HGH has gain great popularity as an anti-aging treatment. Sometimes called the Peter Pan drug, Hollywood stars have been using it in the hopes of staying trim and improving their skin and hair. The men also have been using it to build muscle, lose body fat and even improve their sexual performance.
But what exactly is HGH and is it worth all the hype? Or is it just a pricey placebo with potential side effects? Read on to find out the facts.
What is HGH?
Human Growth Hormone is a hormone that is produced by a tiny gland just behind our eyes called the pituitary gland. HGH is responsible for a variety of functions in the body. In childhood, it produces growth. In adulthood, it maintains the health and function of tissues and organs throughout life.
In adults who are deficient in HGH, treating them with HGH injections leads to an increase in muscle mass, increase in bone strength, increase in exercise capacity and decrease in body fat.
How do I know if I need HGH replacement therapy?
A good way is to first look for symptoms. Unfortunately the symptoms of HGH deficiency are very general and can be caused by many other illnesses including low Testosterone. Possible symptoms of HGH deficiency include:
- Low Physical and Mental energy (Brain cloud)
- Decreased muscle strength and mass
- Exercise intolerance – reduced stamina
- Increased weight or difficulty losing weight
- Poor memory
- Emotional instability
- Poor sleep or impaired sleep
Because of this, most Doctors will use blood tests to determine if a patient really is suffering from HGH deficiency or not. There are several kinds of blood tests that can be done.
How do I test for my HGH levels?
GH Serum test
This test directly measures the amount of HGH in the blood. Because the level of HGH naturally varies throughout the day, this test may not be very accurate. It is also rather pricey so is rarely done.
IGF-1 Test
IGF (Insulin-like Growth Factor) is another protein in the blood that rises and falls with HGH. So it is commonly used as a surrogate marker for HGH levels. Because IGF-1 does not vary so much within a day, it is a better screening tool for HGH deficiency.
HGH Suppression and Stimulation test
These tests are usually done only in controlled environments like in a hospital. After a baseline GH Serum test is done, the patient is given a medicine to either suppress or stimulate HGH production by the pituitary gland. Several more blood samples are then taken over the next few hours and how the body response to the medication will give Doctors an indication if the patient is deficient in HGH.
What is the treatment for HGH deficiency?
When the body is unable to produce enough HGH on its own, Doctors will prescribe HGH replacement therapy. HGH is given via a tiny injection under the skin very much like how insulin is given. It is painless and very easy to do and most patients learn to do it themselves. Most major pharmaceutical companies now produce HGH in a pen form making it even more convenient to self-inject. The patient just needs to dial the pen up to the prescribed dose and given himself/herself the dose.
Must HGH be given via an injection? Are there pills available?
Unfortunately, HGH cannot be taken orally. The HGH will just be digested. The only way to deliver HGH to the body is via an injection. There are many oral supplements that claim to boost HGH levels. These are however unsubstantiated.
What is the difference between 191 AA HGH and 192 AA HGH?
HGH is a protein and proteins are made out of building blocks of amino acids. The HGH naturally produced by the body consists of 191 amino acids. The synthetic HGH produced by the major pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer and Novo-Nordisk also consists of 191 amino acids. Some synthetic pharmaceutical HGH products contain HGH that has an extra amino acid. The so-called 192 AA HGH.
Since the 192 AA HGH is slightly different from HGH naturally produced by the body, there is some concern that the body may recognize it as a foreign protein and develop antibodies against it. If the body develops enough antibodies that can neutralize it, that may make the medicine much less effective or not effective at all. Also, for the same reason, there have been reports that patients who use 192 AA HGH experience more redness, swelling and itching at the injection sites. However, this may not be due to the body reacting to the 192 AA HGH but instead reacting to the benzyl alcohol contained in the solution used to dissolve 192 AA HGH.
In Singapore, only 191 AA HGH is available.
In my experience, I have attended to patients who were using 192 AA HGH purchased while they were living outside of Singapore. So far I have not seen any of these patients develop any adverse events while on 192 AA HGH. However, several of the patients who switched over to the 191 AA HGH available in Singapore experienced an improvement in their symptoms compared to an identical dose of 192 AA HGH. Of course, this is just anecdotal evidence. I am not aware of any studies directly comparing the efficacy of 191 and 192 AA HGH.
What are the possible side effects of using HGH?
The risk of getting side effects from HGH increases with increasing dose. At therapeutic doses, side effects are usually very mild if at all. However when HGH is abused and very large doses are taken, side effects can get very severe. The possible side effects of HGH include:
- Increased risk of developing diabetes
- Swelling of the joints
- Joint stiffness
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Increased Cholesterol levels
- Using very high doses of HGH over a long time can also lead to enlargement of the organs giving the patient a “HGH gut”. You can see this in some bodybuilders who abuse HGH.
So should I be on HGH?
As we age, HGH production naturally drops. This can lead to some troublesome symptoms as listed above. The symptoms most of my patients complain to me about is a significant drop in both physical and mental performance. As well as an overall drop in energy.
Since such symptoms have a large number of possible causes, Doctors will first take a thorough history and conduct a physical examination. You would very likely then need to undergo some tests. Minimally, Doctors will request for some blood tests to check your Hormone levels. A low Testosterone level in men can also lead to symptoms very much like that of low HGH.
Once other health problems have been ruled out, you can then have a conversation with your Doctor about the Pros and Cons of HGH replacement.
My HGH experience
So far, my patients have done very well on HGH. The caveat is that I only stick to therapeutic doses. Of course, the response varies between patients. I feel the most important thing is to first have a proper diagnosis. And be sure that the patient will benefit from HGH replacement.
I will usually start at a lower dose and titrate the dose upwards while monitoring the patient’s response. Personally, I have found HGH to be an effective treatment and have fewer side effects compared to other hormone replacement therapies.
Where can I get HGH Pens in Singapore?
If you think you may benefit from HGH therapy, please first have a conversation with our Doctor first.
You can visit us our our Medical Center at Novena Medical Center #09-30.
Telephone: +65-6513 0359
WhatsApp: +65 97505037
Email: doc@drtanmedicalcenter.com.sg
Are you on HGH? Please share your experience in the comments section below.