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The human growth hormone (HGH) is a hormone that is naturally produced by the pituitary gland in the brain. It is a peptide hormone that is responsible for the growth, reproduction, and regeneration of cells and tissues in your body.
When you are younger, growth hormone is produced in large numbers by the pituitary gland. With time, this process slows down, and the effects of a slower metabolism become visible. Weight gain and low muscle mass are just some of the signs of low HGH production. Human growth hormone benefits your body in numerous ways.
Although it is a complex hormone, growth hormone therapy is prescribed to both children and adults who have a growth hormone deficiency. The hormone can be administered by injecting it into the bloodstream.
Sermorelin is an alternative prescription therapy route to go. What is the difference between growth hormone shots and growth-stimulating shots? Both treatments work to increase the human growth hormone but achieve it in a different way.
HGH vs Sermorelin
When looking for options of human growth hormone treatment, you may come across both HGH injections and sermorelin. Both treatments raise your growth hormone levels but do it in a different way. Growth hormone injections are used to directly insert the growth hormones into your bloodstream while Sermorelin is a growth hormone secretagogue or a stimulant of natural growth hormone secretion.
Direct Injectable Form
The most common way of treating growth hormone deficiencies is by injecting into the bloodstream in a readily available form that the body can use to fulfill its growth and regeneration needs. The treatment is best carried out by a specialist who knows exactly the concentration that is required in each specific case. Some people may try to treat deficiencies on their own, but it is not recommended to do so as the quality of the growth hormone and the doses must be evaluated by a doctor in order to be safe and efficient.
The doses administered in therapy depend on the severity of the deficiency. Some people may require daily injections while others may have to visit their doctor once a month. Some treatments may require several years for stabilized results. Blood tests will be performed by your doctor to monitor cholesterol, bone density, and blood sugar levels.
The times and frequencies with which you will need to visit the doctor during treatment depend on:
- Age
- Overall health condition
- Extend of deficiency
- Reaction to therapy
- Treatment goals
- Your preferences
This treatment is usually well tolerated by people, but some may have side effects that include:
- Muscle pains
- Joint pain
- Headache
- Swollen hands and feet
Certain people should not administer this therapy. Avoid therapy if you suffer from:
- Tumors
- Cancer
- A serious medical condition
- Problems breathing
- If you have diabetes, you should watch your blood sugar during treatment as growth hormone effects insulin levels
Stimulating Secretion
Alternative therapy is using a molecule that stimulates natural human growth secretion from the pituitary gland. In less severe deficiencies, sermorelin therapy is sufficient to give results. The benefits of increased growth hormone production are:
- Increased muscle mass
- Decrease of fat tissue
- More energy
- Greater strength
- Increased endurance
- Better sleep
- Greater bone density
- Higher collagen production
In essence, this stimulant is 2 amino acids that activate the pituitary gland to produce more growth hormone. The benefit of this injection is that it reduces the risk of an overdose — the pituitary gland decides how much it needs to secrete.
A sermorelin injection is typically administered before bed. The individual dose depends on the body mass index. A doctor creates a prescription for self-administration at home. It is generally prescribed as a white powder that you will mix with medical-grade saline solution or bacteriostatic water. The injection is administered below the skin with a small needle. A single shot lasts for a long time after it has been injected.
While secretagogue therapy is generally safe, there can be rare potential side effects. These include:
- Pain or swelling at the injection site
- Itching or allergic reactions
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Hot flushes
- Hyper/Hypoactivity
Final Thoughts
Hormone growth therapy is something that has been used by many to address weight problems that occur with age. This therapy, however, is not something to be undertaken individually as any hormone manipulation in the organism creates significant effects to take place. A trusted and a qualified practitioner should be sought out to prescribe the correct dose for your successful therapy.
