Is sermorelin FDA-approved?

Sermorelin received FDA approval in 1997 under the brand name Geref for pediatric GH deficiency diagnosis and treatment. The manufacturer (EMD Serono) voluntarily discontinued the product in 2008 for commercial reasons — the approval was never revoked for safety or efficacy concerns. Today, sermorelin is available through compounding pharmacies by prescription.

What is the difference between sermorelin and HGH?

Sermorelin stimulates your pituitary gland to produce and release its own growth hormone, while HGH (somatropin) is direct injection of synthetic growth hormone. Sermorelin preserves the body's natural feedback mechanisms, making GH excess unlikely, while HGH bypasses all feedback. Sermorelin is generally considered safer but produces more modest effects than direct GH replacement.

How long does it take for sermorelin to work?

Most patients notice improvements in sleep quality within 2-4 weeks. Body composition changes and recovery benefits typically require 3-6 months of consistent use. IGF-1 levels measurably increase within the first few weeks, but the clinical effects of that increase take longer to manifest. Individual response varies significantly based on baseline pituitary reserve.

When should I inject sermorelin?

Sermorelin is typically injected subcutaneously at bedtime on an empty stomach (no food for at least 90 minutes before injection). The bedtime timing is designed to augment the natural nocturnal GH surge during deep sleep. Food intake — particularly carbohydrates and fats — can blunt the GH response and should be avoided near injection time.

Can sermorelin cause weight loss?

Sermorelin may modestly reduce body fat, particularly visceral fat, through GH-mediated lipolysis. However, the magnitude of fat loss from sermorelin alone is generally small — typically a few percentage points of body fat over several months. It should not be considered a weight loss drug. Diet and exercise remain far more impactful for body composition.

Is sermorelin the same as CJC-1295?

No. Both are GHRH analogs that work through the same receptor, but they differ in structure and pharmacokinetics. Sermorelin is a 29-amino-acid fragment of natural GHRH with a short half-life (10-20 minutes). CJC-1295 (particularly the DAC version) has modifications that extend its half-life to 6-8 days, producing more sustained but less pulsatile GH elevation.

Does sermorelin require a prescription?

Yes. Sermorelin is a prescription medication in the United States and cannot be legally obtained without a physician's prescription. It is typically prescribed through anti-aging, functional medicine, or endocrinology clinics and dispensed by compounding pharmacies. Be cautious of sources offering sermorelin without requiring a prescription, as this is both illegal and raises serious quality concerns.

Vendor Rankings

Independent rankings of peptide vendors based on aggregated lab data, COA transparency, community sentiment, and verified pricing. We publish everything — including the failures.

31+ samples tracked 44 vendors ranked 15 peptides tracked

All BPC-157 Tirzepatide Semaglutide CJC-1295 Ipamorelin GHK-Cu Retatrutide Tesamorelin

AGreat

B+Very Good

BGood

COkay

DPoor

EBad

FFraud

Sermorelin Rankings

FDA-APPROVED

31 samples across 44 vendors · Updated weekly from independent lab testing

#	Vendor	Avg score	Purity range	Tests	Verified $/mg	Grade	Profile
Grade C — Okay
1	ZLZ Peptide	6.5	—	5	—	C	review →
2	Qing Li Peptide	6.3	—	5	—	C	review →
3	NuLife Peptides	5.2	—	2	—	C	review →
Grade D — Poor
4	HK Peptides	4.9	—	5	—	D	review →
5	SRY Labs	4.3	—	3	—	D	review →
6	Peptide-S	3.9	—	3	—	D	review →
Grade E — Bad
7	Shanghai Sigma Audley SSA	2.7	—	8	—	E	review →
Grade F — Fraud
8	Welon Peptide Solutions	—	—	0	—	F	review →
9	Wanshun Peptide	—	—	0	—	F	review →
10	Tianjin Ruiwang New Material Technology Co	—	—	0	—	F	review →
11	Swiss Chems	—	—	0	—	F	review →
12	Skye Peptides	—	—	0	—	F	review →
13	Huaian Hanyou Peptide	—	—	0	—	F	review →
14	Simple Peptide	—	—	0	—	F	review →
15	Wuhan Wansheng Biotechnology	—	—	0	—	F	review →
16	Xian Yihang Technology	—	—	0	—	F	review →
17	Yiwu Aozuo Trading Co	—	—	0	—	F	review →
18	ZZQ Peptides	—	—	0	—	F	review →
19	SaiyanMed	—	—	0	—	F	review →
20	Kerui Peptide HongKong	—	—	0	—	F	review →
21	Peptinovac	—	—	0	—	F	review →
22	Heman Peptide HM	—	—	0	—	F	review →
23	Haikou Mingheng Biotechnology	—	—	0	—	F	review →
24	Shanxi Qianyecao Biotech QYC	—	—	0	—	F	review →
25	Shanghai ERP peptide Biotechnology	—	—	0	—	F	review →
26	Kandies	—	—	0	—	F	review →
27	Hunan Ruiwang Technology Center	—	—	0	—	F	review →
28	Huatai Peptide	—	—	0	—	F	review →
29	HkRoids	—	—	0	—	F	review →
30	Eros Peptides	—	—	0	—	F	review →
31	Carolina Research Compounds	—	—	0	—	F	review →
32	Biohacker Direct	—	—	0	—	F	review →
33	BeiBangAn	—	—	0	—	F	review →
34	LiliPeptide	—	—	0	—	F	review →
35	Lisa Biopeptide	—	—	0	—	F	review →
36	Liyu Daily	—	—	0	—	F	review →
37	Shanghai Baoju	—	—	0	—	F	review →
38	Saiyan Med	—	—	0	—	F	review →
39	Reta-Peptide	—	—	0	—	F	review →
40	Pepturion	—	—	0	—	F	review →
41	PeptiSlim	—	—	0	—	F	review →
42	OROS Research	—	—	0	—	F	review →
43	Nantong Guangyuan Chemical GYC	—	—	0	—	F	review →
44	Lumira	—	—	0	—	F	review →
45	Amino Lair	—	—	0	—	F	review →

Verified $/mg = list price ÷ (avg tested qty / labeled qty). Vendors below the cutoff omitted from view.