Sermorelin dosage and protocol
Last reviewed Oct 7, 2026. Editorial policy
Sermorelin is a synthetic analog of GHRH (Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone), consisting of the first 29 amino acids. It is one of the oldest and most studied GH secretagogues, used extensively in anti-aging and HRT clinics. Sermorelin stimulates the pituitary gland to naturally produce and release GH, making it a safer alternative to exogenous HGH.
- Vial size: 5 mg
- Reconstitution: 3 mL bacteriostatic water
- Concentration: 1.67 mg/mL
- Administration: subcutaneous
Research areas
- Growth Hormone
- Anti-Aging
- Fat Loss
- Muscle Preservation
- Sleep Quality
Quick start
- Reconstitute: Add 3.0 mL bacteriostatic water → ~1.67 mg/mL concentration
- Typical daily range: 200–500 mcg once daily at bedtime (gradual titration)
- Easy measuring: At 1.67 mg/mL, 1 unit = 0.01 mL ≈ 16.7 mcg on a U-100 syringe
- Storage: Lyophilized at 2–8°C; after reconstitution, refrigerate at 2–8°C and use within 10–14 days
Dosing protocol
| Phase | Dose | Frequency | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1–2 | 200 mcg | Once daily at bedtime (SC) | 0.12 mL (12 units) |
| Weeks 3–4 | 300 mcg | Once daily at bedtime (SC) | 0.18 mL (18 units) |
| Weeks 5–6 | 400 mcg | Once daily at bedtime (SC) | 0.24 mL (24 units) |
| Weeks 7–8 | 500 mcg | Once daily at bedtime (SC) | 0.30 mL (30 units) |
How it works
Sermorelin is GHRH(1-29)-amide, the shortest fully active fragment of growth hormone-releasing hormone. It binds the GHRH receptor on somatotroph cells of the anterior pituitary, raising intracellular cAMP and stimulating both synthesis and pulsatile release of growth hormone. Because it acts upstream of the pituitary, GH output stays subject to normal feedback from somatostatin and IGF-1, which tends to limit excessive levels compared with direct HGH administration. Increased GH secretion raises circulating IGF-1, which mediates many downstream effects on protein synthesis, lipolysis and tissue maintenance. Sermorelin has a short half-life of minutes, so its effect is a brief GH pulse rather than sustained elevation. Sermorelin was FDA-approved (as Geref) for diagnosing and treating growth hormone deficiency in children; the branded product was discontinued in 2008 for commercial reasons rather than safety concerns. Small studies in older adults showed raised GH and IGF-1 levels with modest changes in body composition and skin thickness, but evidence for anti-aging benefits in healthy adults is limited and largely from small trials.
Units chart for a 5 mg vial
| Water added | Strength | 1 unit = | 200 mcg | 300 mcg | 400 mcg | 500 mcg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | 5 mg/mL | 50 mcg | 4 units | 6 units | 8 units | 10 units |
| 2 mL | 2.5 mg/mL | 25 mcg | 8 units | 12 units | 16 units | 20 units |
| 3 mL | 1.67 mg/mL | 16.7 mcg | 12 units | 18 units | 24 units | 30 units |
Units on a U-100 insulin syringe (100 units = 1 mL).
Pages for each vial size and water volume
Reconstitution steps
- Draw 3.0 mL bacteriostatic water with a sterile syringe
- Inject slowly down the vial wall; gently swirl to dissolve (do not shake vigorously)
- Label with reconstitution date and refrigerate at 2–8°C (36–46°F), protected from light
- Use within 10–14 days; wipe vial stopper with alcohol before each use
Storage
Evidence: Common practice. What vendors and users usually do. No published stability testing supports a specific number.
- Powder or unopened: Sealed powder: freezer (about −20 °C) for long-term storage, refrigerator for weeks. Let the vial reach room temperature before opening.
- Mixed or in use: Refrigerator, 2–8 °C. Do not freeze and thaw repeatedly.
- Use within: no tested number
- Light: Keep it in the box or another dark container.
The former US product (Geref) is no longer marketed, so there is no current label.
Most reconstituted peptides are kept in the refrigerator (2–8 °C) and used within about 28 days. That is a convention, not tested data: the 28 days comes from the USP <797> limit for opened multiple-dose containers, which is about sterility, not about whether the peptide stays intact.
Sources: Crestigen: Peptide storage and handling guide; USP General Chapter <797> Pharmaceutical Compounding: Sterile Preparations
Store lyophilized at 2–8°C. After reconstitution, refrigerate at 2–8°C and use within 10–14 days. Do not freeze reconstituted solution.
Important notes
- Research use only
- Best taken before sleep to mimic natural GH pulse patterns
- Often stacked with Ipamorelin for enhanced GH secretion
- More affordable than HGH with a safer profile
Supplies
- Bacteriostatic water
- Insulin syringes (U-100)
- Alcohol swabs