Somatropin (HGH) Research Evidence
The Somatropin (HGH) evidence base: trials, journals, and what the data does not yet show.
Approved Indications
Somatropin brands are FDA-approved for a range of indications depending on the specific product: pediatric growth hormone deficiency and growth failure, adult growth hormone deficiency, Turner syndrome, and — for specific brands — HIV-associated wasting (Serostim) or short bowel syndrome (Zorbtive). Each brand has its own FDA-approved label and indication set; they are not interchangeable off-label without a prescriber's guidance.
Regulatory and Legal Status
Somatropin is prescription-only and FDA-approved for the specific indications listed on each brand's label. Distributing or possessing somatropin for unapproved uses — bodybuilding, anti-aging, athletic performance — is a federal crime in the US under 21 U.S.C. § 333(e), a statute specific to human growth hormone that goes beyond ordinary prescription-drug law, reflecting its history of non-medical misuse. It should only be obtained through a licensed prescriber for an approved indication.