Sermorelin: Dosage & Administration

Sermorelin (GHRH 1-29) is a growth hormone-releasing hormone analog that stimulates the pituitary gland to produce and release growth hormone naturally. It was FDA-approved (as Geref) before being voluntarily discontinued by the manufacturer due to commercial reasons, not safety concerns.

Application	Dose	Route	Timing	Duration
Anti-aging / GH optimization	200–300 mcg	Subcutaneous	Bedtime (fasted)	3–6 months
Body composition	300–500 mcg	Subcutaneous	Bedtime + post-exercise	3–6 months
Sleep optimization	200–300 mcg	Subcutaneous	30 min before bed	Ongoing
With ipamorelin stack	100–200 mcg sermorelin + 200 mcg ipamorelin	Subcutaneous	Bedtime (fasted)	8–12 weeks

Why bedtime dosing? The largest natural GH pulse occurs during Stage 3/4 NREM (deep) sleep. Sermorelin administered 30 minutes before bed amplifies this pulse, synergizing with the body's circadian GH rhythm rather than overriding it.

Fasted administration is critical for sermorelin effectiveness:

• Minimum fast: 2 hours after eating — ideally 3+ hours
• Post-injection fast: Avoid eating for 30 minutes after injection
• Why it matters: Elevated blood glucose triggers insulin release, which in turn stimulates somatostatin — the hormone that directly suppresses GH release from the pituitary. Eating before sermorelin essentially blocks its mechanism of action
• Carbohydrates are the worst offenders: High-glycemic foods spike insulin most aggressively. Fats and proteins have a lesser but still significant blunting effect

This fasting requirement applies to all GHRH analogs (CJC-1295, tesamorelin) and GH secretagogues (ipamorelin, hexarelin). It does not apply to direct GH injection, which bypasses the pituitary entirely.

Sermorelin is supplied as lyophilized powder in various vial sizes:

Vial Size	BAC Water	Concentration	Volume for 200 mcg	Volume for 300 mcg
2 mg	1 mL	2 mg/mL	0.10 mL (10 units)	0.15 mL (15 units)
5 mg	2.5 mL	2 mg/mL	0.10 mL (10 units)	0.15 mL (15 units)
9 mg	3 mL	3 mg/mL	0.067 mL (6.7 units)	0.10 mL (10 units)

Use the peptide calculator for precise volumes. See the reconstitution guide for step-by-step instructions.

Sermorelin cycling differs from most peptides because it maintains natural feedback loops:

• Standard cycle: 3–6 months continuous use
• IGF-1 stabilization: 2–4 weeks to see elevated IGF-1 levels
• Body composition changes: 4–12 weeks for noticeable fat loss and lean mass improvements
• Long-term use: Some protocols use sermorelin continuously because it does not suppress endogenous GH production — the pituitary retains full function
• Post-cycle: No PCT (post-cycle therapy) is needed. GH levels return to baseline naturally after discontinuation

This is a key advantage over exogenous GH, which can suppress pituitary function and cause GH dependency. Sermorelin actually maintains — and may improve — pituitary reserve over time.

Sermorelin is a GHRH analog (it activates the GHRH receptor). For maximum GH release, it can be combined with compounds that activate the other GH release pathway — the ghrelin/GHS receptor:

• Sermorelin + Ipamorelin: The most common combination. GHRH + GHRP synergy produces 2–3x the GH release of either alone. Ipamorelin is preferred for its selectivity (minimal cortisol/prolactin effects)
• Sermorelin + CJC-1295 (no DAC): Sometimes used alternately — both are GHRH analogs, so the benefit of combining them is limited. CJC-1295 has a longer half-life
• Sermorelin + Hexarelin: More potent GH release than sermorelin/ipamorelin, but hexarelin increases cortisol and prolactin. Used for aggressive body composition protocols

See the GH optimization stack for structured protocols, and the anti-aging guide for comprehensive longevity protocols.