Last reviewed 2026-08-25
Growth hormone secretagogues do what they say mechanically: they raise your own growth hormone and IGF-1, and that is measurable. What is far less established is that doing so benefits a healthy adult. Growth hormone replacement is genuinely valuable in diagnosed deficiency; extending that logic to normal age-related decline is an inference, not a finding, and it carries metabolic risks including effects on insulin sensitivity.
Secretagogues stimulate your pituitary to release its own growth hormone, rather than introducing growth hormone directly. That produces a pulsatile release pattern closer to natural physiology, which is the main argument for using them.
It also matters legally: prescribing growth hormone itself for anti-aging or athletic purposes is specifically restricted in the United States, and secretagogues occupy a different regulatory position.
The unsettled question is not whether they raise GH — they do — but whether raising GH in someone whose levels are normal for their age produces a benefit that justifies the cost and the metabolic risk.
Every entry carries the level of human evidence for this use — not the compound’s approval status for something else.
| Peptide | Evidence for this goal | FDA status | Typical cost/mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sermorelin | Limited human data | Compounded | $150–$400 |
| CJC-1295 | Limited human data | Research | $120–$350 |
| Ipamorelin | Limited human data | Research | $100–$300 |
| Tesamorelin | FDA-approved for this use | FDA-approved | $300–$600 |
| GHRP-2 | Limited human data | Research | $80–$250 |
| GHRP-6 | Limited human data | Research | $80–$250 |
| Hexarelin | Limited human data | Research | Not published |
GHRH analogue, the most commonly prescribed secretagogue in anti-aging practice.
The catch: Was approved as Geref for paediatric growth hormone deficiency and withdrawn from the US market in 2008. Now supplied by compounding pharmacies.
Longer-acting GHRH analogue, usually combined with ipamorelin.
The catch: Raises GH and IGF-1 in human studies. Outcome benefits in healthy adults are not established.
Selective GH secretagogue with minimal effect on cortisol and prolactin.
The catch: Its selectivity is a genuine advantage over older GHRPs, but outcome data is still lacking.
GHRH analogue with the strongest regulatory standing of the group.
The catch: Approved specifically for HIV-associated lipodystrophy. The dose is 1.4 mg for Egrifta SV, not the 2 mg figure that circulates widely.
Potent older-generation GH releasing peptide.
The catch: Raises cortisol and prolactin alongside GH.
Older GH releasing peptide with a marked appetite effect.
The catch: The hunger it produces is often the dominant effect in practice.
Potent secretagogue also studied for direct cardiac effects.
The catch: Its GH response attenuates with continued use, limiting a sustained course.
Tesamorelin, which is FDA-approved — for reducing excess visceral abdominal fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy, not for general growth hormone optimisation.
Combinations people actually run, with the dosing protocol and the evidence framing each one deserves. These are community protocols rather than tested regimens.
Medical Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before beginning any peptide therapy treatment.
Sermorelin requires a prescription and medical supervision. Each service below states that a licensed provider reviews your intake and prescribes through a US compounding pharmacy where appropriate. Those are the companies’ own descriptions of how they operate, not findings of ours. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved, and a consultation does not guarantee a prescription.
Some telehealth links below are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Commission never affects which products or clinics we list, how they are ordered, or what we say about them — see our editorial policy.
Says a board-certified physician reviews each intake and prescribes through a licensed 503A compounding pharmacy where appropriate, and lists a LegitScript certification. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved.
We are not a clinic and do not prescribe. Listing a service here is not a clinical endorsement of it, and you should confirm licensure and pharmacy sourcing yourself before treatment.
They produce a pulsatile release pattern closer to natural physiology and are constrained by the pituitary's own feedback, which is the usual safety argument. They still raise GH and IGF-1, so the metabolic concerns that apply to growth hormone — particularly insulin sensitivity — are not eliminated.
Tesamorelin, for reducing excess visceral abdominal fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Sermorelin was approved for paediatric growth hormone deficiency but was withdrawn from the US market in 2008. Neither approval covers anti-aging or athletic use.
The premise is that growth hormone declines with age and restoring it should reverse aging effects. That premise has never been validated in controlled research, and growth hormone in healthy older adults carries real metabolic risk.
Our directory lists clinics whose own websites show they offer peptide therapy. We verify what each one actually provides rather than taking a listing at face value.
Browse the provider directory