Educational comparison — not medical advice. This page compares two compounds for informational purposes. Neither is recommended as treatment. Any protocol decision is a conversation with your licensed healthcare provider.
HGH is direct exogenous recombinant growth hormone — injection required, suppresses natural axis, large predictable IGF-1 response. MK-677 is an oral small molecule that stimulates the ghrelin receptor — no injection, no axis suppression, but appetite increase + water retention + potential insulin sensitivity drift. HGH is a clinical decision with a physician; MK-677 is investigational and typically researched independently.
FEATURE COMPARISON
HGH
MK-677
Full name
Human Growth Hormone (Somatropin)
MK-677 (Ibutamoren)
Category
Growth
Growth
FDA status
FDA-approved for specific pediatric and adult GH-deficiency indications. Off-label use is legally grey.
Not FDA-approved. Investigational; research chemical status.
Half-life
~2–3 hours
~24 hours
Typical dosing
1–4 IU daily (0.33–1.33 mg); optimization dosing typically 1–2 IU
10–25 mg orally, once daily
Route
Subcutaneous
Oral (typically dropper solution or capsule)
Classification
Recombinant 191-amino-acid protein identical to endogenous hGH
Informational comparison only — not medical advice. Research-stage compounds discussed are not FDA-approved unless specifically noted. Any protocol decision should be made with a licensed healthcare provider.