Sermorelin: What It Is, the Evidence and Drug-Testing Rules

Sermorelin · checked 8 November 2026

Short answer: sermorelin is a lab-made copy of the first part of growth hormone-releasing hormone. It prompts the pituitary gland to release the body's own growth hormone. It was FDA-approved as Geref for children until 2008; today it's available only as a compounded medication, which isn't FDA-approved. Human evidence in adults is small and short-term, and it's prohibited at all times in tested sport.

Checked against FDA, WADA, USADA and Department of Defense sources on 8 November 2026. Rules change.

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What sermorelin is

Sermorelin copies the first 29 amino acids of growth hormone-releasing hormone, which the brain uses to signal the pituitary gland. It prompts the pituitary to release the body's own growth hormone, which in turn raises IGF-1. Because the body's normal feedback controls still apply, it isn't the same as injecting growth hormone.

Regulatory history

Geref. FDA approved sermorelin as Geref in 1990 as a diagnostic test and in 1997 to treat growth hormone deficiency in children.
Discontinued. The maker stopped selling it in 2008 and the approvals were withdrawn in 2009. In 2013 FDA determined it was not withdrawn for reasons of safety or effectiveness.
Today. Sermorelin is compounded by licensed pharmacies for individual prescriptions. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved.

What the evidence shows

Children. In some children with growth hormone deficiency, daily injections increased growth rate, though less than growth hormone itself.
Older adults. Small, short studies found it raised growth hormone and IGF-1 levels. In one 6-week study, body composition and IGF-1 didn't change, and a review of two 6-month trials found no improvement in sleep quality.
The gap. There are no large, long-term randomised trials in healthy adults, and no trial shows a benefit for function or health outcomes. That's why we don't make claims about results.

Side effects

In the Geref label, about 1 in 6 patients had injection-site pain, swelling or redness. Headache, flushing, dizziness and hives were uncommon. Some children developed an underactive thyroid during treatment, so thyroid testing was advised. A physician reviews your health history before prescribing.

Drug testing: athletes, service members and tested jobs

Sport. WADA's 2026 Prohibited List names sermorelin under S2, prohibited at all times. USADA says an exemption is highly unlikely. MLB's drug program lists it too, and NCAA rules ban related peptide hormones.
Military. The DoD's Operation Supplement Safety says peptide hormones are prohibited for service members. If you serve, talk to your military medical provider and command first.
Coaching clients who compete. If a client is in tested sport, sermorelin isn't an option for them.

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Common questions

Is sermorelin FDA-approved?

Not today. Sermorelin was FDA-approved as Geref for children with growth hormone deficiency until it was discontinued in 2008, and FDA later found it wasn't withdrawn for safety or effectiveness reasons. It's now available only as a compounded medication, which isn't FDA-approved.

Is sermorelin banned in sport?

Yes. The World Anti-Doping Agency lists growth hormone-releasing hormone and its analogues, naming sermorelin, as prohibited at all times. USADA says a therapeutic use exemption is highly unlikely, and Major League Baseball's drug program also lists it.

Is sermorelin the same as growth hormone?

No. Sermorelin prompts the pituitary gland to release the body's own growth hormone, and the body's normal feedback controls still apply. It isn't growth hormone itself.

Can service members use sermorelin?

The Department of Defense's Operation Supplement Safety says peptide hormones are prohibited for service members and are prescription-only. If you serve, talk to your military medical provider and command before using it.

Sources (checked 8 November 2026): Federal Register, 4 Mar 2013 (Geref determination); BioDrugs review, 1999; Vittone et al., 1997; WADA Prohibited List; USADA on sermorelin; Operation Supplement Safety on peptide hormones.

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Coverage information is general, was checked on 8 November 2026, and plans change. Ask your plan about your own coverage.

Compounded medication. Sermorelin is prepared by a licensed pharmacy for an individual patient. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved and have not been reviewed by the FDA for safety or effectiveness. Sermorelin is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and is not prescribed for anti-ageing, bodybuilding or athletic performance.

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