Comparison tool
Tesamorelin vs Ipamorelin side-by-side
Stack up to four peptides by evidence status, mechanisms, study dosing, side effects, and references.
Comparison tool
Stack up to four peptides by evidence status, mechanisms, study dosing, side effects, and references.
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| Property | Tesamorelin | Ipamorelin |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Growth Hormone | Growth Hormone |
| Also known as | Egrifta, Egrifta WR, Egrifta SV, TH9507, Tesamorelin F8 | IPAM, NNC 26-0161 |
| FDA approved | Yes | No |
| Clinical status | FDA Approved - HIV lipodystrophy (March 2025: F8 formulation approved)
| Investigational; Phase II trials discontinued. Listed as FDA Category 2 pending possible reclassification, with formal status not changed in the source.
|
| What to expect | Visceral fat reduction, body composition, HIV lipodystrophy | Anti-aging, muscle building, sleep quality, recovery |
| How it works | Tesamorelin is presented as a stabilized analog of GHRH 1-44. It acts at GHRH receptors upstream of direct growth-hormone replacement, prompting pituitary growth-hormone release and subsequent IGF-1 signaling. The source reports an N-terminal trans-3-hexenoic acid modification that slows enzymatic degradation, extending the signal relative to native GHRH. Trial-observed visceral-fat reductions are attributed to this growth-hormone-axis activity. | Ipamorelin is reported to activate GHS-R1a, the ghrelin or growth hormone secretagogue receptor, on somatotroph cells in the anterior pituitary. The source links this receptor activity to Gq/phospholipase C signaling, IP3 generation, intracellular calcium release, and pulsatile release of stored growth hormone. It also describes ipamorelin as relatively selective in early characterization, with GH-releasing doses not meaningfully increasing ACTH, cortisol, prolactin, FSH, LH, or TSH. Because the mechanism relies on pituitary GH stores, the source indicates that pituitary function and normal feedback biology remain relevant to the response. |
| Typical dosing | 2 mg daily (F8: 1.28 mg daily) · Once daily · Subcutaneous injection in abdomen | 200-300 mcg 2-3x daily · 2-3x daily |
| Research dosing | 2 mg once daily · Indefinite for approved indication · Subcutaneous injection | 100-300 mcg per injection · 8-12 weeks typical · Subcutaneous injection |
| Typical duration | Indefinite for approved indication | 8-12 weeks typical |
| Administration | Subcutaneous injection | Subcutaneous injection |
| Timing | Before bed while fasted Take on empty stomach | Before bed or morning, fasted Fasted timing reported |
| Evidence level | FDA Approved | Clinical Trials |
| Possible side effects |
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| Research summary | The source describes an approval package grounded in randomized, placebo-controlled human studies. It specifically names Falutz and colleagues in a 2007 New England Journal of Medicine publication, reporting six-month visceral abdominal fat reduction in HIV patients, lipid-profile improvement, and no meaningful worsening of blood-sugar control. It also cites later randomized work, including a JAMA-published study led by Stanley, with reported reductions in visceral fat and liver fat. A smaller placebo-controlled study in non-HIV adults with abdominal obesity is described as showing visceral-fat reduction over 26 weeks, but the source frames that broader setting as less established than the HIV-associated indication. Reported cautions include joint pain, swelling, IGF-1 increases, cancer-history concerns, and uncontrolled diabetes concerns for growth-hormone-axis drugs. | The source identifies Raun et al. 1998 as early foundational work and describes characterization across rats, pigs, and isolated pituitary cells. It reports that ipamorelin released GH without corresponding ACTH or cortisol increases at doses above the GH-release threshold. The source also notes that human development reached Phase II for postoperative ileus before being discontinued for insufficient efficacy. For popular wellness uses such as anti-aging, fat loss, muscle gain, or recovery, the source states that large peer-reviewed human randomized trials are not available and that these claims are extrapolated from mechanism rather than established outcomes. |
| References | ||
| Full profile | View Details | View Details |
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Track your peptide journeyEducational use only. This information is aggregated from public research and community reports. It is not medical advice, and dosing details are descriptive, not recommendations. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.