Human Growth Hormone Abuse

Human growth hormone is undisputedly a potent hormone with a wide variety of biological effects. It has been used to treat a wide range of clinical conditions including cystic fibrosis, inflammatory bowel disease, osteoporosis, and burn patients. However, human growth hormone has recently received a great deal of media attention because of the abundant abuse in athletes and individuals who use it specifically to reverse the effects of aging.

The use of human growth hormone for anti-aging has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), nor is it recommended by medical authorities. Its use for anti-aging purposes is considered human growth hormone abuse both by the patients who receive it and the medical professionals who provide it.

Another group prone to human growth hormone abuse is athletes. Athletes have been known to use human growth hormone to increase strength and lean muscle mass, while decreasing stored fat. While the evidence suggests that the larger muscles achieved through human growth hormone use are not necessarily stronger muscles, human growth hormone appears to be the drug of choice because there are no tests to diagnose its presence. 

Apparently in use since the 1950s, anabolic (muscle-building) steroids were added to the list of athletically banned substances in 1975, after methods to detect these steroids became available. In recognition of the fact that illegal drug trafficking in anabolic steroids and human growth hormone was becoming larger in scope and presenting an increasing health risk to young athletes, Congress addressed the issue with two amendments; first in 1988 and then later in 1990. The purpose of both of these amendments was to criminalize steroid and human growth hormone trafficking.

Some of the more serious side effects of human growth hormone come from long-term abuse, such as that seen in athletic use. In this instance, the use of human growth hormone can lead to more pronounced, and sometimes deadly, side effects such as irregular heart rhythms, increased risk of diabetes, and joint and facial deformities.

When individuals consume more than the suggested dose of human growth hormone for an extended period of time, complicated side effects can arise. The liver has to work harder to process the human growth hormone circulating through your blood. This could lead to liver stress and ultimately, liver damage. Another potential side effect of human growth hormone abuse is as the body recognizes a higher level of HGH in the bloodstream; it will stop producing as much for itself. If this occurs, the pituitary glands begin to shut down.

The bottom line is that human growth hormone therapy should be used only in cases where human growth hormone deficiency is medically confirmed. In individuals that are deficient, human growth hormone replacement therapy can restore normal growth patterns in children and prolong life in adults. Any non-approved use is not backed up by scientific evidence and is illegal and considered human growth hormone abuse.