Human Growth Hormone Therapy Side Effects

Like any drug or medical procedure, Human Growth Hormone (HGH) injections can have some potential side effects.

HGH is FDA approved for the treatment of growth hormone deficiency in children and adults. All prescription growth hormone is some form or dosage of the prescription medication somatropin. Somatropin is made from human DNA, so it is designed to be as close as possible to the HGH normally produced by your body. Therefore, HGH therapy is usually well-tolerated and generally regarded as safe.

However, before starting to take HGH injections, you should understand that, like all medications — though rare — there are possible side effects of HGH injections.

HGH therapy is FDA-approved and generally regarded as safe.

HGH Common Side Effects

Some of the more common side effects of HGH injections include:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fatigue
• Muscle pain
• Weakness
• Tiredness
• Injection site reactions (redness, soreness, swelling, rash, itching, pain, or bruising),
• Pain in your arms or legs
• Joint stiffness or pain
• Cold-like symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat.

HGH Less Common Side Effects

Some of the potentially severe, though less common side effects of HGH include:

• Severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate
• Increased thirst, increased urination, hunger, dry mouth, fruity breath odor, drowsiness, dry skin, blurred vision, and weight loss
• Sudden and severe pain behind your eyes, vision changes
• Swelling in your head, face, hands, or feet
• Numbness or tingling in your wrist, hand, or fingers

HGH therapy does have some potential side effects for both men and for women, but most can be prevented by following your doctor’s instructions.

Why Do Side Effects Occur From HGH?

Even drugs that are generally regarded as safe and approved by the FDA, such as HGH, have potential side effects. Side effects from drugs occur because the human body is extraordinarily complex, and no two people are alike. So even a drug that is quite safe and virtually identical to a hormone naturally produced by your body, such as HGH, can have some side effects in some people.

However, most if not all of our patients on growth hormone replacement therapy go through the entire course of their program with few of any side effects. Generally speaking, HGH side effects usually occur when someone is not taking HGH per their doctor’s instructions or using HGH illegally without any medical supervision at all. The negative effects of HGH usually occur when people are:

• Abusing HGH or taking HGH injections illegally
• Taking "black market" or low-quality HGH from China or India
• Not following their doctor’s instructions
• Taking more than their recommended dosage
• Not being properly monitored by a physician
• Not reporting any HGH side effects to their doctor or healthcare provider

How To Avoid Any Potential Adverse Effects of HGH

It has been well-established that any dangerous side effects or complications with HGH usually occur when HGH is being abused or used in ways other than prescribed. As long as you follow your doctor’s instructions, you should experience little or no issues with your prescription growth hormone injections.

Furthermore, even when properly prescribed, you can avoid most if not all of the potential side effects of HGH by only getting your HGH prescription from an experienced and reliable HGH clinic or doctor.

You can minimize any potential risks of growth hormone replacement therapy by working with a doctor or clinic like ours that specializes in providing treatment for patients dealing with age-related growth hormone deficiency.

Our doctors have decades of experience in providing HGH therapy for adults. We only prescribe the highest-quality brands of HGH available. Our goal is to see that your HGH therapy is a safe, smooth, and rewarding process. You will be carefully monitored throughout the course of your growth hormone therapy.

Should you experience any side effects, contact your doctor or case coordinator immediately. We can usually resolve any issues by simply changing your brand or adjusting your dose of HGH.

In the rare case that you experience some side effects from your HGH injections, they will probably be a minor discomfort that will pass quickly and be insignificant when balanced against the long-term positive benefits of growth hormone injection therapy.

What Is HGH Prescribed For?

According to the manufacturers or prescription HGH injections, somatropin (HGH) is prescribed for people with growth failure due to Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD), Prader-Willi Syndrome, Small for Gestational Age, Turner Syndrome, and Idiopathic Short Stature. It is also indicated for adults with age-related growth hormone disorders. HGH may also be used to prevent severe weight loss in people with AIDS or to treat short bowel syndrome.

Is There Anyone Who Should Not Take HGH?

According to the product inserts included with all prescription HGH injections, there are some warnings, interactions, and contraindications for HGH therapy.

Interactions

HGH should not be used in children and adults with any of the following medical conditions because serious side effects, including death, can occur:

• A critical illness caused by certain types of heart or stomach surgery, serious injury, or a sudden and severe breathing problem (respiratory failure)
• Prader-Willi syndrome sufferers who are severely overweight or have a history of breathing problems, including sleep apnea
• Cancer or other tumors
• Allergies to growth hormone or any of the ingredients in the medicine
• Certain types of eye problems caused by diabetes
• HGH should also not be used in children who have completed their growth

Warnings

Before accepting a prescription for HGH therapy, tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a growth hormone medicine or to drug preservatives such as benzyl alcohol, metacresol, or glycerin.

In addition to the contraindications listed above, you should not take HGH if you are allergic to somatropin or if you have:

• Diabetic retinopathy (a serious eye condition caused by diabetes)
• Recently undergone open-heart surgery or stomach surgery
• Recently experienced trauma or other medical emergency
• Breathing problems (such as lung failure).

To make sure you can safely take prescription HGH injections, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• Liver disease
• Kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis)
• A pituitary gland disorder
• Scoliosis;
• High blood pressure (hypertension);
• A pancreas disorder (especially in children)
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Underactive thyroid

Most, if not all, of the potential negative effects of HGH, can be avoided by working with the right kind of doctor or HGH clinic.

Now that you know more about the safety and possible side effects of HGH injections, why not take a minute to contact us and learn more about how testosterone replacement therapy can improve your quality of life.