Understanding What Are the Side Effects of HGH Supplements?

November 20, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the Mayo Clinic, using human growth hormone for anti-aging or muscle-building purposes in otherwise healthy adults is not recommended, as the risks often outweigh the limited evidence of benefit. It is crucial to understand what are the side effects of HGH supplements before considering their use, especially since most over-the-counter options are unregulated.

Quick Summary

HGH supplements can cause a range of side effects, from common issues like fluid retention and joint pain to serious health complications like diabetes, carpal tunnel syndrome, and an increased risk of certain cancers. These unapproved products also pose risks of unknown ingredients.

Key Points

HGH Supplements Are Ineffective: Oral HGH products are broken down in the stomach and do not deliver bioavailable human growth hormone to the body.
Common Side Effects: Users may experience fluid retention, joint and muscle pain, headaches, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Serious Health Risks: Unregulated HGH use can lead to serious complications, including increased risk of type 2 diabetes and certain cancers.
Risk of Counterfeit Products: Illicit HGH supplements bought online or elsewhere may contain unknown and potentially dangerous ingredients.
Acromegaly Risk: Long-term abuse can result in irreversible acromegaly, causing enlarged bones and internal organs.
Requires Medical Supervision: The only safe and legal way to use HGH is through a doctor's prescription for a diagnosed medical deficiency.

What is an HGH Supplement?

While prescription human growth hormone (HGH) is a controlled substance administered via injection for specific medical conditions, HGH 'supplements' refer to a wide variety of unproven, over-the-counter products. These products, which often come in pill, spray, or powder form, typically contain amino acids and other ingredients that manufacturers claim will naturally boost the body's own HGH production. However, these claims are largely unsubstantiated by reliable research, and ingesting HGH orally renders it ineffective as it is broken down by the digestive system. The true danger lies not only in their ineffectiveness but in the potential for unexpected and severe side effects.

Common Side Effects of HGH Supplements

Many of the side effects associated with unapproved HGH supplements stem from their potential to disrupt the body’s delicate hormonal balance or from undisclosed ingredients. Even for prescription HGH, side effects are common and often dose-dependent. Users of supplements report similar symptoms, signaling potential issues with their products.

Fluid Retention (Edema): A very common side effect, fluid retention leads to swelling in the extremities, such as the hands, feet, and ankles. This can cause discomfort, puffiness, and contribute to other issues like joint pain.
Joint and Muscle Pain: Increased fluid retention and accelerated metabolic activity can lead to stiffness and aching joints and muscles. For some, this pain can be significant enough to interfere with physical activity and daily life.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: The fluid retention caused by elevated HGH levels can put pressure on nerves, particularly the median nerve in the wrist. This can result in numbness, tingling, and pain in the hands and fingers.
Headaches: Some users of HGH-boosting products report experiencing persistent or severe headaches. This can be a sign of increased intracranial pressure, which warrants immediate medical attention.
Nausea and Digestive Issues: As many over-the-counter supplements contain various amino acids and other compounds, they can cause a range of digestive problems including stomach pain, bloating, and nausea.

Serious Long-Term Risks of Unregulated HGH Use

Beyond the more common, bothersome side effects, the unsupervised use of HGH supplements carries much more serious and potentially irreversible health risks. These are often linked to the supraphysiological doses some people take illicitly or the unknown composition of counterfeit products.

Increased Risk of Diabetes

Excess HGH can lead to increased insulin resistance, which is when the body's cells don't respond properly to insulin. This forces the pancreas to work harder, and over time, it can lead to type 2 diabetes. The risk is particularly elevated for individuals who already have a predisposition to metabolic issues. Regular monitoring of blood sugar levels is necessary for anyone on prescribed HGH, a step that is missed with illicit use.

Potential for Cancer Growth

One of the most alarming risks associated with HGH is its ability to stimulate cell growth, which could potentially accelerate the growth of existing cancerous tumors. HGH promotes the release of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which increases cell proliferation and can reduce the normal process of cell death. This raises serious concerns, especially for individuals with a history of cancer, though more research is still needed on this complex link.

Acromegaly and Visceromegaly

Long-term abuse of HGH can cause acromegaly, a condition resulting in the overgrowth of bones and tissues, especially in the hands, feet, and face. This is because HGH cannot lengthen bones in adults with fused growth plates but can still thicken them. In addition to external changes, this can also lead to visceromegaly, the enlargement of internal organs like the heart, liver, and kidneys, which can lead to cardiovascular disease and other life-threatening complications.

Cardiovascular Complications

In addition to the risk posed by an enlarged heart (cardiomyopathy), HGH overuse can contribute to high blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol levels, both of which are risk factors for heart disease. The combination of these factors can significantly increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Comparison of HGH Injections vs. Oral Supplements

To clarify the significant difference in safety and efficacy, consider the following comparison between medical-grade HGH injections and unregulated oral supplements.


Feature	Prescribed HGH Injections	Unregulated Oral HGH Supplements
Effectiveness	Bioavailable and effective for treating growth hormone deficiency.	Ineffective, as HGH is destroyed by digestion.
FDA Approval	Approved by the FDA for specific medical conditions only.	Not FDA-approved; claims are unsubstantiated and unregulated.
Administration	Subcutaneous injection, administered by a medical professional.	Pill, spray, or powder form.
Safety Oversight	Patient is medically supervised with regular check-ups and blood tests.	No medical oversight; poses a risk of unknown or counterfeit ingredients.
Common Side Effects	Fluid retention, joint pain, headaches.	Digestive issues, headaches, variable side effects due to unknown ingredients.
Serious Risks	Increased risk of diabetes, carpal tunnel, potential for cancer acceleration (under medical guidance).	Potential for diabetes, cancer, acromegaly, and other serious issues, with no oversight.
Legality	Legal with a doctor's prescription for approved uses.	Illegal for unapproved uses like anti-aging or bodybuilding.

Conclusion: The Final Verdict on HGH Supplements

The allure of HGH supplements, promising youth and vitality, is understandable. However, based on the medical evidence, the potential risks far outweigh any unproven benefits for healthy individuals. Unregulated oral supplements are not only ineffective for delivering HGH but also pose significant health hazards due to unknown ingredients and potential disruption of hormonal systems. The side effects, ranging from painful fluid retention to serious risks like diabetes and cancer, should give anyone pause. For those considering HGH, consulting a qualified healthcare provider is the only safe and responsible path forward. Never use HGH products purchased outside of a licensed medical context. For more authoritative information on growth hormone, consult reliable sources like the Mayo Clinic's detailed overview of HGH and aging.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, over-the-counter HGH supplements are considered dangerous because they are not regulated by the FDA, their claimed benefits are not scientifically proven, and they can contain undisclosed ingredients that cause harm.

While many manufacturers sell HGH in pill or spray form, these products are ineffective. HGH is a protein that is broken down by the stomach before it can be absorbed, so it is only effective when injected.

HGH injections are medical-grade, FDA-approved, and prescribed by a doctor for specific conditions. Supplements are unproven, unregulated products sold over-the-counter with no medical supervision.

The link between HGH and cancer is complex. HGH can promote cell growth, which raises concerns about accelerating the growth of existing tumors. This risk is a serious consideration, especially with unsupervised use.

No, HGH cannot increase height in adults whose growth plates have fused. In healthy adults, excess HGH can cause acromegaly, a condition where bones, especially in the hands, feet, and face, thicken and enlarge.

Some side effects, like fluid retention and temporary joint pain, may resolve after discontinuing use. However, serious and permanent conditions like diabetes, heart enlargement, and acromegaly may not be reversible.

You can support your body's natural HGH production by getting adequate sleep (at least 7 hours), engaging in regular high-intensity exercise, and reducing sugar intake, which can lower insulin levels that suppress HGH.

In many countries, including the United States, it is illegal to sell HGH products for non-FDA-approved uses like muscle building or anti-aging. Illegally sourced products also pose additional risks of contamination or containing incorrect dosages.