IGF-1 dose range
The amounts people commonly use, from the low end to the high end, with syringe units, schedule and half-life. The 8 published studies are one click away.
Human trials Growth hormone axis Also called mecasermin, Increlex, rhIGF-I, insulin-like growth factor 1
Common use ranges
Mostly from the official drug label or its main trials, plus clinic protocols. One source, the US drug label, which is the strongest kind of source. It covers a pediatric medical use only.
- Half-life
- about 6 hours
- How it is taken
- Subcutaneous injection
- How long people use it
- The label sets no on and off cycle. The dose is set per person and adjusted to how well it is tolerated.
| Tier | Each dose | Syringe units | How often | Schedule | Vial lasts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting [1] | See schedule | Not a syringe dose | 2x a day | 0.04 to 0.08 mg per kg of body weight, twice a day, within 20 minutes before or after a meal or snack (US label for Increlex) | |
| Higher [2] | See schedule | Not a syringe dose | 2x a day | If the starting dose is well tolerated for at least a week, raise by 0.04 mg per kg per shot, up to a maximum of 0.12 mg per kg twice a day (US label for Increlex) |
Good to know
- Mecasermin (Increlex) is FDA approved for children with severe primary IGF-1 deficiency.
- The dose is based on body weight, so there is no single mg amount per shot.
- Increlex comes as a 40 mg per 4 mL multi-dose vial (10 mg per mL).
- Each shot is given within 20 minutes of a meal or snack. If no food can be eaten, that dose is skipped.
- Low blood sugar is the main risk. Missed doses are not made up by taking more later.
- The vial contains benzyl alcohol and is not recommended for infants.
Sources for these amounts
- Starting: Increlex (mecasermin) US prescribing information, FDA
- Higher: Increlex (mecasermin) US prescribing information, FDA
How long people use it: Increlex (mecasermin) US prescribing information, FDA
Take the IGF-1 chart with you
Get a one-page printable chart for IGF-1, with the syringe units for each vial and water mix. We can also email you when a new IGF-1 study is published.
This page shows what labels, clinics and users report, and what studies gave. It is not medical advice and not a recommendation for anyone. Many of these compounds are not approved for human use. Check your own medicines and lab work with a licensed clinician before using anything.
See the science: 8 published studies
Amounts given to people in studies
How it was given: Under the skin
ALS trials used 0.05 to 0.10 mg/kg a day for up to 2 years
Read this first. Low blood sugar is the main harm, reported in 49% of treated children. Type 1 diabetes trials saw early retinopathy worsening above 40 micrograms/kg twice a day.
Every study used for this page
Proof grade: Human trials. Tested in randomized human trials. Amounts are quoted as each study reported them. Where the abstract does not state an amount, the row says so.
| Study | Who was studied | Amount given, as reported | Route | How often | How long | What the authors reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PMID 7539817Thompson et al, J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1995 | Human, 16 healthy elderly women (6 low dose, 5 high dose, 5 growth hormone) | 0.015 and 0.060 mg/kg (LOWEST verified) | Under the skin | twice a day | 4 weeks | Fat fell in all groups. Lean mass rose at the high dose, with headaches, joint pain and swelling. The low dose was well tolerated |
| PMID 9652560Acerini et al, Lancet 1997 | Human, 53 teens with type 1 diabetes (18 and 18 treated, 17 placebo) | 20 or 40 mcgrams/kg daily | Under the skin | once a day | 24 weeks | 40 mcgrams/kg lowered HbA1c against placebo, with no extra low blood sugar. The effect faded by week 24 |
| PMID 11308044Quattrin et al, J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 2001 | Human, people aged 11 to 66 with type 1 diabetes, younger subset 11 to 21 reported (55 in the treated group) | 40 mcgrams/kg morning and 40 evening, 80 and 40, or 80 and 60 | Under the skin | twice a day | 12 weeks | HbA1c fell 1.3% against 0.6% on placebo. Swelling, jaw pain and fast heart rate above 40 mcgrams/kg twice a day, plus early retinopathy worsening in 11 of 55 |
| PMID 9409357Lai et al, Neurology 1997 | Human, 266 adults with ALS, 8 North American centers | 0.05 or 0.10 mg/kg/day | Under the skin | once a day | 9 months | Loss of function was 26% slower at 0.10 mg/kg/day than placebo, with a dose-dependent trend |
| PMID 9710040Borasio et al, Neurology 1998 | Human, 183 adults with ALS (124 treated, 59 placebo) | 0.1 mg/kg/day | Under the skin | once a day | 9 months | No difference in disease progression. Safe and well tolerated |
| PMID 19029516Sorenson et al, Neurology 2008 | Human, 330 adults with ALS, 20 centers | 0.05 mg/kg body weight | Under the skin | twice a day | 2 years (longest human run) | No benefit on muscle testing, survival or function rating |
| PMID 8522066Moses et al, Diabetes 1996 | Human, 12 obese adults with type 2 diabetes | 100 mcgrams/kg | Under the skin | twice a day | 6 weeks (6 finished, 9 reached 4.5 weeks) | HbA1c fell from 10.4% to 8.1% and insulin sensitivity rose 3.4 fold. Side effects stopped several people finishing |
| PMID 17192294Chernausek et al, J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2007 | Human, 76 children with growth hormone insensitivity | 60 to 120 mcgrams/kg (HIGHEST label-range dose) | Under the skin | twice a day | up to 12 years | Height velocity went from 2.8 to 8.0 cm a year in year one and stayed above baseline up to 8 years. Low blood sugar in 49% |
How to read the study numbers
- One study, one group. Each figure is what one team chose for its own participants or animals.
- Route matters. An amount given into a vein (IV) is not the same as the same amount under the skin, in the nose or by mouth.
- Animals are not small people. An animal amount is shown as the study gave it. It is not a human amount.
- Short studies. Many studies ran days or weeks. They do not show what happens over longer use.
Common questions
What amounts of IGF-1 were used in human studies?
In the studies listed here, people were given from 0.015 mg/kg twice a day for 4 weeks up to 0.12 mg/kg twice a day. The amount used most often was 0.04 to 0.12 mg/kg twice a day (the label range). These are what study teams chose for their participants under supervision.
Where do these IGF-1 numbers come from?
From 8 published studies, each linked to its PubMed or ClinicalTrials.gov record. Every figure was checked against the study abstract or its open full text. Proof grade: Human trials.
How long does IGF-1 stay in the body?
Its half-life is about 6 hours in people. Half-life is how long it takes for half of a dose to leave the blood. The effect can last longer than that.
Is this a recommendation for how much IGF-1 to use?
No. This page shows the amounts reported by drug labels, clinics and users, next to what researchers gave in studies. It is not medical advice and not a recommendation for anyone. Talk to a licensed clinician before using any of it.