HGH (Somatropin)
Recombinant human growth hormone, the protein itself, not a peptide that nudges your body to make more. Highest legal-risk compound in this catalog.
HGH (Somatropin): Recombinant human growth hormone, the protein itself, not a peptide that nudges your body to make more. Highest legal-risk compound in this catalog. HGH is the actual growth hormone protein your pituitary releases, not a peptide that nudges your body to release more.
HGH is the actual growth hormone protein your pituitary releases, not a peptide that nudges your body to release more. Prescription only in legitimate medicine. Carries the highest legal risk of anything in this space if used non-medically. Most users in this catalog run GH-axis *peptides* (Ipamorelin, CJC, Tesamorelin, Sermorelin) instead, which signal your own body to produce more GH naturally and carry far less regulatory exposure.
Approved under multiple brand names (Genotropin, Humatrope, Norditropin, Saizen, Omnitrope) for GH deficiency, AIDS wasting, Turner syndrome, short stature in children, idiopathic short stature, SHOX deficiency, and others.
Yes, by endocrinologists for the approved indications. Performance use is illegal under the U.S. Anabolic Steroid Control Act.
Pepdex covers HGH for educational reference only. Recombinant HGH is regulated under the U.S. Anabolic Steroid Control Act for non-medical use. Most users in this space run the GH-axis peptides instead (Ipamorelin, CJC-1295, Tesamorelin, Sermorelin) which are well-documented in this catalog with cleaner regulatory status.
What people mean by “HGH peptides”
HGH is not one of them. Somatropin, the compound on this page, is a 191-amino-acid protein with the same sequence as the growth hormone a pituitary gland makes, so it supplies the hormone directly. The compounds people call HGH peptides work the other way round: they are shorter peptides that signal your own pituitary to release more of its own GH. Almost everything under the label acts through one of two receptor pathways, plus one oral compound that is not a peptide at all.
| Compound | Family | What it is | US status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sermorelin | GHRH analog | Amidated GHRH(1-29), the biologically active fragment of natural GHRH. | Approval withdrawn |
| CJC-1295 (no DAC) | GHRH analog | Modified GRF(1-29), a short-acting GHRH analog. The long-acting DAC version is a different molecule with a different profile. | Not approved |
| Tesamorelin | GHRH analog | A stabilized GHRH analog, the only one here with a currently marketed FDA-approved product. | Approved, HIV lipodystrophy |
| Ipamorelin | GHRP | Selective ghrelin-receptor agonist. Preclinical work reported more GH selectivity and less cortisol and prolactin rise than older GHRPs. | Not approved |
| Hexarelin | GHRP | An earlier GHRP, investigated for GH release and for possible direct effects on heart tissue, mostly in small or preclinical studies. | Not approved |
| GHRP-2 / GHRP-6 | GHRP | The original two GHRPs. Increased appetite is a commonly reported effect, most associated with GHRP-6. | Not approved |
| MK-677 (Ibutamoren) | Not a peptide | A non-peptide small-molecule agonist of the same ghrelin receptor the GHRPs hit. Grouped with them because the endpoint matches, and orally active. | Not approved |
A GHRH analog and a GHRP are not interchangeable, and neither one delivers growth hormone. They raise what your own body releases, which only works where pituitary function is intact, and it is why the evidence base, the indications, and the regulatory picture all look nothing like somatropin’s. Full list with evidence grades on the growth hormone peptides category page.
Who it's for
- →People who already have a legitimate medical prescription (GH deficiency, AIDS wasting, short stature)
- →Educational reference, most users in this space run GH-axis peptides instead
What to expect
- Week 1
Water retention, mild joint stiffness, sleep changes.
- Week 4
IGF-1 climbs noticeably. Skin and recovery improvements appear.
- Week 8
Body comp shifts in users training with adequate protein.
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How it works (mechanism)
Recombinant human growth hormone (somatropin), the actual 191-amino-acid protein your pituitary makes. Binds GH receptors on the liver to trigger IGF-1 production, and directly on muscle, fat, and bone for tissue effects.
Dosing protocol
Stacks well with
Side effects
When NOT to use
- ⚠Active malignancy
- ⚠Active diabetic retinopathy
- ⚠Acute critical illness (post open-heart or abdominal surgery, multiple trauma, or acute respiratory failure, raised mortality in ICU trials)
- ⚠Pregnancy / nursing
- ⚠No legitimate medical indication
Bloodwork to monitor
- • IGF-1
- • Fasting glucose / A1C
- • TSH / fT4
- • ALT/AST
Common mistakes
- • Treating it like a peptide with low oversight, it isn't
- • Underestimating the legal/regulatory risk
- • Stacking with other things that raise insulin resistance
Drug & supplement interactions
- ⚠Glucocorticoids reduce HGH efficacy
- ⚠Insulin requirements may shift, closer monitoring needed in diabetics
- ⚠Estrogen (oral) reduces HGH effect on IGF-1
- ⚠Thyroid hormone requirements may increase
Community patterns
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Common questions about HGH (Somatropin)
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More in GH-axis
Oral ghrelin mimetic. Bumps GH and IGF-1 without injections. Strong appetite stimulation is the trade-off.
Bumps your natural growth-hormone pulses without hitting cortisol or prolactin. A selective GH secretagogue.
Pairs with Ipamorelin to amplify your natural growth-hormone pulses. A GHRH analog whose 'no-DAC' version stays short-acting on purpose.
Used to drive muscle growth. A long-acting form of insulin-like growth factor 1, with limited human safety data and a real side effect profile, handle with discipline.