Sermorelin (GHRH analog)

Sermorelin is a synthetic 29-amino-acid copy of your body's growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH 1-29). It prompts your pituitary to release growth hormone (GH) in natural pulses that still respond to feedback. That contrasts with injecting GH directly, which suppresses your own production. It used to be FDA-approved for childhood GH deficiency (as Geref). The maker voluntarily pulled it in 2008 for commercial reasons, and the FDA's 2013 notice formally confirmed it was not withdrawn for safety or effectiveness. Sermorelin is still approved in some other countries. In anti-aging clinics, it is widely prescribed off-label, advertised for effects on GH/IGF-1, body fat, lean mass, and sleep in middle-aged and older adults. But controlled evidence for real longevity or functional benefits is limited. And the GH-secretagogue class broadly lacks Phase III efficacy data for aging. Side effects include injection-site reactions and fluid retention. There is also a theoretical worry that boosting GH/IGF-1 (which is mitogenic) could promote hidden tumors. Major endocrine societies do not endorse it for anti-aging.

Last reviewed: June 22, 2026

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