HGH Injections Information, Dosages, and Risks
By Lisa Wells, RN
The human growth hormone (HGH or GH) made naturally by the pituitary gland in the brain is called somatotropin. The HGH contained in the injections is of recombinant (rDNA) origin and the generic name is Somatropin.
Somatropin in the past was one of the most expensive drugs available. However, over the past decade brands made outside the United States have become available at a lesser cost,and perhaps quality. The well-known high quality U.S. brands such as Eli Lilly's Humatrope, Genentech's Nutropin, Pfizer's Genotropin, as well as name brands such as Norditropin and Omnitrope may cost more than brands and generics obtained from China and some other countries.
Some brands come in vials that contain a powder which must be reconstituted with bacteriostatic water prior to use. The vial must then be refrigerated and remains stable for only a short time after reconstitution.
There are also convenient and easy to use HGH pens that are already mixed and ready to use. Most require refrigeration.
Growth Hormone Use in Patients
Somatropin always requires a prescription from a medicial doctor, an MD or DO.
It is approved for use in children with growth hormone deficiency and in girls with Turner Syndrome. It is also being used in AIDS patients for muscle wasting and in adults with somatopause. In order for adults to qualify for injection therapy their IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1) level must fall below that which is considered normal for age according to mainstream Western medicine. Some anti-aging physicians will prescribe the HGH injections to adults whose IGF-1 level may be within the normal range for their age but is not optimal for their body to function at its best
HGH Injections - Side Effects and Risks
Human growth hormone is not an anabolic steroid but it has some of the same effects on the body. The HGH injections are popular among bodybuilders and athletes trying to build muscle, strength, and/or endurance. Some treat themselves with somatropin injections they obtained by illegal means.
The HGH injections (Somatropin) can cause side effects such as acromegaly, fluid retention, enlarged breasts in males, painful joints, carpal tunnel syndrome, and liver damage when taken improperly. For more information: HGH Side Effects
Since some clinical studies have shown that hormone replacement with certain other man-made hormones may cause an increased risk of cancer there continues to be concern about whether growth hormone might increase the risk of cancer. For more information: HGH and Cancer Risks
Those who take injectable GH when they do not have a deficiency may experience these side effects and risks.
When under a doctor's care the growth hormone and/or IGF-1 levels are usually checked and monitored via lab tests. This should decrease the risk of side effects.
Also, the patient should understand that taking the injections may cause their pituitary gland to become lazy because it will no longer need to make its own growth hormone. For this reason, if the doctor feels that the patient no longer needs the injections they should be slowly weaned off, to try to prevent a strong rebound effect, which can cause the patient's level to drop due to the lack of GH production by the pituitary gland.
Low Dose High Frequency GH Dosing
Clinical trials have found that using low doses of growth hormone with more frequent dose times can provide benefits without the side effects that may be seen when taking higher doses once a day.
The amount of HGH used by Dr. Daniel Rudman in his 1990 clinical study, 16.5 IU (5.33 mg) divided into three doses per week, provided substantial benefits to his test subjects. However, his dosing regimen was considered not optimal due to the side effects his patients experienced.1
Dr. Chein and Dr. Terry, in their very successful clinical study used growth hormone doses of 4 IU to 8 IU (1.33 mg to 2.67 mg) per week divided into two subcutaneous doses per day for six days a week. The first dose was taken upon arising in the morning and the second was taken at bedtime.2
The proper dose should be prescribed individually depending on the age and condition of the patient. Some physicians will begin with low doses such as 0.5 IU per day and will slowly increase the patient's dosage in 0.5 IU monthly increments as needed based on their IGF-1 blood level.
It should be noted that usually the older the patient the more sensitive they may be, so older patients may require a smaller dose than younger patients.
Some specialists believe that Somatropin doses of over 0.1 mg per kilogram of body weight per day may likely cause side effects.
Other Options For Increasing Growth Hormone
Despite what you may have heard, most people do not require full hormone replacement with growth hormone injections if their pituitary gland is still functioning.3
Leading physicians recommend taking non-injectable supplements to increase GH naturally and safely and the injections should only be used as a last resort. (See books written about human growth hormone). I take and recommend homeopathic forms of HGH.
More Information About HGH Injections
Are Injections the Only Effective Human Growth Hormone Therapy?
Buying HGH Injections on the Internet
Bibliography
1. Rudman, Daniel, Feller, Axel G, et al, Effects of Human Growth Hormone in Men over 60 Years Old, The New England Journal of Medicine, 1990; 323:1561-1563, DOI: 10.1056/NEJM199011293232212
2. Chein, Edmund, Clinical Experience Using a Low-Dose, High-Frequency Human Growth Hormone Treatment Regimen, Journal of Advancement in Medicine, December 1999.
3. Klatz, Ronald, Grow Young With HGH, HarperPerennial, 1997.
