Our hormones play a critical role in our physical and psychological health. That’s especially true of human growth hormones (HGH), the peptide hormones secreted by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus. Human growth hormones comprise 191 amino acids, and they work with insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), a hormone found naturally in the blood, to promote the growth of bones and cartilage during childhood. Throughout adulthood, HGH and IGF-1 help maintain, build, and repair healthy tissue in the brain and other organs. They also play a part in cell regeneration and cell reproduction. When someone develops a human growth hormone deficiency, it can adversely affect these bodily processes and trigger several unpleasant symptoms.
What Causes a Human Growth Hormone Deficiency?
Multiple things can cause people to have low growth hormone (GH) levels, but the most common is aging. As men and women age, their bodies naturally produce less of these all-important peptide hormones. Of course, to understand and appreciate what constitutes low GH levels, we need to know what constitutes healthy GH levels. Normal, healthy GH levels for men and women are 0.4 to 10 nanograms per milliliter and 1 to 14 nanograms per milliliter, respectively. After age 30, however, GH levels in the blood gradually decline, often falling by 14% to 15% annually. By middle age, most men and women will have low GH levels or, worse yet, a full-on deficiency. Along with aging, the following are also common causes of low GH levels in men and women:
- Certain chronic illnesses
- Genetics
- Malnutrition
- Medications that suppress HGH production as a side effect
- Obesity
- Pituitary gland disorders
- Sleep disorders, such as insomnia and sleep apnea
- Stress
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
Common Ways To Boost Low Growth Hormone Levels
Sometimes, adopting positive lifestyle habits is enough to get human growth hormone levels back within a healthy range. These include losing weight if you’re obese or overweight, quitting smoking if you’re a smoker, and getting a minimum of 7 to 9 hours of deep, restorative sleep each night. Engaging in 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise, as recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA), per week can also help. The same applies to staying hydrated and keeping stress to a minimum. Resolving a severe growth hormone deficiency, however, might require prescription medication.
HGH Therapy and HGH Cycles: The Right and Wrong Way To Boost Low Growth Hormone Levels
Several prescription-based drugs can boost low GH levels in the blood and provide relief from symptoms typical of low GH levels, such as chronic fatigue, low libido, anxiety, depression, and reduced muscle mass and strength. Some of the prescription-based drugs endocrinologists and general physicians often prescribe to patients with low GH levels include the following:
- Humatrope
- Omnitrope
- Nutropin and Nutropin AQ
- Genotropin
- Tev-Tropin
- Norditropin
- Zomacton
- Serostim
- Saizen
- Zorbtive
- Sogroya
- Accretropin
To get the most out of these medications, individuals must take them as prescribed. Doing so also minimizes medication side effects. HGH cycling is the antithesis of taking HGH-based medicines as prescribed. For those unaware, HGH cycling refers to taking high doses of human growth hormone (HGH) injections for an extended period followed by a pause.
Consequences of Cycling Human Growth Hormone Medications
There is no standard on/off ratio for HGH cycling, but most people who take part in this practice report engaging in one of the following:
- Two weeks on and two weeks off
- Three weeks on and one week off
- Four weeks on and four weeks off
Taking high doses of HGH-boosting medication for a prolonged period and then pausing for too long before restarting can trigger insulin resistance, which can eventually lead to the onset of type 2 diabetes. And it does not end there; long-term and inappropriate use of these medications can also cause water retention. When this happens, most people experience headaches, joint pain, edema that affects the legs and feet, and carpal tunnel syndrome. All in all, HGH cycling is a dangerous way to boost one’s human growth hormone levels.
How To Correctly Take Human Growth Hormone Medication
After someone is formally diagnosed with a human growth hormone deficiency, a physician will prescribe the HGH-boosting medication they believe is right for them. They will also determine the appropriate dosage, how long the individual should go between doses, and how long they should be on their medication. The starting dose for most HGH-boosting medications is usually 0.005 mg per kg, roughly 0.0023 mg per pound, of body weight, which gets injected under their skin once daily. A physician will increase the patient’s dose if needed. These dosing instructions apply to most HGH-boosting medications except for Norditropin, which usually has a starting dose of 0.004 mg per kg, roughly 0.0002 mg per pound of body weight. Like other HGH-boosting medications, Norditropin gets injected under the skin.
How Long Does It Take To See Results After Starting an HGH-Boosting Drug?
Several factors determine how quickly someone will see results after starting an HGH-boosting medication, some of which include their age, the medication they are taking, and the severity of their hormonal deficiency. Most people report feeling more energetic and seeing improvements in their overall mood within the first month of starting their treatment regimen. Significant improvements, such as increased muscle mass, reduced body fat, improved libido, and the like, typically occur 3 to 6 months after being on an HGH-boosting medication.
What Is the Cost of the Full HGH Cycle?
Multiple factors dictate how much someone will have to pay for HGH-boosting medications. Some of these include whether they have medical insurance, the specific drug and dosage they need, and treatment duration. That all said, the average cost of an HGH cycle starts as low as $564 and can go as high as $8,046, according to GoodRx, an online platform that provides information and discounts on prescription medications.
In summary, HGH-boosting medications can boost low human growth hormones in one’s blood and, as a byproduct, provide relief from many of the symptoms associated with having an HGH-based hormonal deficiency. But they must be taken as prescribed.