Report: Sales of HGH skyrocketing despite strict rules

Sales of human growth hormone (HGH) rose 69 percent from 2005 to 2011, signaling the increasing popularity of a drug some believe will prevent aging and the likelihood that many doctors are ignoring strict rules on its use.

The Associated Press analyzed data collected by research firm IMS Health and found that sales of the average prescription drug rose much slower than those for HGH over the same period — only 12 percent.

The report charged doctors with prescribing the drug for uses outside of the few sanctioned by federal rules, such as treating short bowel syndrome or the rare Prader-Willi syndrome. 

The prescriptions are usually made with impunity, according to the AP, and they benefit a long list of medical industry professionals, from the prescribing doctor to the drug maker.

"Endocrinologists estimate there are fewer than 45,000 U.S. patients who might legitimately take HGH," the wire service wrote. "They would be expected to use roughly 180,000 prescriptions or refills each year … U.S. pharmacies last year supplied almost twice that much HGH — 340,000 orders."

Medicare also allowed roughly 22,000 HGH prescriptions in 2010, representing a five-year increase of 78 percent, according to the AP.

Read more of the investigation here.

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