Omnitrope (Somatropin) 5mg Sandoz 5 vial [5x15IU]
Omnitrope (Somatropin) 5mg , by Sandoz 1 vial [1x15IU]
INRODUCTION
Human growth hormone is a naturally occurring substance secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. It is essential for normal growth and development. Growth hormone (GH)is secreted by the pituitary gland since birth and the levels peak around late adolescence. In the 2nd decade of life, the levels of growth hormone began to decline. For more than 40 years growth hormone has been available to treat specific medical disorders. However, in the past 3 decades, growth hormone mania has hit the market and everyone wants to take it. The middle aged and elderly seem to think GH can reverse aging, the young teenagers want to build their bodies and the sports athletes want to perform better. Of all the drugs abused by sports athletes, Growth hormone probably ranks in the top three.
What Human Growth Hormone?
Pharmacology
Most of the GH available is manufactured using recombinant DNA technology; the two types of synthetic HGH available are somatropin and somatrem. Both synthetic types have similar pharmacological actions. The synthetic forms once injected are impossible to distinguish from the naturally occurring GH. Growth hormone acts by binding to GH receptors on various tissues and stimulate a variety of cellular actions. GH has multiple physiological effects including regulation of metabolism, maintaining fluid and electrolyte balances, increasing skeletal and muscle mass. GH levels are generally increased during stress, sleep and exercise.
In which conditions do GH levels change?
There are a few medical conditions that can develop if levels of GH are either too low or too high. With an excess amount of human growth hormone the body may over produce cells causing acromegaly, a condition characterized by oversized extremities, rapid and continual cell growth, and a variety of other serious health complications; or pituitary gigantism, which results in extreme height due to over secretion of GH.
Medical conditions caused by GH deficiency can be serious as well, leading to a variety of short stature conditions that may severely impact overall health
Approved clinical uses of GH
Dosing
GH is never taken orally. It is always administered as an injection- either subcutaneous or intramuscular. GH acts pretty rapidly once it is absorbed in the blood stream. The dosing of growth hormone is still not fully known. While the latest research indicates it should be based on levels of IGF, many physicians dose it based on body weight. For adults, the dosing is about 0.01-0.1 mg/kg body weight. This dosing depends on the type of product and what it is to be used for. The currently available GH either comes as a powder or a liquid. The powder is solubilized in a saline solution before injection.
Side effects of growth hormone
Does one require a prescription for GH?
GH can only be legally prescribed for the aforementioned purposes approved by the FDA; however, many off-label uses for the hormone exist, such as athletic performance enhancement and anti-aging treatment. In most instances of off-label usage, the FDA has not approved GH treatment simply because the potential benefits of therapy do not outweigh the possible risks posed by altering the body's levels of GH. While touted by some as a miracle cure-all, GH carries with it serious side effects that patients should take heed of before initiating treatment.
Potential risks of taking GH
With GH there is the ever-present risk of overdose, which can lead to the development of devastating conditions brought on by excessive GH production, such as acromegaly. Since GH stimulates cell growth, there is also the risk that GH may activate the proliferation of unwanted cells like cancer cells, causing the development of leukemia, prostate cancer, and malignant tumors in those undergoing GH therapy. Comparatively less serious side effects of GH include fluid retention, carpal tunnel syndrome, joint pain, and type 2 diabetes. Anti-agers considering GH therapy must carefully weigh the risks and benefits of treatment before deciding to follow through with the potentially harmful therapy.
Off Label Use
Bodybuilding
For the bodybuilder, GH does not come cheap. Depending on where one buys from and from whom, the monthly costs can run anywhere from $500-$2000. And in some cases, the GH is fake.
Anti Aging
Availability
Limitations of testing
Synthetic GH is very difficult to detect in the body. The current methods can't detect GH more than 48 hours after the last injection and most athletes are aware of this fact. A favorite question by any athlete today before he starts to take any illicit drug is if there is a test for it.
Sermorelin
Control Status
The widespread abuse of HG has led to some Federal Regulations limiting it sells and distribution. The 1990 Anabolic Steroids Control Act now means that anyone possessing, selling, distribution GH is committing a crime. There are serious penalties for such acts and include jail time and monetary fines. In March 2007, a bill was introduced into the U.S. Senate to amend the Controlled Substances Act and add HGH to schedule III. GH is currently listed by the World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Olympic Committee as a performance enhancing drug barring athletes from using it.