Adults with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) often exhibit a broad spectrum of clinical alterations or symptoms. Changes such as insomnia, weight gain, fatigue, low libido, and cognitive impairment require treatment to correct the hormonal imbalance. Without the proper hormone replacement therapy, the risk of associated conditions such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, dementia, and type 2 diabetes increases significantly. Human growth hormone medications include HGH, sermorelin, and ipamorelin injections. We will examine the differences between these therapeutic options and when to use each one.
The deciding factor often has to do with the level of GHD the individual experiences. That can only be known through blood analysis, which measures various hormone levels to detect deficiencies. Next, the hormone specialist considers the severity of any manifested symptoms. The more severe the symptoms, the greater the need for a faster-acting form of treatment, such as HGH injections. San Antonio residents have numerous brands and injector styles available, helping to find the right product for each person.
The dosage of any prescribed HGH medications depends upon the individual’s age, gender, and body composition, as well as the level of deficiency. Follow-up monitoring is necessary to ensure growth hormone levels increase to the proper range.
Medications for the treatment of adult growth hormone deficiency include HGH, sermorelin, and ipamorelin injections.
HGH Medications That Directly Increase the Level of Growth Hormone
Only one treatment can provide an immediate increase in the amount of growth hormone in the bloodstream – HGH injections. Natural growth hormone secreted by the pituitary gland consists of 191 amino acids in a single chain. To replicate this, pharmaceutical companies produce a bioidentical HGH using recombinant DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) technology. The process of creating these HGH medications is an expensive and time-consuming one, which is why real HGH therapy is costly. However, the result is worth the price because HGH therapy can transform a person’s quality of life when GHD symptoms interfere with daily activities.
Once HGH medications enter the bloodstream, they bind with growth hormone receptors on cellular surfaces to initiate receptor actions. Although there are many brands of HGH injections, San Antonio residents need to use extreme care when purchasing their medications. All brands of HGH medications are not the same, and many are extremely dangerous to use.
Our hormone doctors continuously review the brands of HGH available for sale. They prescribe only those that meet their rigid standards for quality and results. Here are the brands of HGH recommended for use by our HGH Clinic San Antonio:
- Genotropin by Pfizer
- Norditropin by Novo Nordisk
- Omnitrope by Sandoz
- Saizen by EMD Serono
- Humatrope by Eli Lilly
- Zomacton by Ferring (formerly Tev-Tropin by Teva)
Each of these human growth hormone medications provides superior benefits to adults dealing with the effects of GHD. An interesting side note is that women often require higher HGH doses than men to produce similar results. Oral estrogen use can also influence HGH sensitivity. Make certain to let the hormone specialist know all medications and over-the-counter supplements used.
HGH injections are best used for people dealing with symptoms associated with low growth hormone levels.
The best brands of HGH medication include Genotropin, Norditropin, Omnitrope, Saizen, Humatrope, and Zomacton.
Sermorelin – The Direct Booster of Growth Hormone Production
Sermorelin is one of two medications considered a secretagogue – a substance that increases the secretion of another hormone. In the body, natural growth hormone production occurs when the hypothalamus sends the chemical called growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) to the pituitary gland to stimulate the somatotrophs. The somatotrophs are cells found in the anterior pituitary gland, which produce growth hormone (somatotropin).
Sermorelin contains the first 29 amino acids found in 44 amino acid GHRH. It is these 29 amino acids that stimulate the somatotropic cells to increase growth hormone secretion. Sermorelin works best before symptoms of growth hormone deficiency impact daily life. It is a slower working growth hormone medication.
Sermorelin works directly on the somatotrophs to increase growth hormone secretion.
Ipamorelin – The Indirect Booster of Growth Hormone Production
Unlike sermorelin, which directly increases growth hormone secretion, ipamorelin works indirectly via the hypothalamus. Both ipamorelin and sermorelin are peptides, functioning as secretagogues to improve hormone production. The difference is that ipamorelin, besides helping stimulate growth hormone production, also inhibits the release of somatostatin by the hypothalamus. Somatostatin is the hormone the prevents growth hormone release.
Another benefit of ipamorelin medications is the ability to support insulin growth factor 1 production in the liver. IGF-1 is a vital mediator of HGH effects in the body. A final benefit of ipamorelin is that it does not increase appetite, which is helpful for adults who want to lose weight while improving their growth hormone levels. Like sermorelin, ipamorelin works best before growth hormone deficiency symptoms appear.
Ipamorelin helps boost growth hormone secretion while inhibiting the release of somatostatin – a hormone that prevents growth hormone production.
For additional information about these HGH medications, please contact HGH Clinic San Antonio for a free consultation.