# HGH (Human growth hormone) legal?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hgh-human-growth-hormone-legal/341669>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 26, 2006, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hgh-human-growth-hormone-legal/341669 "2006-01-26T05:45:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![chefIL11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chefIL11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chefIL11)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hgh-human-growth-hormone-legal/341669/1 "2006-01-26T05:45:27Z")

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THere has been much positive talk about HGH with little side affects. So, is it legal? If it is, where do I buy It? If it isn’t legal… why not?

I read an article about a 76 year old man having the lung capacity of a 17 year old. amazing! If there are so few side affects… well, where can I get some?!

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**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hgh-human-growth-hormone-legal/341669/2 "2006-01-26T05:47:22Z")

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HGH is extremely expensive and (if my memory doesn’t fail me) is a controlled substance. Don’t get your heart set on it.

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**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hgh-human-growth-hormone-legal/341669/3 "2006-01-26T09:01:34Z")

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haven’t looked at this in a while but, IIIRC, no oral prep exists, so it’s daily injections. I would be EXTREMELY sceptical about 70/17 year old lungs, or fountain of youth results, but I could be wrong,  
Larry

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**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hgh-human-growth-hormone-legal/341669/4 "2006-01-26T09:59:55Z")

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It is NOT a fountain of youth, it has lots of side effects and it is suitable only for certain people with real Growth Hormone deficiencies under the strict supervision of an endrocinologist.

Think of it as being in the same camp as anabolic steroids, your body makes the amount it does because ultimately extra is not a good thing.