Sermorelin

GHRH(1-29) · formerly Geref · not tier-graded · Moderate evidence

An old, safe, mild GH releaser. Think better sleep and skin, not muscle.

Dr. Tatem’s take

Incredibly safe and readily available from quality compounding pharmacies. It improves sleep and skin but “might not get you jacked”. He rates it well as a lifestyle compound, not for muscle. Disclosure: his August 2026 sermorelin video is sponsored by Rugiet, where he sits on the medical advisory board.

In Dr. Tatem’s tier list

• “An OG banger” — one of the original GH secretagogues. It was headed for commercialization, then abandoned, and its status since lets most major compounding pharmacies make it. That, plus a favorable safety profile, made it a wellness-clinic staple.
• It’s the active N-terminal fragment of GHRH, so it raises your own GH and IGF-1 — but only subtly.
• Expect mild GH-type benefits: better sleep, better skin, maybe a little fat loss “but even that’s stretching it.”
• Available from high-quality compounding pharmacies, “not just out of the back of some guy’s gym bag.” Typically a small injection each evening.
• Judged as a lifestyle and longevity compound it “performs really well” — not for hypertrophy.

History & background

Sermorelin is GHRH(1-29), the shortest fully active fragment of growth-hormone-releasing hormone, which was isolated in 1982 by Roger Guillemin’s and Wylie Vale’s groups (from pancreatic tumors that caused acromegaly). Serono developed it as Geref, approved by FDA in 1990 to diagnose and in 1997 to treat GH deficiency in children.

Serono discontinued Geref in 2008 for commercial reasons; FDA later determined it was not withdrawn for safety or effectiveness, which is why compounding pharmacies can still make it.

Benefits

• Improved growth in GH-deficient children (its approved use).
• Better sleep quality.
• Modest GH and IGF-1 increases in older adults.

Risks

• Injection-site reactions, flushing, headache.
• Theoretical GH/IGF-1 axis risks.

Dosing protocols (informational, labeled by evidence)

• Physician / clinic: Clinic anti-aging protocol — 100–300 mcg, SubQ, Nightly at bedtime, Ongoing / months
• Clinical trial / label: Trial – healthy elderly men — 2 mg, SubQ, Nightly, 6 wk
• Clinical trial / label: Trial – older men and women (GHRH analog) — 10 mcg/kg, SubQ, Nightly (2100 h), 16 wk

Status: Previously FDA-approved (Geref) and discontinued, not for safety reasons. Generally available through compounding pharmacies.

Grade and commentary: Dr. Alex Tatem. Watch: Truth About Popular Peptides Tier List (What Works, What’s Overhyped) | Pt. 3, Sermorelin: The “Safer HGH” Has One Huge Problem (sponsored). Subscribe: @DrAlexTatem.