Sermorelin/Ipamorelin

Ipamorelin is widely regarded as the most well-tolerated growth hormone secretagogue. Any side effects that may occur are typically mild and dose-dependent, with negative effects rarely occurring at moderate dosage levels.

Generally,

• mild flushing
• headache may occur upon initial administration, though this commonly goes away after repeated injections
• Temporary nausea and upset stomach may additionally occur following administration.
• feelings of tiredness or lethargy are also possible, as growth hormone can increase the desire for sleep as well as its quality and restorative capabilities.
• to avoid this inconvenience (as well as to maximize its beneficial impact on nighttime production of growth hormone), many protocols call for its administration shortly before bed.

Ipamorelin does not elevate adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, and prolactin when used as recommended. When used at extremely high dosages, however, it can have a stimulatory effect on these hormones. Though not an issue for the vast majority of users, this may cause interactions with certain medications or unwanted effects in individuals with certain health conditions. Excessive dosages of Ipamorelin may also lead to water retention as well as tingling or numbness in the hands and feet. This can be another sign that the dosage is too high and should be reduced

According to the Peptide guide, Sermorelin is a synthetically made version of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH), the endogenous hormone responsible for stimulating natural growth hormone production. Also known as growth hormone releasing factor and GRF 1-29, it is categorized as a growth hormone secretagogue, a compound which stimulates increased secretion of growth hormone from the pituitary gland.

Like the body’s natural GHRH, Sermorelin works by binding to the growth hormone releasing hormone receptor (or GHRHr) in the anterior part of the pituitary gland. There, it works to stimulate greater production of GH, consequently provoking increases in production of endogenous IGF-1 as well. As it exerts its effects in an identical manner to GHRH, Sermorelin’s positive effect on GH output is modulated by a negative feedback mechanism initiated by somatostatin, the endogenous hormone also known as growth hormone inhibiting hormone (GHIH). This has several positive effects, two of which are the prevention of extreme, unhealthy GH levels in the body and the mirroring of more natural patterns of fluctuation in GH concentrations.

Additionally, its natural action mechanism allows for the preservation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-somatotropic axis, preventing the shutdown of hormone production that typically accompanies direct replacement with hGH. Further, Sermorelin has also been shown to improve sleep quality, enhancing the duration of restorative slow wave sleep and amplifying sleep-related secretion of growth hormone while reducing production of cortisol (a catabolic stress hormone).

Sermorelin stimulates improved natural growth hormone production, resulting:

• increased muscle
• increased lean body mass
• decreased body fat
• enhanced recovery from injuries and training session
• deeper, more restful sleep
• enhanced flexibility and joint health
• improved overall health and wellness.

Enhanced growth hormone (GH) levels also stimulate greater production of Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) in the body, further driving improvements in lean body composition with accelerated growth of muscle tissue and reduced body fat. Importantly, as Sermorelin stimulates the body’s natural growth hormone output, none of the negative side effects often associated with synthetic hGH administration typically occur, including shutdown of natural growth hormone production, acromegaly, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Suboptimal levels of growth hormone in the body can devastate an individual’s athletic performance, functional capacity, and overall quality of life. Certainly, growth hormone is a crucial component in numerous physiological processes, with substantial influence in the facilitation of strength, energy, flexibility, vitality, and overall well-being. With low growth hormone levels often comes a loss of muscle mass and strength, weaker bones, reduced exercise capacity, increased body fat, decreased stamina, poor recovery, and unrestorative sleep. Indeed, aging-related decline in growth hormone levels is responsible for many of the debilitating effects commonly experienced when getting older.

To increase growth hormone levels, Sermorelin stimulates the pituitary gland to produce greater amounts of natural GH. Critically, Sermorelin stimulates natural, endogenous production and is not simply synthetic hGH, a fact which offers several important advantages. First, overdoses are virtually impossible, as its effects are mediated with negative feedback by the body’s own regulatory mechanisms. As a result, GH production is unable to reach dangerously high levels, and many of the previously mentioned negative side effects of synthetic hGH administration are avoided. Second, the body’s own production of growth hormone is enhanced rather than shut down (as occurs with administration of exogenous hGH). Therefore, there is no risk of a hormonal crash upon cessation of Sermorelin administration. Third, there is also no likelihood of a diminishing response to administration as there is with hGH. This is due to Sermorelin’s promotion of enhanced yet natural levels of growth hormone in the body. When administered, synthetic hGH causes growth hormone levels to spike and remain unnaturally constant, which can cause its effectiveness to diminish rapidly over time as the body becomes desensitized to its effects. In maintaining blood levels that more closely resemble the body’s natural fluctuations, Sermorelin remains consistently effective at a given dose.

Sermorelin is often confused with Modified GRF 1-29, and vice versa. Although similar, these two peptides do have an important difference. Both peptides have a molecular structure comprised of 29 amino acids and possess comparable mechanisms of action (mimicking GHRH to stimulate endogenous GH production). However, Modified GRF 1-29 has been altered with changes to four specific amino acids in its chemical structure, changes intended to increase the peptide’s stability during storage, transportation, and administration while enhancing its affinity for the GHRH receptor.