Medication Description
Sermorelin Injection 0.9mg/mL – Clear liquid solution
Compounded Drug Forms: Injectable Solution
What is Sermorelin?
Sermorelin is a synthetic peptide that stimulates the body's pituitary gland to produce and secrete its own natural growth hormone (GH).
What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
Before taking your medication, make sure your doctor knows about any of the following health conditions:
- Thyroid conditions, especially untreated hypothyroidism, which must be managed before starting treatment.
- Cancer or tumors (active or history of), as sermorelin may promote cell growth.
- Diabetes (Type 1 or Type 2) or any history of blood sugar problems.
- Brain or pituitary gland disorders, including tumors or any previous head/brain injury or surgery.
- Autoimmune diseases.
- If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
- Allergies to any medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives, particularly to sermorelin or any of its ingredients.
How should I use this medicine?
Follow the package directions provided by the pharmacy and by your prescriber. Your dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. Follow the dosing schedule provided carefully. Injections should be taken as indicated by your healthcare provider. See recommended administration guide for further instruction.
- Visually inspect the vial, making sure not to use it if it’s cloudy or contains any particulates.
- Let the vial warm to room temperature before injecting.
- Injections are typically administered once daily in the evening, right before bedtime, to align with the body's natural GH production cycle.
- Wash your hands and clean the injection site with an alcohol swab.
- Wipe the rubber stopper on top of vial with an alcohol wipe.
- Draw the correct dose into the syringe from your vial.
- Pinch the skin at your chosen injection site.
- Insert the needle at a 90-degree angle for subcutaneous injections.
- Inject slowly and steadily, then remove the needle.
- Dispose of all used needles and syringes immediately in an FDA-cleared sharps container. Visit safeneedledisposal.org to find a drop-off location.
- Common injection sites include the lower abdomen (at least two inches from the navel), the outer area of the upper arm, or the front of the thigh. Rotate injection sites daily to prevent irritation, redness, or the formation of lumps.
What if I miss a dose?
- If you miss a dose within 4 hours of the scheduled dose, administer it as soon as possible.
- If more than 4 hours have passed since the missed dose, skip the missed dose, and continue with your regular dosing schedule.
- Do not take double the dose at once, take as prescribed.
What should I watch for while using this medicine?
- Signs of allergic reaction: Difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, widespread hives, or a rapid heart rate.
- Persistent or severe symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, or headaches that last for more than a few days or are unusually intense.
- Other medical conditions: Inform your doctor if you have cancer, cardiovascular, kidney, liver issues or other medical conditions, as dosage adjustments or closer monitoring may be necessary.
- Drug interactions: This medication can interact with many other drugs. Make sure your doctor and pharmacist are aware of all your current medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements.
What common side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?
Side effects that may occur and may go away as your body gets used to the medication include:
- Injection site reactions (pain, redness, swelling, irritation)
- Warmth or flushing of the face
- Headache
- Nausea
What serious side effects prompt immediate attention?
Contact your doctor immediately or seek medical attention if you experience:
- Allergic Reactions: Symptoms such as hives, rash, facial or throat swelling, difficulty breathing, or rapid heartbeat warrant immediate medical care.
- Fluid retention (edema): Swelling in the hands, feet, or limbs.
- Joint pain or stiffness: Often in the knees or ankles, spine/back pain.
- Nerve pain: Including symptoms similar to carpal tunnel syndrome (numbness or tingling in the hands/wrists).
- Increased intracranial pressure: Very rare, symptoms can include severe headaches and visual disturbances.
- Insulin resistance: Sermorelin can affect how the body processes glucose, increasing the risk of developing diabetes with chronic use.
- Potential to exacerbate existing cancer: Sermorelin is generally contraindicated in patients with active cancers or a history of certain hormone-sensitive malignancies, as growth hormone can theoretically promote cell proliferation.
Seek medical attention if an allergic reaction occurs. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, and/or trouble breathing.
Contraindications and Cautions
Individuals who are pregnant or breastfeeding, active malignancy (cancer), untreated hypothyroidism, intracranial lesions/tumors, and acute critical illness. They also have significant interactions with certain medications.
What may interact with this medicine?
Medications
- Other growth hormone medications or sermorelin-like products.
- Insulin or other diabetes medications.
- Thyroid medications (e.g., propylthiouracil, levothyroxine).
- Steroid medications/Glucocorticoids (e.g., prednisone, dexamethasone).
- Anti-inflammatory drugs such as high-dose aspirin, indomethacin (Cyclooxygenase inhibitors)
- Certain blood pressure and neurological medications, including clonidine and levodopa — discuss with your provider (Somatostatin-containing medicines)
Other Supplements
- Growth Hormone Boosters: Supplements such as arginine, GABA, and melatonin are sometimes used to raise growth hormone levels. Combining them with sermorelin could potentially increase the risk of side effects like joint pain or swelling due to excessively high growth hormone activity.
- Minerals (Calcium, Zinc) & Fiber: The absorption of some oral medications, like levothyroxine (which interacts with sermorelin), can be affected by minerals such as calcium and dietary fiber, so timing of administration may be important.
- Vitamin D: Co-administration with Vitamin D analogs (like Vitamin D3) may require caution in patients with or predisposed to cardiac arrhythmias due to potential changes in serum calcium concentrations.
- L-Carnitine and CoQ10: These are listed as potential interactions on some drug checkers, though specific mechanisms for concern beyond general caution require professional consultation.
This is not a complete list of all possible interactions. Always inform your doctor and pharmacist of all medications, supplements, and herbal products you take, especially before starting or stopping any new medication.
Additional Information
- Store reconstituted Sermorelin injections under refrigeration and keep protected from light. Stable at room temperature for 7 days.
- Do not share this medication with others to whom it was not prescribed.
- Keep out of reach of children and pets.
- Do not use after Beyond Use Date. Discard remainder of vial 28 days after first puncture.
- If an overdose is suspected contact your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 or go to the nearest emergency room.
- Do not flush down the toilet or pour down a drain. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to dispose of medications. There may be a drug take-back program in your area.
Reporting Side Effects
If you have any questions concerning this or any of your medications, a pharmacist is available during normal business hours to answer your questions. You can report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take this medication or any other medication. Only the healthcare provider has the knowledge and training to decide which medicines are right for a specific patient. This information does not endorse any medicine as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about this medicine. It does not include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to this medicine. For questions about the source of any of the information provided herein, pharmacists at Pharmacy are available. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from the healthcare provider. You must talk with the healthcare provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of this medicine.
Important: Compounded medications are not evaluated or approved by the FDA for safety, efficacy, or quality.