growth hormone release. The molecule was originally FDA-approved as Geref for pediatric GH deficiency. It is used in adult age-management practices to support GH levels that decline naturally with age. The sermorelin starter Optimal Balance Pharmacy compounds for PeptideRx prescriptions is the 15 mg vial at $80 with a $39 medical visit fee.
- Is sermorelin safe?
- Sermorelin has a long clinical safety record dating to the original Geref FDA approval in the 1990s. It works by stimulating endogenous GH release rather than supplying synthetic GH, so it preserves the body's negative feedback loop and avoids the supraphysiologic GH levels seen with HGH injections. The most commonly reported side effects are mild injection-site reactions, occasional flushing, and rare transient drowsiness. Sermorelin is contraindicated in patients with active malignancy, pituitary tumors, or active diabetic retinopathy.
- Does sermorelin work for adults with low growth hormone?
- Yes. Sermorelin reliably increases endogenous GH and IGF-1 levels in adults when dosed appropriately at bedtime. Clinical use over the last 3 decades supports improvements in body composition (reduced visceral fat, modest lean mass increase), sleep quality, and skin elasticity over a 3 to 6 month protocol. Effects are gentler than synthetic HGH because the body's pulsatile release pattern is preserved. Lab work (IGF-1 baseline and follow-up) is the most reliable way to measure response.
- How much sermorelin should I take per day?
- The PeptideRx starting dose is 20 units (0.6 mg) on a U-100 insulin syringe drawn from a 15 mg/3 mL vial, taken subcutaneously once daily before bed. Some providers titrate to 1 mg per night based on IGF-1 response. Take it on an empty stomach (no food for 2 hours before) to avoid blunting the GH pulse with insulin or carbohydrate intake. Your provider will adjust the dose based on your IGF-1 follow-up labs.
- Is sermorelin FDA approved?
- Sermorelin was FDA-approved as Geref in 1997 for diagnostic and pediatric use. The branded product was discontinued for commercial reasons, but sermorelin remains an FDA-listed active ingredient eligible for compounding by a 503A pharmacy under a patient-specific prescription. PeptideRx prescribes sermorelin and Optimal Balance Pharmacy compounds it under Section 503A; the Certificate of Analysis for every batch is published on this product page.
- Does sermorelin need to be refrigerated?
- Yes. Sermorelin ships pre-reconstituted from Optimal Balance Pharmacy and must be refrigerated at 36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit (2 to 8 degrees Celsius). Optimal Balance ships in cold-chain packaging to preserve potency in transit. Each vial carries a Beyond Use Date (BUD) printed on the label per USP <797>. Do not freeze; freezing degrades the peptide and reduces potency. Discard any vial past the printed BUD.
- How do I get sermorelin prescribed?
- Complete the PeptideRx intake at rxpepsdirect.com. The intake captures medical history, current medications, recent labs (IGF-1 if available), and your goals. A licensed nurse practitioner or physician assistant in your state reviews your intake; if sermorelin is appropriate they write the prescription. Optimal Balance Pharmacy fills it and ships via FedEx 2-day. Most patients have their order within 5 business days of intake submission. The flat fee is $39 per order regardless of how many peptides are included.