HomePeptides › Sermorelin

Sermorelin

GRF(1-29), Geref

Tier 3 · Limited Human Data
Class
GHRH analog
Molecular target
GHRH receptor (pituitary somatotrophs)
Sequence / structure
YADAIFTNSYRKVLGQLSARKLLQDIMSR (GHRH 1-29 amide)
Evidence tier
Tier 3 — Limited Human Data
Category
Growth Hormone Axis
Emergency card
Signs something is wrong

Puffiness and fluid retention in the hands and feet, joint aches, wrist tingling (carpal tunnel), and blood sugar creeping up over weeks — most pronounced with MK-677 and somatropin.

What to do now

These accumulate rather than strike suddenly — reassess and stop rather than pushing the dose up. Check glucose if you can.

When it is an emergency

A severe persistent headache with vision changes (possible raised intracranial pressure), or symptoms of very high blood sugar — extreme thirst, confusion, vomiting — warrant urgent care.

Any injection — every time

Allergic reaction: hives, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, wheezing or dizziness can escalate to anaphylaxis within minutes — call 911 immediately. Site infection: spreading redness, heat, swelling, pus or fever is not wait-and-see; an abscess or cellulitis can need drainage or IV antibiotics. Unverified product: grey-market vials are frequently mislabelled or contaminated, so a reaction may be to endotoxin or the wrong contents, not the named compound.

This is not permission or instruction to use this compound. It is harm-reduction information for someone who has already decided to, so that a bad reaction is recognised and treated. When in doubt, get help — embarrassment is survivable.

Biology & mechanism

The shortest fully active fragment of growth hormone-releasing hormone. Binding the GHRH receptor on pituitary somatotrophs stimulates endogenous GH synthesis and release. Because it acts upstream and preserves negative feedback via somatostatin and IGF-1, the resulting GH release remains pulsatile — mechanistically distinct from administering recombinant GH.

What the research actually shows

Studied historically as a diagnostic agent for GH reserve and in paediatric GH deficiency. Contemporary use in adults for body composition or “anti-ageing” is not supported by adequate controlled trials.

Regulatory status

Formerly FDA-approved as Geref for paediatric GH deficiency; withdrawn from the US market in 2008 for commercial reasons. No currently approved product. Now supplied through compounding, an area under active FDA scrutiny.

Safety signals

Historical trial data showed injection-site reactions and flushing. Long-term consequences of sustained GH-axis stimulation in adults with normal pituitary function are not characterised. Prohibited in sport (WADA S2).

Clinical trial dosing — what the studies actually used

Historical only: the GHRH stimulation test used 1 mcg/kg IV; the withdrawn paediatric product (Geref) was weight-dosed. No current approved regimen, and contemporary adult use has no trial basis.

Reported from clinical trials or FDA labelling as a matter of record. It is not a recommendation, and for unapproved compounds no dose has been shown safe or effective in humans.

We report study doses, not protocols

Above is what was administered in trials or on FDA labels, reported as fact. We do not convert it into a personal protocol, calculate a dose for your body weight, or tell you what to inject or how to reconstitute it — that decision belongs with a licensed physician. See our editorial policy.

References & further reading

Regulatory status changes. This page reflects our reading of public sources as of July 2026 and should be independently verified before it is relied upon.

Important notice Forge Bioenergy publishes scientific reference information only. Nothing on this site is medical advice, a therapeutic claim, or a recommendation to use any substance in humans. Many peptides described here are not approved by the FDA for any use, and several are approved only for narrow indications under prescription. We do not publish dosing, administration, or usage protocols. Consult a licensed physician before making any medical decision.