Growth Hormone (GH): How It Works, What It's Studied For & Safety
Growth Hormone (GH) is a 191-amino-acid pituitary peptide hormone that drives linear growth in childhood and continues to support body composition, recovery, and metabolism in adulthood; recombinant forms (somatropin) are FDA-approved for specific deficiency states. Clinicians consider it for pediatric and adult growth-hormone deficiency (FDA-approved for somatropin). Compounded variants are dispensed by Wells Pharmacy Network only after a clinician evaluation.
Also known as: Somatropin, HGH, rHGH, Recombinant human growth hormone
How does Growth Hormone (GH) work?
GH is secreted in pulses from the anterior pituitary under hypothalamic GHRH stimulation and somatostatin inhibition. It binds the GH receptor on liver and peripheral tissues, driving IGF-1 production, lipolysis, and protein-synthesis signaling. GHRH analogs (sermorelin, tesamorelin, CJC-1295) and GH secretagogues (ipamorelin) work upstream of the pituitary; recombinant GH delivers the hormone directly.
What is Growth Hormone (GH) studied for?
- Pediatric and adult growth-hormone deficiency (FDA-approved for somatropin)
- HIV-associated lipodystrophy and short-bowel syndrome (FDA-approved indications)
- Body-composition, recovery, and healthy-aging research (off-label, controversial)
How is Growth Hormone (GH) taken?
Recombinant somatropin is FDA-approved as a subcutaneous injection across multiple branded products. Off-label use of recombinant GH for anti-aging or athletic enhancement is not FDA-approved and is restricted under the Anti-Drug Abuse Act.
Is Growth Hormone (GH) FDA-approved? Is it safe?
FDA-approved as a finished drug product when prescribed under its labeled indications. Compounded variants on this site are separate from the branded product and are dispensed only when a clinician determines a compounded preparation is appropriate. Off-label distribution of recombinant GH for non-approved indications is restricted under federal law (21 USC 333(e)). Adverse effects of GH excess include edema, joint pain, glucose intolerance, and theoretical malignancy concerns. Compounded prescription-only preparations are dispensed by Wells Pharmacy Network. Eligibility is decided by a licensed clinician based on intake and labs, not by checkout. Compounded products on this site are not FDA-approved and are not generic equivalents of any branded medication.
In the Regen Therapy catalog
This compound does not currently appear in an active Regen Therapy protocol. Browse the full catalog for adjacent options.
What does the research say about Growth Hormone (GH)?
Decades of FDA-approved use for deficiency states. Healthy-aging and athletic-performance use is not an FDA-approved indication and has limited supporting trial data.
Citations & further reading
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