Learn · Peptides
What is sermorelin? Uses, side effects, FDA status and cost
Short answer
Sermorelin is a synthetic version of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), the signal the brain uses to tell the pituitary gland to release growth hormone. It was once sold as an FDA-approved drug, Geref, for children who did not make enough growth hormone. The maker stopped producing Geref in 2008 for business reasons, and in 2013 FDA published a determination that Geref was not withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness. Today sermorelin in the US is sold as a compounded preparation, which is not FDA-approved. It is not testosterone and is not a treatment for low testosterone.
Sermorelin at a glance
| Detail | Sermorelin |
|---|---|
| What it is | A synthetic peptide version of growth hormone-releasing hormone |
| How it works | Prompts the pituitary gland to release the body's own growth hormone |
| FDA-approved product today | None marketed. Geref was discontinued in 2008 |
| How it is sold now | As a compounded preparation, by prescription |
| Forms | Injection under the skin; some programs also sell sublingual (under-the-tongue) forms |
| FDA compounding safety list | Not on FDA's list of bulk drug substances that may present significant safety risks (page current as of April 22, 2026) |
Side effects
Mayo Clinic's drug entry for sermorelin injection lists:
More common: pain, redness or swelling where it is injected.
Rare: itching, trouble swallowing, dizziness, flushing, headache, sleepiness, trouble sitting still.
It also notes that an underactive thyroid can interfere with how sermorelin works. Tell your prescriber about every medicine you take and any thyroid condition.
Sermorelin vs testosterone therapy
Testosterone therapy adds testosterone from outside the body and is a Schedule III controlled substance. Sermorelin acts on growth hormone, not testosterone, and is not prescribed to treat low testosterone. Some men research both because programs sell them side by side. See Enclomiphene vs TRT.
What it costs online
This guide does not yet record sermorelin prices for the programs it ranks. The one price we read on a seller's own page is in the box below.
Surfbound Health · Operated by the publisher of this guide
Surfbound Health sells compounded sermorelin after a licensed provider review: injectable at $169 a month (low dose) or $249 a month (high dose) on a one-month plan, and oral (sublingual) from $149 a month, with no membership fee. Prepaid 3-month and 6-month bundles are also listed. Lab work is typically required. Compounded sermorelin is not FDA-approved. Surfbound Health does not sell testosterone therapy, is not a provider in this edition and takes no part in its ranking. Source: surfbound.co/sermorelin, read November 6, 2026.
Surfbound's sermorelin pricesOpen Water RX LLC publishes this guide, GLP1BuyerGuide.com and HRTBuyerGuide.com, and operates Surfbound Health, a consumer telehealth brand.
Questions to ask before you pay
Is this compounded, and which pharmacy makes it?
Is the price for injectable or sublingual, and at what dose?
Are labs required, and are they included?
Is the plan billed monthly, or prepaid for several months?
Frequently asked questions
What is sermorelin?
Sermorelin is a synthetic version of growth hormone-releasing hormone. It prompts the pituitary gland to release the body's own growth hormone.
Is sermorelin FDA-approved?
Not today. Geref, the FDA-approved sermorelin product, was discontinued in 2008 for business reasons. Sermorelin sold now is compounded, and compounded drugs are not FDA-approved.
What are the side effects of sermorelin?
Mayo Clinic lists pain, redness or swelling at the injection site as more common, and itching, trouble swallowing, dizziness, flushing, headache, sleepiness and restlessness as rare.
Does sermorelin increase testosterone?
Sermorelin acts on growth hormone, not testosterone. It is not a testosterone treatment and is not prescribed for low testosterone.
Is sermorelin legal?
Sermorelin is a prescription medicine. In the US it is dispensed as a compounded preparation by licensed pharmacies on a prescriber’s order.
Sources
This page summarizes published prescribing information and medical references on the dates shown. It is not medical advice and does not recommend a treatment.