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№ 021

HGH (Somatropin)

Recombinant human growth hormone — the protein itself, not a peptide that nudges your body to make more. Highest legal-risk compound in this catalog.

GH-axis
Evidence: Strong
Half-life
~3-5 hours injected
Route
Subcutaneous
Cycle
Long-term in medical use
Schedule
Daily
In plain English

HGH is the actual growth hormone protein your pituitary releases — not a peptide that nudges your body to release more. Prescription only in legitimate medicine. Carries the highest legal risk of anything in this space if used non-medically. Most users in this catalog run GH-axis *peptides* (Ipamorelin, CJC, Tesamorelin, Sermorelin) instead, which signal your own body to produce more GH naturally and carry far less regulatory exposure.

Status & legality
Natty?
Not natty

Recombinant HGH is the canonical 'not natty' compound. No federation accepts it.

FDA
Approved

Approved under multiple brand names (Genotropin, Humatrope, Norditropin, Saizen, Omnitrope) for GH deficiency, AIDS wasting, Turner syndrome, short stature in children, idiopathic short stature, SHOX deficiency, and others.

Compounding
Approved drug

Available as an FDA-approved drug, not a compounded peptide.

WADA
Banned (S2)
Prescribed

Yes — by endocrinologists for the approved indications. Performance use is illegal under the U.S. Anabolic Steroid Control Act.

Important boundary

Pepdex covers HGH for educational reference only. Recombinant HGH is regulated under the U.S. Anabolic Steroid Control Act for non-medical use. The vendor list Pepdex emails to members does not include HGH suppliers. Most users in this space run GH-axis peptides (Ipamorelin, CJC-1295, Tesamorelin, Sermorelin) which are documented in this catalog.

Who it's for

  • →People who already have a legitimate medical prescription (GH deficiency, AIDS wasting, short stature)
  • →Educational reference — most users in this space run GH-axis peptides instead

What to expect

  1. Week 1

    Water retention, mild joint stiffness, sleep changes.

  2. Week 4

    IGF-1 climbs noticeably. Skin and recovery improvements appear.

  3. Week 8

    Body comp shifts in users training with adequate protein.

Dosing protocol

Medical: 1-3 IU daily. Performance use is illegal under federal law in the US (Anabolic Steroid Control Act).

Stacks well with

Not promoted here. See Ipamorelin, CJC-1295, Tesamorelin, Sermorelin for legal GH-axis alternatives.

Side effects

01Water retention / edema
02Carpal tunnel symptoms
03Insulin resistance / elevated fasting glucose
04Joint stiffness
05Acromegalic features at chronic high dose

When NOT to use

  • ⚠Active malignancy
  • ⚠Active diabetic retinopathy
  • ⚠Pregnancy / nursing
  • ⚠No legitimate medical indication

Bloodwork to monitor

  • • IGF-1
  • • Fasting glucose / A1C
  • • TSH / fT4
  • • ALT/AST

Common mistakes

  • • Treating it like a peptide with low oversight — it isn't
  • • Underestimating the legal/regulatory risk
  • • Stacking with other things that raise insulin resistance

Educational only. User-specific dosing is between you and a qualified provider.

Frequently asked

What is HGH (Somatropin)?+
HGH is the actual growth hormone protein your pituitary releases — not a peptide that nudges your body to release more. Prescription only in legitimate medicine. Carries the highest legal risk of anything in this space if used non-medically. Most users in this catalog run GH-axis *peptides* (Ipamorelin, CJC, Tesamorelin, Sermorelin) instead, which signal your own body to produce more GH naturally and carry far less regulatory exposure.
Is HGH (Somatropin) FDA approved?+
Approved under multiple brand names (Genotropin, Humatrope, Norditropin, Saizen, Omnitrope) for GH deficiency, AIDS wasting, Turner syndrome, short stature in children, idiopathic short stature, SHOX deficiency, and others.
Is HGH (Somatropin) banned by WADA?+
HGH (Somatropin) is on the WADA prohibited list under Banned (S2).
Are you still natty after taking HGH (Somatropin)?+
No. Recombinant HGH is the canonical 'not natty' compound. No federation accepts it.
Do doctors prescribe HGH (Somatropin)?+
Yes — by endocrinologists for the approved indications. Performance use is illegal under the U.S. Anabolic Steroid Control Act.
What's the typical dose of HGH (Somatropin)?+
Medical: 1-3 IU daily. Performance use is illegal under federal law in the US (Anabolic Steroid Control Act).
What are the side effects of HGH (Somatropin)?+
Common side effects include: Water retention / edema; Carpal tunnel symptoms; Insulin resistance / elevated fasting glucose; Joint stiffness. Less common effects and full safety details are on the entry page.
How long until HGH (Somatropin) starts working?+
Water retention, mild joint stiffness, sleep changes.