What Is a Growth Hormone Secretagogue? GHRH vs GHRP
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Growth hormone secretagogue

Also called GH secretagogue, GHS, GHRP, GHRH analog · Reviewed

Definition: A growth hormone secretagogue is a compound that makes your pituitary gland release more of its own growth hormone (GH), instead of supplying GH directly. "Secretagogue" just means something that triggers a release. Tesamorelin, CJC-1295 and ipamorelin are examples.

The two main types

Two ways to trigger growth hormone release
TypeWhat it copiesExamplesFDA approved example
GHRH analogGrowth hormone-releasing hormone from the brainTesamorelin, CJC-1295Tesamorelin (Egrifta), for belly fat in adults with HIV lipodystrophy
GHRP (ghrelin-receptor type)GH-releasing peptides that act on a separate receptorIpamorelin, GHRP-6, GHRP-2None of the listed examples

The Egrifta SV label says tesamorelin acts on the pituitary to release GH, which then raises IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1). CJC-1295 is a long-acting GHRH analog; in healthy adults one shot raised GH 2- to 10-fold for 6 days or more (Teichman 2006). Ipamorelin works through the GHRP receptor; in animal tests it released GH without the rise in cortisol seen with GHRP-6 and GHRP-2 (Raun 1998).

How strong is the evidence?

Outside tesamorelin, human evidence is thin. Published work on ipamorelin and CJC-1295 is mostly animal studies and small, short studies in healthy volunteers that measured hormone levels, not health outcomes. We found no FDA label for either on DailyMed. They are often sold as "research use only", which means no FDA review of the product in the vial.

Why it matters when you track doses

These are often stacked (a GHRH analog with a GHRP) or sold as a pre-mixed blend. If one vial holds two peptides, each unit you draw contains some of both, so log the blend as one item with both amounts per vial.

Splitting a blend vial

  1. A blend vial holds 5 mg of each of two peptides, mixed with 2 mL of water.
  2. 5 mg / 2 mL = 2.5 mg/mL of each peptide.
  3. On a U-100 syringe, 1 mL = 100 units, so 10 units = 0.1 mL = 0.25 mg (250 mcg) of each peptide.

Read more on Dose Track: Tesamorelin · Ipamorelin · CJC-1295 and ipamorelin blend · Peptide blend calculator

General education drawn from labels and published studies, not personal medical advice. Your prescriber, pharmacist and the label that came with your product are the final word.
Blend (peptide blend)A blend is a single vial that holds two or more peptides mixed together, such as BPC-157 with TB-500, or… StackA stack is a set of two or more compounds taken over the same period, usually as separate shots or pills… PeptideA peptide is a short chain of amino acids, the same building blocks that make up proteins. US rules draw… Research use only (RUO)Research use only (RUO) is a label phrase. In US rules it comes from labeling for in vitro diagnostic… U-100 syringeA U-100 syringe is an insulin syringe marked for insulin that holds 100 units per mL. Each unit mark…

Frequently asked questions

Is a GH secretagogue the same as HGH?+
No. HGH (somatropin) is growth hormone itself. A secretagogue signals your pituitary to release your own.
Which GH secretagogue is FDA approved?+
Tesamorelin (Egrifta), only for reducing excess belly fat in adults with HIV lipodystrophy. We found no FDA label on DailyMed for ipamorelin or CJC-1295.

Sources

  1. Egrifta SV (tesamorelin) US prescribing information, DailyMed
  2. Raun et al. Eur J Endocrinol 1998 (ipamorelin, the first selective GH secretagogue, animal data). PMID 9849822
  3. Teichman et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2006 (CJC-1295, a long-acting GHRH analog, in healthy adults). PMID 16352683

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