Sermorelin protocol
Sermorelin dosing — the gentle GHRH analogue, why it's dosed at night, body-weight scaling, and how it compares to Tesamorelin and CJC-1295.
Updated May 7, 2026 · 4 min read
Sermorelin is the gentlest entry point into the GH secretagogue category. It's the closest commercially-available peptide to natural GHRH — the first 29 amino acids of the natural hormone — which makes its profile predictable and its side effects mild.
Quick reference
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Class | GHRH (1–29) analogue |
| Half-life | About 10 minutes |
| Cadence | Once daily |
| Best timing | Just before bed |
| Typical dose | 200–500 mcg |
| Common vials | 3 mg, 9 mg, 15 mg |
Why night dosing
Your largest natural GH pulse occurs early in deep sleep. Sermorelin's job is to amplify that pulse — so the timing is set by your sleep, not by your training.
The standard protocol: SubQ injection 5–10 minutes before lights-out, on an empty stomach (carbs and high blood-glucose blunt GH release). If you eat dinner late, push dinner earlier or push the injection later — but keep the empty-stomach window if you want the cleanest pulse.
Body-weight scaling
| Body weight | Daily dose |
|---|---|
| Under 175 lb (80 kg) | 200–300 mcg |
| 175–225 lb (80–100 kg) | 300–400 mcg |
| Over 225 lb (100 kg+) | 400–500 mcg |
Going above 500 mcg doesn't reliably scale the GH pulse — your pituitary's release ceiling caps the response. More peptide doesn't equal more GH.
Reconstitution math
Sermorelin commonly ships in 3 mg, 9 mg, or 15 mg vials. The common mix:
3 mg vial + 2 mL bacteriostatic water = 1.5 mg/mL.
A 300 mcg dose → 0.2 mL → 20 units on a U-100 insulin syringe.
For a 9 mg vial, doubling to 4 mL BAC water keeps the same concentration. Use the reconstitution calculator for exact units at your dose.
Cycling
Most users run Sermorelin in 12–16 week cycles, then take 2–4 weeks off. The cycle length is longer than for recovery peptides because GH-axis effects (body comp, sleep quality, recovery) take 8+ weeks to express.
Some users run Sermorelin continuously at the lower end (200 mcg/night) as a long-term sleep-quality and recovery support. Long-term continuous use isn't well-studied — opinions in the community vary.
Sermorelin vs the alternatives
| Peptide | Half-life | Why it might fit |
|---|---|---|
| Sermorelin | 10 min | Natural pulse pattern, gentlest profile, lowest cost |
| CJC-1295 (no DAC) | 30 min | Slightly bigger pulse, often paired with Ipamorelin |
| CJC-1295 with DAC | 1 week | Sustained elevation, less natural rhythm, more water retention |
| Tesamorelin | 30+ min | Strongest visceral fat data, FDA-approved for HIV-LD, more expensive |
For most people in their 30s and 40s exploring secretagogues for the first time, Sermorelin is the right starting point. If results are insufficient after a full 12-week cycle, stepping up to CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin or Tesamorelin is reasonable.
For the no-DAC vs DAC trade-off, see CJC-1295 with or without DAC.
What to expect
Sermorelin effects build slowly:
- Weeks 1–2: improved sleep depth, more vivid dreams (a marker of GH activity)
- Weeks 3–6: subjective recovery improvement, slightly reduced morning stiffness
- Weeks 7–12: body composition shifts (modest), sleep changes consolidate
Sermorelin is not a "feel" drug. Don't expect a rush after injection. The signal is in your sleep quality and how you feel two months in.
Side effects
Generally mild:
- Mild numbness or tingling in hands or feet (occasional)
- Vivid dreams (most users count this as benefit, not side effect)
- Mild fluid retention (uncommon at therapeutic doses)
- Injection-site reactions
Most clear within a week of stopping. Deeper coverage in GH secretagogue side effects.
Common mistakes
- Eating right before injection. High blood glucose blunts the GH pulse.
- Dosing in the morning. Misses the natural sleep-pulse window.
- Bumping the dose. Above 500 mcg doesn't reliably scale.
- Quitting at week 4. GH-axis effects take 8+ weeks to show.