What is Tesamorelin used for in the evidence provided?

Tesamorelin is described in the source as a modified GHRH 1-44 analog. The supported approved use is reduction of excess visceral abdominal fat in people with HIV-associated lipodystrophy. The same source characterizes evidence for broader anti-aging or general fat-loss use as much less established.

How does Tesamorelin work?

The source describes receptor-level activity at GHRH receptors, leading the pituitary to increase endogenous growth hormone output. A trans-3-hexenoic acid group at the N-terminus is reported to slow breakdown compared with native GHRH, and the downstream GH and IGF-1 rise is linked to visceral-fat effects observed in trials.

Is Tesamorelin FDA approved?

Yes. The source lists Tesamorelin as FDA approved for HIV lipodystrophy and separately notes a March 2025 approval for the F8 formulation.

What side effects are reported?

Reported effects in the source include injection site reactions, joint pain, peripheral edema, extremity pain, muscle pain, increased diabetes risk, possible blood-glucose elevation, and rare allergic reactions including anaphylaxis.

What dose information was extracted?

The source reports 2 mg daily as the typical dose, with 1.28 mg daily for F8. It also provides a community range of 1.28-2 mg daily and a research row labeled 2 mg once daily under FDA-approved labeling.

Growth Hormone FDA Approved - approved for specific uses

Tesamorelin

Also known as: Egrifta, Egrifta WR, Egrifta SV, TH9507, Tesamorelin F8

At a glance

PeptiGuide dataset · reviewed Aug 2026

What it is

FDA-approved GHRH analog for HIV-associated visceral fat reduction

Status

FDA Approved

Evidence level: human clinical evidence

Typical dose

2mg

Subcutaneous injection

Researched for

Visceral fat reduction, body composition, HIV lipodystrophy

Trial progress

PrePreclinical
IPhase I
IIPhase II
IIIPhase III
IVPhase IV
FDAFDA approved

FDA approved - FDA-approved for specific uses with established human evidence

Use the tools

In plain language

Tesamorelin is a single- GHRH analog with FDA-approved status for excess visceral abdominal fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy.
The source lists Egrifta, Egrifta WR, Egrifta SV, TH9507, and Tesamorelin F8 as aliases.
Extracted dose information includes 2 mg daily, with F8 listed at 1.28 mg daily, given by injection.
Research areas reported by the source include visceral fat reduction, body composition, and HIV lipodystrophy.
The source cautions that evidence is stronger for the approved HIV-associated indication than for broader general fat-loss or anti-aging uses.

How it's thought to work

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.

What the research shows

Where the research stands

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.

What it shows

✓ Human clinical evidence

FDA-approved for specific uses with established human evidence

△ Limitations

Use only according to approved labeling and qualified medical guidance.

Bottom line: FDA Approved - HIV lipodystrophy (March 2025: F8 formulation approved) FDA Approved

Typical dosing

CommunityCommunity dataset

2 mg

daily (F8: 1.28 mg daily)

1.28 mgfull range seen2 mg

Community-reported row preserves the source range. The source also notes original FDA-approved dosing at 2 mg and F8/Egrifta WR at 1.28 mg, with F8 requiring weekly reconstitution rather than daily reconstitution. · Subcutaneous injection in abdomen

Research dosing

Indication-specificApproved for specific uses - study doses are indication-specific

Doses observed in studies

2 mg once daily

FDA Approved Labeling - Prescribed dose

Use only according to approved labeling and qualified medical guidance.

Duration: Indefinite for approved indication
Administration: Subcutaneous injection

Timing & administration

Best time to take

Before bed while fasted

Once daily before bed

Food recommendation

Take on empty stomach

Why this timing?

The source connects bedtime, fasted use with the sleep period when natural growth-hormone release is expected to occur.

Possible side effects

Not everyone experiences these. Individual responses vary with dose, duration, and personal factors.

Injection site reactions
Joint pain
Peripheral edema
Pain in extremities
Muscle pain
Increased diabetes risk
May elevate blood glucose
Allergic reactions including anaphylaxis
Increased IGF-1

Not everyone experiences side effects, and severity can vary by context, purity, route, and individual health factors.

Sources

PubMed ClinicalTrials.gov FDA.gov

Frequently asked questions

Sequence

trans-3-hexenoyl-YADAIFTNSYRKVLGQLSARKLLQDIMSRQQGESNQERGARARL-NH2

One open dataset

Every fact on this page - doses, side effects, references - comes from the same PeptiGuide dataset that powers the Tracker, Compare, and the Lab.

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Educational resource, not medical advice. Talk to your clinician before acting on anything here.

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Tesamorelin

In plain languageIn plain language

How it's thought to workHow it's thought to work

What the research showsWhat the research shows

Typical dosing

Research dosing

Timing & administrationTiming & administration

Possible side effectsPossible side effects

SourcesSources

Frequently asked questionsFrequently asked questions