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This is plain-language harm-reduction information, not medical advice. Peptides discussed here are research compounds; most are not approved for human use. People will use them either way — we would rather they have the facts.
What it is
HGH is recombinant somatropin: bioidentical human growth hormone produced in a lab. Unlike the peptides on this site that nudge your own pituitary, this is the hormone itself.
It is a prescription medicine in most countries. It is also one of the most counterfeited products on the grey market — fakes are common and often dosed under-spec.
History
Developed by Genentech in the early 1980s and approved by the FDA in 1985, replacing cadaver-sourced HGH (which had spread Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease).
How it works
Directly activates GH receptors. The liver responds by producing IGF-1, which mediates many of the anabolic and recovery effects.
Dosage
- Anti-aging / wellness: 1–2 IU daily.
- Body composition: 2–4 IU daily.
- Bodybuilding doses: 4–8+ IU, with serious side-effect risk.
- 5-on / 2-off is a common schedule.
How it is taken
- Subcutaneous belly injection with an insulin pin, usually first thing in the morning or split AM/PM.
How to reconstitute
- Common kit: 10 IU vial reconstituted with 1 ml BAC water = 10 IU/ml. 1 IU = 10 units on a 1 ml insulin syringe.
How it should arrive
Cold shipped in a kit, white powder, sealed vial, hologram or unique seal on legitimate brands. Counterfeits are common — verify suppliers carefully.
How it should look once reconstituted
Clear colourless solution.
What to expect, and when
- Sleep and skin: weeks 1–2.
- Recovery and body composition: weeks 4–12.
- Visible changes (skin tone, fat loss): 12+ weeks.
Side effects
- Water retention.
- Joint pain.
- Carpal tunnel symptoms.
- Insulin resistance — important. Long-term high dose can push fasting glucose up.
- Increased hunger.
Risks
- Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes with prolonged high-dose use.
- Cardiomegaly (heart enlargement) at very high long-term doses.
- Acromegaly-style changes (jaw, hands, feet) at high long-term doses.
- Theoretical cancer-promotion risk via IGF-1.
- Counterfeit market is huge. You may not be getting what you paid for.
- WADA prohibited. Possession without a prescription is illegal in many jurisdictions.
Potential gains
- Substantial recovery and body composition improvement.
- Better sleep, better skin, more energy.
- Some users report mood improvements.
Other useful information
GHRH/GHRP peptide stacks (CJC-1295 + ipamorelin) are a milder alternative with less side-effect burden and no counterfeit nightmare.
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