The various medications used for adult growth hormone deficiency work in different ways. While some provide an immediate increase in growth hormone levels, others function to improve and boost GH secretion by the pituitary gland.
Growth hormone, also known as somatotropin, is such a vital chemical in the body that its natural age-related decline can lead to widespread symptoms throughout the body. That is why many adults turn to HGH medications to maintain a healthy supply of growth hormone in the bloodstream.
GH is the primary stimulator of cellular regeneration, a process mediated by the hormone insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1). What makes the reduction of growth hormone even worse is that it promotes IGF-1 release by the liver. So, if GH levels are low, IGF-1 will likely be, as well. The new cells stimulated by these two hormones maintain the integrity of the body’s skin, muscles, tissues, organs, hair, bones, blood supply, and more. This is only one aspect of why growth hormone medications are crucial to the body. Supporting immune, metabolic, brain, temperature regulation, and sexual functions are also an essential part of somatotropin’s role.
The medications used to treat low growth hormone levels include:
- Human Growth Hormone (HGH)
- Ipamorelin
- Sermorelin
Because each of the medications that treat growth hormone deficiency work differently in the body, the hormone doctor will determine which one is best for each person following blood level assessment.
The three primary medications used to treat adult growth hormone deficiency are HGH, ipamorelin, and sermorelin.
HGH Medications – Providing an Immediate Boost in Growth Hormone Levels
Adults who struggle through each day with symptoms of growth hormone deficiency often require immediate results. The only way to get that is with a medication known as somatropin or human growth hormone.
Pharmaceutical companies manufacture HGH injections using recombinant DNA technology. It is a time consuming and expensive process that results in the end product – a bioidentical version of growth hormone containing the same 191 amino acid single-chain polypeptide protein. Some overseas companies skip the final step, which removes an extra amino acid, resulting in a medication containing 192 amino acids. That omittance often results in leftover bacterial residue and a product that causes increased side effects in the user.
HGH medications are only available as an injection due to the molecular structure of growth hormone. Any other products you may see advertised for sale are not real HGH and should not be purchased with the assumption that they will provide the same results. Numerous independent studies have shown them not to be effective in reversing the symptoms of growth hormone deficiency.
Our doctors here at HGH New York Clinic prescribe only the best human growth hormone medications from licensed US pharmacies, including:
- Omnitrope
- Genotropin
- Norditropin
- Saizen
- Humatrope
- Zomacton
Bioidentical HGH medications are the only ones that provide an immediate increase in growth hormone levels.
Ipamorelin and Sermorelin – Medications That Increase Growth Hormone Production
Unlike HGH, which provides fast results due to an immediate boost in growth hormone levels, ipamorelin and sermorelin work slowly, behind the scenes by promoting increase GH production. The results often take a few months to appear, which is why these medications are better for use before GH levels get so low that symptoms are present.
Ipamorelin and sermorelin are secretagogues – peptides that help stimulate increased activity by the somatotrophs. The somatotrophs are cells in the anterior pituitary gland that produce growth hormone. While both medications accomplish the same goal of increasing growth hormone levels, they do it in different ways:
- Ipamorelin blocks the hypothalamus from secreting the hormone somatostatin, which inhibits growth hormone release. Additionally, ipamorelin also boosts IGF-1 production, allowing for improved activity of growth hormone throughout the body.
- Sermorelin works directly on the somatotrophs the same way as growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), which also comes from the hypothalamus. When GH levels are low, the hypothalamus sends GHRH to the pituitary gland to stimulate somatotropin release. GHRH contains 44 amino acids. Sermorelin is made up of the first 29 of those amino acids – the ones most responsible for GH production.
Ipamorelin and sermorelin are secretagogue medications that promote increase growth hormone production.
How to Choose the Right Growth Hormone Medications
Choosing between HGH, ipamorelin, and sermorelin medications requires the knowledge and experience of a hormone specialist. Through blood analysis, consultation, examination, and health history review, the hormone doctor can determine the best treatment for each person.
Many adults who do not yet have severe symptoms of very low growth hormone levels will do best with either ipamorelin or sermorelin. The boosting of natural growth hormone production is the safest and most cost-efficient form of treatment.
However, when growth hormone deficiency interferes with daily life, or when GH levels are extremely low, then HGH therapy is often the best option. The doctor may also recommend a combination approach, which both increases immediate growth hormone levels while also stimulating future production.
Please contact our New York HGH Clinic for a free consultation to discuss your situation.