HGH Dosage Information

Human growth hormone (HGH) is a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland that promotes growth and development. When an individual doesn't produce enough HGH, his doctor may prescribe injections of synthetic HGH (somatropin).

Indications

• The FDA has approved HGH injections for treatment of growth hormone deficiency in children and adults, a kidney disease known as chronic renal insufficiency, idiopathic short stature, Prader-Willi and Turner syndromes and other specific medical conditions.

Types

• Synthetic HGH, or somatropin, is manufactured by a number of pharmaceutical companies under brand names such as Nutropin, Genotropin, Norditropin, Saizen, and Humatrope. Each drug comes with its own dosage recommendations.

Recommendations

• Each brand name of HGH also has specific weight-related dosage recommendations that vary significantly depending on the underlying disorder causing the HGH deficiency. For growth hormone deficiency in children, for example, Genentech, which manufacturers the Nutropin brand, recommends a Nutropin dose of 0.3 mg/kg of body weight for children with growth hormone deficiency For adults, however, the initial dose should be not more than 0.006 mg/kg.

Time Frame

• Genentech recommends that children with growth hormone deficiency receive daily injections of Nutropin, but stipulates weekly injections for those with Turner syndrome, idiopathic short stature, and chronic renal insufficiency.

Expert Insight

• Genentech states that HGH doses should be individualized for each patient, depending on her response to the drug.