Peptide ChooserPeptides for muscle growth, compared with what the FDA approved.
No peptide is FDA approved for building muscle. Tesamorelin is approved for one use only, belly fat in people with HIV, and sermorelin's approved product left the market years ago. The growth hormone peptides sold for muscle are research-use products with no approved version; we show their prices and checks and do not link to the shops.
Compare the options
Is it legal today?For building muscle or "boosting growth hormone": no peptide is approved for that. Here is what the sold ones actually are.
- Approved for HIV belly fat, not muscle
Tesamorelin (Egrifta)FDA approved
A daily shot approved only to reduce belly fat in people with HIV. Sold off-label by clinics for "growth hormone".
FDA approved for HIV-related belly fat only.
Prescription.
- Prices at 10 shops
SermorelinNo FDA-approved product on the market
A growth-hormone-releasing shot from compounding pharmacies; the approved brand was taken off the market years ago.
No FDA-approved product on the market.
Prescription through clinics.
- Prices at 14 shops
CJC-1295 / ipamorelinNot approved
Growth-hormone-releasing peptides sold by research-use shops and some clinics. No approved product, no large human trials.
Not approved for any use.
We do not link to shops.
Every option, side by side
3 options, each with its FDA status and how you get it.
| Option | FDA status | How you get it |
|---|---|---|
| Tesamorelin (Egrifta)A daily shot approved only to reduce belly fat in people with HIV. Sold off-label by clinics for "growth hormone". | FDA approvedFDA approved for HIV-related belly fat only. | Prescription. |
| SermorelinA growth-hormone-releasing shot from compounding pharmacies; the approved brand was taken off the market years ago. | No FDA-approved product on the marketNo FDA-approved product on the market. | Prescription through clinics. |
| CJC-1295 / ipamorelinGrowth-hormone-releasing peptides sold by research-use shops and some clinics. No approved product, no large human trials. | Not approvedNot approved for any use. | We do not link to shops. |
Is it legal today?
FDA status of the peptides on this page, each with its source. Checked 19 Oct 2026.
| Peptide | Status | What that means |
|---|---|---|
| CJC-1295 | Not approved | its nomination for pharmacy compounding was withdrawn FDA source, 19 Oct 2026 |
| Ipamorelin | Not approved | on the FDA list of substances that may be unsafe to compound FDA source, 19 Oct 2026 |
| Tesamorelin (Egrifta) | FDA approved | an FDA-approved product exists FDA source, 19 Oct 2026 |
Approved means the FDA approved a product containing it for a stated use. Not approved means no approved product exists; buying it for yourself is not a crime in the US, but nobody has checked what is in the vial.