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How to Store HGH: Refrigeration and Shelf Life

Whether HGH needs refrigeration, how long powder and mixed vials keep, and what to do if a vial got warm.

Medically reviewed by Juan Pablo Frías, MD · · DisclosureRecombinant growth hormoneUpdated

For the FDA-approved product, the label and package insert are the authority on storage. The notes below are for vials of powder that are mixed before use.

Storage at a glance

Quoted from the FDA label, with the source for each row.

HGH storage conditions
ConditionWhat the source saysSource typeSource
Unreconstituted cartridgeStore GENOTROPIN lyophilized powder under refrigeration at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C) until the expiration date.FDA labelFDA label (Genotropin)
After reconstitution (pen)Store under refrigeration at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C) between each use, for up to 28 days.FDA labelFDA label (Genotropin)
Unused pensUnused NORDITROPIN FlexPro prefilled pens must be stored refrigerated at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F).FDA labelFDA label (Norditropin)
CartridgesRefrigerate cartridges of HUMATROPE and Diluent for HUMATROPE at 36° to 46°F (2° to 8°C).FDA labelFDA label (Humatrope)
After reconstitutionReconstituted cartridges of HUMATROPE are stable for up to 28 days when refrigerated at 36° to 46°F (2° to 8°C).FDA labelFDA label (Humatrope)

Unmixed powder

Freeze-dried (lyophilized) powder is the form most vials ship in. Sourced conditions for HGH are in the table above; anything they do not cover is unverified.

  • Keep vials sealed, dry and out of direct light and heat until use.
  • Check the label for a lot number and an expiry date. A vial with neither tells you nothing about its age.

After mixing

Once mixed with bacteriostatic water, peptide vials are usually kept in the refrigerator and used within a limited time. Sourced conditions for HGH are in the table above; anything they do not cover is unverified.

  • Write the mixing date on the vial.
  • Swab the rubber top with alcohol before every draw.
  • Do not freeze a mixed vial unless the product information says you can.

If it got warm or looks wrong

Do not use a vial that: looks cloudy, has particles or has changed colour (unless the product information says that is expected), or has a damaged seal.

How much potency HGH loses after a temperature slip is not covered by any published stability study we found. When in doubt, ask a pharmacist.

Common questions

Does HGH need to be refrigerated?

Follow the storage instructions on the approved product's label (quoted on this page). Compounded or research versions should come with their own instructions; if they don't, ask the pharmacy.

How long is HGH good for after mixing?

That depends on the product and how it was mixed. We publish a shelf life only from a manufacturer or a stability study; the sourced conditions are on this page.

More on HGH

DosageDoses used in published studies, with the source for each.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.

Sources

  1. 1GENOTROPIN (SOMATROPIN) KIT [PFIZER LABORATORIES DIV PFIZER INC]FDA label (Genotropin), DailyMed · current labeldailymed.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  2. 2NORDITROPIN (SOMATROPIN) INJECTION, SOLUTION [NOVO NORDISK]FDA label (Norditropin), DailyMed · current labeldailymed.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  3. 3HUMATROPE (SOMATROPIN) KIT [ELI LILLY AND COMPANY]FDA label (Humatrope), DailyMed · current labeldailymed.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026

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