Hilma Biocare HGH 2 vials (2x 50 IU)

HGH – Human Growth Hormone

Human Growth Hormone (HGH) is a vital substance secreted by the anterior pituitary gland, playing a pivotal role in normal growth and development throughout life. The secretion of growth hormone (GH) begins at birth, peaking during late adolescence, then gradually declining in the second decade of life. For over 40 years, GH has been utilized in treating specific medical conditions. Recently, a surge in demand has led many, especially middle-aged and elderly individuals, to seek out its perceived anti-aging benefits, while athletes and young bodybuilders often turn to GH for enhanced performance. Among the various drugs misused in sports, GH ranks among the top three.

What is Human Growth Hormone?

Human Growth Hormone, commonly referred to as HGH, hGH, or GH, activates cellular growth and metabolic processes within the human body. Produced by the anterior pituitary gland at the skull’s base, GH works in tandem with other hormones to stimulate and regulate proper growth and development. Natural GH levels peak during puberty and can significantly drop by the age of 40.

Growth hormone is widely available through health food stores and alternative health practitioners, often sold under various brand names like Genotropin®, Humatrope®, Norditropin®, Nutropin®, Saizen®, and Serostim®.

Pharmacology

Most available GH is created using recombinant DNA technology, with synthetic forms including somatropin and somatrem. Both types display similar pharmacological effects, indistinguishable from naturally occurring GH after injection. Growth hormone binds to GH receptors in various tissues, stimulating metabolic processes, maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance, and increasing muscle and skeletal mass. GH levels typically increase during stress, sleep, and exercise.

When Do GH Levels Change?

Medical conditions may arise when GH levels are too low or too high. Excess GH can result in acromegaly—characterized by enlarged extremities and rapid cell growth—or pituitary gigantism, causing extreme height due to GH overproduction. Conversely, a deficiency can lead to serious short stature conditions significantly affecting health.

Approved Clinical Uses of GH

The FDA has approved various injectable HGH preparations, available only through a licensed physician’s prescription. Initially approved in 1985 for treating short stature due to GH deficiency (GHD), subsequent approvals addressed conditions like Prader-Willi syndrome, chronic renal insufficiency-related short stature, Turner syndrome, idiopathic short stature, and intrauterine growth retardation. Additionally, GH therapy is sanctioned for treating growth hormone deficiency related to pituitary tumors and for adults experiencing AIDS-associated wasting syndrome.

The benefits of GH injections for treated conditions include:

• Increased muscle mass and bone density
• Decreased body fat
• Enhanced cognitive function
• Improved exercise performance
• Increased cardiovascular stress tolerance

Dosage

GH is administered exclusively via injection—either subcutaneous or intramuscular—not orally. Once absorbed, it acts quickly in the bloodstream. While dosing based on IGF levels is suggested by recent studies, many physicians still base doses on body weight, typically around 0.01-0.1 mg/kg. GH is available as either powder or liquid, with the powder requiring solubilization before injection.

Side Effects of Growth Hormone

Common side effects of GH include:

• Generalized edema
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Joint and muscle pain
• Neuropathies such as tingling and numbness
• Elevated blood glucose levels

Is a Prescription Required for GH?

GH can only be prescribed legally for FDA-approved purposes, with numerous off-label uses, such as athletic performance enhancement and anti-aging treatments, existing despite the FDA’s concerns about risk versus benefit. While marketed as a comprehensive remedy, GH poses considerable side effects that patients need to consider before treatment.

Potential Risks of Taking GH

Taking GH carries the risk of overdose, potentially leading to serious conditions like acromegaly. Given its stimulation of cell growth, there are also concerns regarding the potential activation of harmful cells, such as cancer cells, resulting in diseases like leukemia, prostate cancer, and malignant tumors. Other less severe side effects may include fluid retention, carpal tunnel syndrome, joint pain, and type 2 diabetes. Those considering GH for anti-aging purposes should thoroughly evaluate the risks involved.

Off-Label Use

Bodybuilding

GH’s most prominent off-label applications include anti-aging and bodybuilding. It is one of the most abused substances among athletes due to its availability, despite being illegal to possess or sell. Bodybuilders often combine GH with various drugs, making it difficult to determine which is most effective. Furthermore, GH’s detection in athletes is challenging, contributing to its popularity.

While the number of people using GH remains uncertain, isolated confessions from athletes surface from time to time. Purchasing GH rarely comes cheaply, with prices ranging from $500-$2000 per month; counterfeit products are also prevalent.

Anti-Aging

GH is also sought after for its perceived anti-aging effects, as many seek to eliminate wrinkles. However, it is not FDA-approved for such purposes, with no evidence supporting its efficacy in reversing facial aging.

The hype surrounding GH has fueled a lucrative industry of ineffective “copycat” treatments worth $70 million. Individuals often pay between $10,000 and $20,000 annually for authentic GH injections, which are typically administered at medical spas or anti-aging clinics.

Availability

Most individuals acquire HGH through illegal means, such as theft from pharmacies or unscrupulous prescriptions for off-label use. Some obtain GH smuggled from Mexico and Europe, while others purchase it online from pharmacies that may not require physician consultations. Though injections are the only legitimate method of administering GH, numerous products are misleadingly marketed as sprays, pills, or topical gels, which offer minimal absorption.

Limitations of Testing

Detecting synthetic GH in the body is notably challenging; current tests cannot identify GH beyond 48 hours after injection, a fact that well-informed athletes exploit.

Sermorelin

Sermorelin is a newer drug, often counterfeited, acting as a biological analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), which stimulates GH production. Not detectable in blood or urine after a certain period, it allows athletes to evade detection. Sermorelin takes about 3-4 weeks to yield results, gradually enhancing strength without major side effects associated with GH. While designed for the aging population, it cannot replace GH and costs between $300-$1000 monthly.

Control Status

The rising abuse of HGH has prompted federal regulations limiting its sale and distribution. The 1990 Anabolic Steroids Control Act makes possession or distribution a crime with severe penalties. In March 2007, legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate to amend the Controlled Substances Act to include HGH as a Schedule III substance. The World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Olympic Committee classify GH as a performance-enhancing drug, preventing its use in sports.