Overview
Recombinant Human IGF-1 (Somatomedin C) is the primary 70-amino-acid anabolic hormone responsible for mediating the cellular growth actions of growth hormone.
What problem it targets: It targets severe muscle wasting, growth hormone resistance, nerve damage, and slow recovery from catastrophic tissue injuries.
What It Does
• Activates IGF-1 receptor tyrosine kinases: Triggers intracellular PI3K/Akt signaling, driving massive muscle protein synthesis and blunting muscle protein breakdown.
• Induces muscle hyperplasia: Unlike typical training which only expands existing muscle fibers (hypertrophy), IGF-1 stimulates muscle satellite cells to proliferate and create new muscle fibers.
• Stimulates deep tissue and nerve regeneration: Promotes cartilage matrix synthesis, collagen production, and peripheral nerve axon sprouting.
• Realistic expectations: Has a very short circulating half-life (15 to 20 minutes) when injected unbound, requiring precise timing. Can cause rapid drops in blood sugar (hypoglycemia), requiring careful carbohydrate monitoring.
Reconstitution
| Vial size | BAC water / Solvent | Concentration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 mg | + 2.5 mL | 0.4 mg/mL |
Protocol
| Phase | Frequency | Dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | Post-workout daily | 20–40 mcg | Start here. Assess hypoglycemia response before increasing. |
| Working | Post-workout daily | 60–80 mcg | Community working dose. Have fast carbs available. |
| Max | Post-workout daily | 100 mcg | Upper community range. Do not exceed without monitoring. |
| Off | 4 weeks | – | Receptor sensitivity reset. Cycle: 4–6 weeks on, 4 weeks off. Short cycles only. Timing: With food, fast-acting carbs available; never fasted (hypoglycemia risk). Women: Direct IGF-1 bypasses GH, so estrogen doesn’t soften it; same growth-signal caution: breast, ovarian, or uterine history. Men: Same growth-signal caution, prostate; watch PSA in men over ~40. |
Handling & Stacking
- Freeze-dried: -4°F.
- Reconstituted: 36–46°F, best used within ~10–14 days (structure-based estimate, no published data); potency fades before the 28- day sterility limit, so keep it cold and use it promptly.
- Local anabolic response at the injection site within minutes; systemic effect minimal (rapid IGFBP binding).
- Muscle fullness/pump lasts 1–2 h.
- Supply math 1mg → 3 vials (4-wk @ 80 mcg × 7/wk)
Safety & Patient Education
- IGF-1 (baseline / Wk 8 / end; you're dosing it directly, so this tracks exposure), Fasting glucose (Wk 0/4/8) Lipid panel (Wk 0/12) Hip/scoliosis exam in pediatrics Out of range?
- IGF-1 above your age range = too much growth signal → drop the dose.
- Hypoglycemia is the real acute risk – IGF-1 is insulin-like and can crash blood sugar, so dose with food/carbs and keep fast sugar on hand; shaky, sweaty, or foggy after a dose = treat it, don't wait.
- Vials must be refrigerated never frozen (somatropin) Rotate injection sites Report headaches with nausea/vision changes immediately Report new joint pain Children: report any limp or hip/knee pain immediately Always have fast-acting carbs available before injection.
- Do not inject and skip a meal.
