The Most Effective Hormone Replacement Therapies
There are many myths and misunderstandings about human growth hormone, or HGH. Here are some of the facts you need to know about growth hormone injections. Authentic HGH is only available with a doctor’s prescription for growth hormone injections. Human growth hormone is produced by the pituitary gland. Human growth hormone is responsible not only for all of the processes that allow us to grow and age from childhood to adulthood, it plays a vital role in keeping us healthy and fit throughout our lives.
A growth hormone deficiency (GHD) occurs when the pituitary gland fails to produce enough growth hormone. There can be any number of reasons why pituitary function becomes impaired and HGH production slows down. The causes of growth hormone deficiency can range from disease states, to the normal decline of HGH production as you age. However, regardless of the cause, the symptoms are generally the same – fatigue, weight gain, and muscle loss – and the only really effective treatment is growth hormone injections.
HGH as produced by the body is known chemically as Somatotropin. In the past, the only way to obtain Somatotropin for growth hormone injections, was from the pituitary glands of cadavers. Today, growth hormone injections use synthetic Somatotropin, created in the lab using recombinant DNA.
Human growth hormone is responsible for all of the processes that allow us to grow and age from childhood to adulthood. It also plays a vital role in keeping us healthy and fit throughout our lives.
The FDA-approved injectable forms of synthetic Somatotropin come already as an injectable liquid, or as a powder that the patient then reconstitutes into an injectable liquid form of HGH. Either form requires special care instructions that will be given to you by your health practitioner.
A prescription for HGH is not just for the brand of synthetic Somatotropin that best meets your needs and lifestyle, but for an entire HGH injection kit. Depending on the brand and type of injectable HGH, the kit will come with everything you need. For example, if your prescription is for one of the freeze-dried powered forms of growth hormone injections, your growth hormone injection kit will come with the pre-measured powders and the sterile water you need to mix it with. Never use any other source of water to mix the injection, other than the sterile water that comes complete with the kit.
Your dose of HGH will be prescribed in milligrams, but the HGH injection kits are purchased and used as “IUs,” or “injectable units.”
There are several brands of synthetic Somatotropin available from different drug companies, they differ mostly by their IUs and delivery methods. Some use “injectable pens,” rather than traditional syringes. Here are 8 of the most common brands of HGH injections.
Genotropin – Is the original brand of synthetic HGH. Genotropin, is made by Pfizer, Inc. and has been available in the USA since 1996. As the holder of the original patent for injectable HGH, the price of Genotropin is relatively high, about 20.00 per IU, on average.
Humatrope – Is a synthetic growth hormone made by Pfizer’s competitor Eli Lilly and Company. Humatrope has been around almost as long as Genotropin. It has been FDA approved since 1998. It shares a chain of 191 amino acids with Genotropin, as well as a similar price of 20.00 to 23.00 per injection unit.
Omnitrope – Is a recombinant human growth hormone injection made by Sandoz. It is available in both injectable pen form, and a vial and syringe kit. According to the manufacturer, the liquid cartridge in the pen injector stays stable for 28 days after the first injection.
Norditropin – Is another very popular form of HGH injections. It comes from Danish pharmaceutical manufacturer Novo Nordisk. It is almost as expensive as Genotropin, at a cost of about 13.00 to 20.00 per IU. It comes as an injectable pen, and can be found under several names such as Norditropin Flexpro, NordiFlex or even SimpleXx.
Zomacton – Zomacton is a form of synthetic Somatotropin made by Ferring Pharmaceuticals. It is also made of 191 amino acids, it is considered medium purity, and is priced somewhat less than Genotropin or Norditropin.
Saizen – Is one of several synthetic HGH products made by EMD Serono. It is very similar in price and purity to Norditropin, and is available in doses from 8mg to 20mg
Serostim – Is also made by EMD Serono. On the market since 2002, it holds the distinction of being one of the newest formulations of injectable HGH available. It is also the only HGH injection approved by the FDA for use to combat weight loss in HIV patients.
Zorbtive – Is another brand of injectable HGH from EMD Serono. It joins the list of those considered “high purity.” Like the others on this list, its recombinant sequence of 191 amino acids make it virtually identical to the dominant form of human growth hormone produced by the pituitary.
The causes of growth hormone deficiency can range from disease states, to the normal decline of HGH production as you age. However, regardless of the cause, the symptoms are generally the same – fatigue, weight gain, and muscle loss – and the only really effective treatment is growth hormone injections.
When properly prescribed by a medical professional for a legitimate condition such as growth hormone deficiency, there is nothing unsafe or illegal about using HGH. HGH is banned by the Olympic Committee, and several professional sports organizations, as a “performance enhancing drug,” simply because it does have the ability to help you grow stronger and fitter. That may be considered an unfair advantage on the athletic field, but it is exactly what is needed by someone suffering from GHD.
While growth hormone injections are generally regarded as safe, like any medical procedure or pharmaceutical, they can have some side effects. Potential side effects of growth hormone injections are:
You will be taught to give your injections, and carefully monitored during your growth hormone replacement therapy. Any reported side effects from your growth hormone injections can usually be alleviated by adjusting your dosage.
The cost of growth hormone injections will vary from patient to patient depending on your individual needs and brand of synthetic growth hormone used. Generally speaking you can expect to spend from about $800 to around $3000 per month for growth hormone injections.
Since HGH injections are prescribed based on your individual needs and lifestyle, how long you will have to continue HGH injections will vary from patient to patient. Typically, your doctor will start with the smallest dosage he or she thinks will be effective for you, to see how you will do on HGH therapy. You may start out with as little as four IUs a week. Then, depending on your results, your doctor may gradually increase your dosage to 8 IUs per week. Generally speaking, to be most effective, you will likely need to continue HGH injections for six months to a year, at which time you will be reevaluated for the need for continuing growth hormone replacement.
So now that you know a lot more about the myths versus the realities of growth hormone injections, why not contact us, and find out if growth hormone injection therapy is right for you?
When properly prescribed by a medical professional for a legitimate condition such as growth hormone deficiency, there is nothing unsafe or illegal about using HGH.
