The only weight-based sermorelin doses with published support are 10 mcg/kg nightly in the adult trial data and 30 mcg/kg nightly in the pediatric labeling. The flat 200 to 300 mcg doses most telehealth platforms prescribe are clinical convention, not label-derived figures.
Sermorelin dosing has no FDA-approved adult label. The approved product was discontinued by its manufacturer and its approval was withdrawn effective June 2009, a commercial decision rather than a safety one [4], so every current prescription is compounded. What exists instead are two published weight-based figures and a widely used clinical convention. This guide sets out both, converts them to practical syringe volumes, and explains why the 90-day IGF-1 retest matters more than the starting number.
- Published adult trial dose: 10 mcg/kg subcutaneously each night [1]
- Published pediatric label dose: 30 mcg/kg subcutaneously at bedtime [2]
- Common telehealth adult starting range: 100 to 300 mcg nightly, physician-determined
- Timing matters as much as amount: bedtime, on an empty stomach
- The 90-day IGF-1 retest, not the dose on the vial, tells you whether the protocol works
These figures are reference information, not a prescription. Sermorelin dosing must be set by a prescribing physician against your baseline IGF-1, age, sex, and thyroid status. Do not self-titrate.
The Two Doses That Have Published Support
Most dosage charts circulating online cite no source. There are only two figures with real documentation behind them.
| Source | Dose | Population | Route and timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Adult controlled trial](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9141536/) [1] | 10 mcg/kg nightly | Adults aged 55 to 71 | Subcutaneous, nightly, 16 weeks |
| [Pediatric labeling](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18031173/) [2] | 30 mcg/kg once daily | Prepubertal children with GHD | Subcutaneous, at bedtime |
| [Diagnostic testing](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18031173/) [2] | 1 mcg/kg | Pituitary function testing | Intravenous, single dose |
The adult trial figure is the more relevant one for age-related GH decline, and it is the basis for the weight-based column below. It produced IGF-1 elevation within 2 weeks, sustained across 16 weeks [1].
That study used [Nle27]GHRH(1-29)NH2, a norleucine-substituted analog of the same 29-amino-acid fragment sermorelin is built on, rather than sermorelin itself. The two are closely related but not identical molecules. Treat the 10 mcg/kg figure as the nearest published reference point rather than a validated sermorelin dose.
Weight-Based Reference Chart
Applying the 10 mcg/kg trial dose across common body weights gives the following. Compare these against what your provider has prescribed and ask about any large discrepancy.
| Body weight | Trial-equivalent dose at 10 mcg/kg | Typical telehealth starting dose |
|---|---|---|
| 60 kg (132 lb) | 600 mcg | 100 to 200 mcg |
| 70 kg (154 lb) | 700 mcg | 100 to 300 mcg |
| 80 kg (176 lb) | 800 mcg | 200 to 300 mcg |
| 90 kg (198 lb) | 900 mcg | 200 to 300 mcg |
| 100 kg (220 lb) | 1000 mcg | 200 to 300 mcg |
| 110 kg (243 lb) | 1100 mcg | 300 mcg |
The trial used a research dose in a supervised setting over 16 weeks. Telehealth practice starts lower and titrates on response, which reduces injection site reactions and cost while still moving IGF-1 in most patients. A starting dose well below the trial figure is normal and not evidence of underdosing.
Converting Micrograms to Units on the Syringe
Compounded sermorelin is typically supplied as a lyophilized powder that you reconstitute with bacteriostatic water. The dose is prescribed in micrograms but drawn in units on an insulin syringe, which is where most dosing errors happen. A standard U-100 insulin syringe has 100 units per mL.
| Vial strength | Bacteriostatic water added | Concentration | 250 mcg dose equals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 mg | 2 mL | 2500 mcg/mL | 10 units |
| 5 mg | 2.5 mL | 2000 mcg/mL | 12.5 units |
| 9 mg | 3 mL | 3000 mcg/mL | 8 units |
| 15 mg | 5 mL | 3000 mcg/mL | 8 units |
- Confirm the vial strength printed on your label. Do not assume it matches a previous order
- Reconstitute with the exact volume your pharmacy specifies, injecting the water slowly down the vial wall
- Divide total micrograms by total millilitres to get your concentration
- Divide your prescribed dose by that concentration, then multiply by 100 to get insulin syringe units
- Confirm your calculated unit mark with the prescribing physician or pharmacist before the first dose
Swirl the vial gently to dissolve. Shaking can denature the peptide. Store reconstituted sermorelin refrigerated and follow the beyond-use date your compounding pharmacy assigns.
Timing Is Part of the Dose
A correct dose taken at the wrong time underperforms a smaller dose taken correctly. Most daily GH release occurs during slow-wave sleep [3], and the trial protocol dosed nightly for that reason [1]. Eating shortly before injecting raises blood glucose, which blunts the GH pulse through somatostatin feedback.
- Inject at bedtime, not in the morning
- Allow at least 2 hours after your last meal
- Rotate subcutaneous sites across the abdomen and thighs to limit injection site reactions
- Keep the timing consistent night to night rather than varying it around your schedule
How Titration Actually Works
Titration is driven by the 90-day IGF-1 retest, which is when the response approaches its peak, interpreted against the age-adjusted reference range. Dose changes made on how you feel at week 3 are premature.
| 90-day IGF-1 result | Typical interpretation | Usual next step |
|---|---|---|
| Rose into mid-normal for age | Protocol is working | Continue and reassess at 6 months |
| Rose slightly, still low-normal | Partial response | Physician may increase dose or review technique |
| Unchanged from baseline | Dosing, timing, storage, or absorption problem | Review protocol before raising dose |
| Above the age-adjusted range | Overshoot | Dose reduction |
An unchanged IGF-1 is the most common cause of a protocol that looks like failure, and raising the dose is rarely the first correct response. Check injection timing, whether food preceded the dose, whether the vial was stored correctly, and whether thyroid function has been confirmed, since untreated hypothyroidism blunts the GH response independently.
Dosing Without a Baseline Is Guessing
Any dosage chart is only useful alongside a baseline IGF-1 drawn before the first injection. Without that value there is nothing for the 90-day retest to be compared against, and titration collapses into symptom impressions. Providers that prescribe without requiring a baseline are making the dose unverifiable by design.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard sermorelin dosage for adults?
There is no FDA-approved adult dosage, because the approved product was withdrawn in 2009 and all current sermorelin is compounded. The published adult trial used 10 mcg/kg subcutaneously each night [1]. In telehealth practice, starting doses of 100 to 300 mcg nightly are conventional, set by the prescribing physician and titrated against a 90-day IGF-1 retest.
How much sermorelin should I take per day based on my weight?
At the 10 mcg/kg figure used in the adult trial [1], a 70 kg person corresponds to 700 mcg and a 90 kg person to 900 mcg. Most telehealth protocols start well below this, commonly 100 to 300 mcg regardless of weight, and titrate upward on lab response. Your prescribing physician sets the actual dose, and a starting dose below the trial figure is normal.
How do I convert my sermorelin dose to units on an insulin syringe?
Divide the total micrograms in the vial by the millilitres of bacteriostatic water added to get your concentration. Divide your prescribed dose by that concentration, then multiply by 100, since a U-100 insulin syringe has 100 units per mL. For example, a 5 mg vial reconstituted with 2 mL gives 2500 mcg/mL, so a 250 mcg dose is 0.1 mL, which is 10 units. Confirm your calculation with the pharmacist before the first dose.
When should I take sermorelin?
At bedtime, at least 2 hours after your last meal. Most daily growth hormone release happens during slow-wave sleep [3], and the published trial protocol dosed nightly for that reason [1]. Eating before injecting raises blood glucose, which suppresses the GH pulse through somatostatin feedback and can make an otherwise correct dose underperform.
When should my sermorelin dose be increased?
After the 90-day IGF-1 retest, not before. If IGF-1 rose into the mid-normal range for your age, the dose is working and should be held. If it rose only slightly, your physician may increase it. If it did not move at all, review timing, food, storage, and thyroid status first, because a technique problem is more common than a dose problem and raising the dose will not fix it.
Can I take sermorelin twice a day?
The published protocols are once daily at bedtime for both the adult trial and the pediatric labeling [1][2]. Split dosing has no published support in sermorelin, and it works against the rationale for bedtime administration, which is aligning the dose with the natural slow-wave sleep GH pulse. Any deviation from once-nightly dosing should come from your prescribing physician.
References
- Endocrine and metabolic effects of long-term administration of [Nle27]growth hormone-releasing hormone-(1-29)-NH2 in age-advanced men and women Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 1997. PMID: 9141536. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9141536/
- Sermorelin: a review of its use in the diagnosis and treatment of children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency BioDrugs, 1999. PMID: 18031173. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18031173/
- Growth hormone secretion during sleep Journal of Clinical Investigation, 1968. PMID: 5675428. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/5675428/
- Determination that GEREF (sermorelin acetate) injection was not withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness Federal Register, 78 FR 14095, 2013. FR Doc. 2013-04827. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2013-03-04/html/2013-04827.htm
