Tesamorelin
Performance, Muscle Building, Fat Loss
In short
- An FDA-approved GHRH analogue (Egrifta), indicated for reducing excess visceral abdominal fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy.
- One of the few compounds in this library that is an actual licensed medicine with registrational trials.
- Approval is narrow and specific — it is not approved for general body composition, ageing, or performance.
- Raises IGF-1, which is the basis for its contraindications in active malignancy.
- Prohibited at all times in sport under WADA class S2.
Structure
How it works
Tesamorelin is a synthetic analogue of human GHRH(1-44) with a trans-3-hexenoyl group protecting it from DPP-4 degradation. It binds the pituitary GHRH receptor and stimulates endogenous GH production, which raises IGF-1.
Because it works through the pituitary rather than supplying GH directly, secretion retains some physiological feedback — a stated advantage over exogenous growth hormone.
What the research shows
In two phase 3 trials in HIV-associated lipodystrophy, tesamorelin reduced visceral adipose tissue by roughly 15–18% versus placebo over 26 weeks, with reductions in triglycerides.
Visceral fat returns after discontinuation. Studies in NAFLD in people with HIV have shown reductions in liver fat.
Use outside the approved indication is not supported by registrational evidence.
Dosing in the literature
Figures below are quoted from published studies, with the species or population they were measured in. They are records of what was studied, not recommendations.
| Studied in | Amount | Route | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human — approved label, HIV-associated lipodystrophy | 2 mg once daily | subcutaneous | FDA label |
| Human — phase 3 trials, 26 and 52 weeks | 2 mg daily | subcutaneous | PubMed |
Commonly reported ranges
These are amounts people report using. They are not from any study, have not been evaluated for safety, and are reproduced here only because they circulate widely and are better seen alongside the evidence than instead of it.
No commonly reported ranges for this compound.
An approved medicine with a published label. Dosing should come from the label and the prescribing clinician.
Handling and storage
Supplied as lyophilised powder for reconstitution, injected subcutaneously into the abdomen once daily, with site rotation to limit lipoatrophy. Refrigeration requirements differ between the original and F8 formulations — follow the specific product label.
Side effects
Common: injection-site reactions, arthralgia, peripheral oedema, myalgia, and paraesthesia — largely the expected consequences of raising GH.
Glucose intolerance and worsening of diabetes can occur; glucose monitoring is part of the label.
Contraindicated in active malignancy, in disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, and in pregnancy. The malignancy contraindication reflects IGF-1's role in cell proliferation and is the most important one to understand.
Combinations
Combining an approved GHRH analogue with research-market GH secretagogues means adding uncharacterised compounds to a medicine with a known profile, and makes any adverse effect impossible to attribute.
With insulin or oral hypoglycaemics, the glucose effect is clinically relevant and warrants monitoring.
Research status
Two phase 3 randomised placebo-controlled trials supported approval in 2010, plus extension and NAFLD studies. This is a properly evidenced medicine within its indication.
Legal status
FDA-approved and prescription-only in the United States for HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Prescription-only in other jurisdictions where marketed. Obtaining it outside that system is outside the evidence base and outside the law in most countries.
WADA status
PROHIBITED AT ALL TIMES under WADA class S2 — growth hormone secretagogues, their releasing factors and mimetics are explicitly named. Any tested athlete should treat this as an anti-doping violation.
Conclusion
Tesamorelin is what a GHRH analogue looks like when it goes through the full evidentiary process: a narrow, demonstrated effect in a specific population, with defined contraindications.
It is worth reading precisely because it shows what the unapproved GHRH products in this library have not done.
Sources
- [1]DailyMed — tesamorelin (Egrifta) prescribing informationFDA label
- [2]Tesamorelin phase 3 trials in HIV lipodystrophyPubMed
- [3]Tesamorelin and hepatic fat in HIVPubMed
- [4]PubChem CID 16137828PubChem
- [5]WADA Prohibited List (current)WADA
Track your own Tesamorelin protocol
Peppers logs your doses, models your levels from this half-life, tracks your vials and tells you when you will run out. Free on iPhone.
Reference and educational information only. Not medical advice. Nothing here diagnoses, treats, or prescribes, and nothing here is a recommendation to use any compound. The compounds described are research chemicals and are not approved for human consumption. Legal and anti-doping status change — the review date above is when these claims were last checked. Talk to a qualified clinician about anything you intend to take.