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HGH Dosage: Doses Studied, Units and Chart

What doses of HGH have been used in published research, how they convert to syringe units, and what is still unknown.

Medically reviewed by Juan Pablo Frías, MD · · DisclosureRecombinant growth hormoneUpdated
Doses studied
15 studies
with a stated dose, listed below
Frequency
Varies by study
as used in studies
Half-life
0.4 hours IV; 3.0 hours subcutaneous
intravenous (normal adults); subcutaneous (GHD adults), Genotropin, in people · FDA label (Genotropin)

Dosing on the FDA label

Quoted from the approved product label. It applies to the approved product used as prescribed, not to compounded or research-chemical versions.

Doses used in published studies

Each dose below is quoted from a study abstract, strongest design first. Animal doses are labelled and do not translate directly to people. None of them is a recommendation.

Doses of HGH used in published studies
DoseFrequency and routeStudy typeSource
not stateddaily · not stated · 8 weeksHuman RCTn = 12Journal of applied physiology 2014, PMID 24235105
not statednot stated · not stated · 4 months per periodHuman RCTn = 14European journal of endocrinology 2013, PMID 23447518
not statedtwo injections · local injection into the patellar tendon · single sessionHuman RCTn = 12Journal of applied physiology 2012, PMID 22961272
rhGH titrated over 8 wk to IGF-I in upper half of the age-specific range (testosterone 5 mg patch in combination arms)daily · subcutaneous (rhGH, per design) · 6 monthsHuman RCTn = 80The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 2006, PMID 16332938
0.033 or 0.067 mg/kg/ddaily · not stated · 28 daysHuman RCTn = 30The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 2005, PMID 15784718
not stated in abstractnot stated · not stated · 6 monthsHuman RCTMetabolism: clinical and experimental 2005, PMID 16125527
0.067 mg/kg.ddaily · not stated · 4 wkHuman RCTn = 11The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 2003, PMID 14602753
9.6 micro g/kg body weight.ddaily · not stated · 6 monthsHuman RCTn = 19The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 2003, PMID 12679422
0.125 U/kg/wk increasing to 0.25 U/Kg/wkweekly dose · not stated · 6 months blinded, then 6 months openHuman RCTn = 32Clinical endocrinology 1998, PMID 10197085
0.25 IU/kg/weeknot stated in abstract (weekly dose) · subcutaneous · 2 yearsHuman RCTn = 148Clinical endocrinology 1997, PMID 9404448
0.02 mg/kg BW.daydaily · subcutaneous · 10 weeksHuman RCTn = 18The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 1994, PMID 7525633
0.02-0.05 IU/kg body wtdaily · subcutaneous · 6 monthsHuman RCTn = 36European journal of endocrinology 1994, PMID 8180671
mean 1.49 mg/ddaily · not stated · variedSystematic reviewn = 1157JBJS reviews 2026, PMID 41557825
0.41 mg-2.6 mg (mean 1.3 mg per 60 kg patient)daily, every 2nd day or 3x/week · not stated · 1-12 months (mean 7 months)Systematic reviewGrowth hormone & IGF research 2024, PMID 38489867
mean 36 microg/kg per daydaily (mean treatment 20 days for multi-day studies) · not stated · mean 20 daysSystematic reviewAnnals of internal medicine 2008, PMID 18347346

Before anyone considers it

  • HGH is FDA approved (prescription only); research-chemical versions are not the approved drug.
  • Compounded and research-chemical versions are not the approved product and are not checked by the FDA for identity, purity or dose.
  • Reconstitution math (mg vs mcg, units vs mL) is the most asked question in peptide forums. Check every number twice.
  • People who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a chronic condition need medical advice first.

Common questions

Is HGH FDA approved?

HGH is FDA approved (prescription only). Products sold as research chemicals are not the approved drug and are not checked by the FDA.

More on HGH

Side effectsWhat labels and studies report, and what is unknown.ResultsStudy outcomes and when they were measured.PricePrice per mg and per week from dated listings. No vendor links.Legal statusFDA, compounding and WADA status with dates.How to injectSites, syringe types and hygiene, step by step.Half-lifeWhat is measured, by route, and what is not.

Sources

  1. 1Metric (SI) Prefixes (NIST Reference on Constants, Units, and Uncertainty)National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) · 2025physics.nist.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  2. 2BASAGLAR (insulin glargine) injection, prescribing information (DailyMed)U.S. Food and Drug Administration / DailyMed (Eli Lilly and Company label) · 2026dailymed.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  3. 3GENOTROPIN (SOMATROPIN) KIT [PFIZER LABORATORIES DIV PFIZER INC]FDA label (Genotropin), DailyMed · current labeldailymed.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  4. 4NORDITROPIN (SOMATROPIN) INJECTION, SOLUTION [NOVO NORDISK]FDA label (Norditropin), DailyMed · current labeldailymed.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  5. 5HUMATROPE (SOMATROPIN) KIT [ELI LILLY AND COMPANY]FDA label (Humatrope), DailyMed · current labeldailymed.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  6. 6Effect of growth hormone on aging connective tissue in muscle and tendon: gene expression, morphology, and function following immobilization and rehabilitation.Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) · 2014PMID 24235105Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  7. 7Impact of GH replacement therapy on sleep in adult patients with GH deficiency of pituitary origin.European journal of endocrinology · 2013PMID 23447518Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  8. 8Local administration of growth hormone stimulates tendon collagen synthesis in elderly men.Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) · 2012PMID 22961272Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  9. 9The effects of growth hormone and/or testosterone in healthy elderly men: a randomized controlled trial.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2006PMID 16332938Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  10. 10Short-term administration of supraphysiological recombinant human growth hormone (GH) does not increase maximum endurance exercise capacity in healthy, active young men and women with normal GH-insulin-like growth factor I axes.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2005PMID 15784718Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  11. 11Effects of growth hormone and/or sex steroid administration on whole-body protein turnover in healthy aged women and men.Metabolism: clinical and experimental · 2005PMID 16125527Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  12. 12High dose growth hormone exerts an anabolic effect at rest and during exercise in endurance-trained athletes.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2003PMID 14602753Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  13. 13Growth hormone replacement therapy induces insulin resistance by activating the glucose-fatty acid cycle.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2003PMID 12679422Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  14. 14HDL-cholesterol reductions associated with adult growth hormone replacement.Clinical endocrinology · 1998PMID 10197085Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  15. 15Two years of replacement therapy in adults with growth hormone deficiency.Clinical endocrinology · 1997PMID 9404448Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  16. 16Effect of recombinant human growth hormone on the muscle strength response to resistance exercise in elderly men.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 1994PMID 7525633Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  17. 17Cardiovascular effects of growth hormone replacement therapy in hypopituitary adults.European journal of endocrinology · 1994PMID 8180671Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  18. 18Human Growth Hormone as a Therapeutic Treatment Option in Orthopaedics: A Systematic Review of Dosing, Side Effects, and Clinical Outcomes.JBJS reviews · 2026PMID 41557825Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  19. 19Growth hormone treatment in aged patients with comorbidities: A systematic review.Growth hormone & IGF research : official journal of the Growth Hormone Research Society and the International IGF Research Society · 2024PMID 38489867Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  20. 20Systematic review: the effects of growth hormone on athletic performance.Annals of internal medicine · 2008PMID 18347346Accessed 2 Oct 2026

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