Tesamorelin Dosage, half-life & reference guide

Also known as Egrifta

The only GHRH analog currently FDA-approved (to reduce excess abdominal fat in HIV lipodystrophy). Tesamorelin targets visceral fat, the deep abdominal fat around the organs: in two phase 3 trials it cut visceral fat about 15% in 26 weeks.

Studied range
1–2 mg
How often
Daily
Half-life
~8–11 min
Evidence
●●● Established
Route
SubQ injection

Studied in research — not a recommendation. FDA-approved as Egrifta WR (1.28 mg) and Egrifta SV (1.4 mg), SubQ once daily, to reduce excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV lipodystrophy.

Tesamorelin dose guide

How it works.

Synthetic GHRH analogue FDA-approved for HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Stimulates GH secretion, reduces visceral adiposity, and improves body composition. Its half-life is short, close to sermorelin's (8–11 minutes on the current labels).

Commonly reported: Waist and belly shrinking while body weight barely moves, with injection-site redness and early joint aches.

Half-life & active level

The half-life of Tesamorelin is ~8–11 min (current EGRIFTA SV/WR labels; the original label listed ~26 min).

Here's how a typical Tesamorelin schedule plays out over 48 hours (one-compartment estimate).

An estimate from the half-life above, not a measurement. See your own curve build live in the half-life calculator.

Where Tesamorelin works.

A body with Appetite & metabolism lit

  • Appetite & metabolism

    In people. In two phase 3 trials it cut visceral fat about 15% in 26 weeks.

An area lights for what a peptide is used for and what people report, with the evidence beside it. It isn’t a promise that it works there.

Week by week.

What to expect in the first 8 weeks

  1. Day 1–14RCT

    Targeting the deep belly fat

    Tesamorelin specifically targets visceral fat — the metabolically dangerous fat around your organs. GH is rising, IGF-1 is climbing. Some water retention is normal in the first weeks. The visceral fat reduction takes time to show on scans but the process has started.

    The science

    Tesamorelin (Egrifta) is FDA-approved for HIV-associated lipodystrophy. In a phase 3 trial (Falutz 2007, n=412), visceral fat fell 15.2% at 26 weeks while it rose 5% on placebo. It stimulates GH via GHRH receptor agonism.

    Sources
    • Falutz et al. (2007)
    • FDA Egrifta label (2010)

    Updated Sep 2026

  2. Day 14–56RCT

    Visceral fat is mobilizing

    The body composition shift is underway. Waist circumference should be trending down even before the scale moves much — visceral fat loss is internal at first. IGF-1 at steady state. Monitor for joint stiffness or glucose changes at higher doses.

    The science

    Clinical trials showed progressive visceral fat reduction over 26 weeks. The trunk fat reduction was specific to visceral depots — subcutaneous fat responded less. Glucose monitoring is recommended per the FDA label due to potential GH-mediated insulin resistance.

    Sources
    • Falutz et al. (2007)

    Updated Apr 2026

  3. Any dayRCT

    What Tesamorelin is built on

    The only GH secretagogue FDA-approved for a body-composition indication. Phase III RCT data with 400+ participants showed a 15% visceral fat reduction — trial evidence, not speculation, on the most dangerous type of body fat. The newer EGRIFTA WR (approved March 2025) is a more convenient daily formulation of the same molecule.

    The science

    Developed by Theratechnologies. Two phase 3 trials (Falutz 2007; pooled with the second in Falutz 2010, n=806) demonstrated significant visceral adipose tissue reduction in HIV lipodystrophy patients; FDA approval in 2010 (Egrifta). EGRIFTA WR (F8) was FDA-approved March 25, 2025 — a 1.28mg/day formulation reconstituted weekly, shown bioequivalent to the legacy 2mg presentation. The GH-mediated mechanism is the same across populations; the HIV indication was the regulatory pathway, not a limit on the effect.

    Sources
    • Falutz et al. (2007)
    • Falutz et al. (2010)
    • FDA EGRIFTA WR label (2025)

    Updated Sep 2026

  4. Any dayRCT

    The liver-fat data is real — but from one population

    Tesamorelin has genuine evidence for reducing liver fat, but read the source carefully: the data comes from people with HIV, where it cut liver fat by about 37% relative to placebo. That's a real, controlled result — just keep in mind it hasn't been established the same way in the general population.

    The science

    In HIV-associated lipodystrophy/NAFLD trials, tesamorelin produced roughly a 37% relative reduction in liver fat vs placebo, with reduced progression to fibrosis. The GHRH-agonist mechanism is population-independent, but the controlled NAFLD evidence remains in the HIV population — extrapolation to non-HIV fatty liver is reasonable mechanistically but not formally trial-established.

    Sources
    • Stanley et al. (2019)

    Updated Sep 2026

Day 1 is the day you start it.

Mixing and a typical run.

Example numbers

Reconstitution example

Reconstitute a 10 mg vial of Tesamorelin with 2 mL of bacteriostatic water and a 2 mg dose is 40 units on a U-100 syringe, about 5 doses per vial.

Vial
10 mg
Water
2 mL
Amount
2 mg

Draw to40 units

0.5 mL insulin syringe · 50 units

Mix it in the Reconstitution LabOpen the calculator

Run notes

Cycle
FDA approval context: daily use. Community typically runs 12–24 weeks. Reassess at 3 months.Community practice — opinions vary. Not a clinical recommendation.
Timing
Daily SubQ. Morning injection common.
Route
SubQ injection
Stacks
Ipamorelin, BPC-157

Safety.

Common side effects

  • Injection site reaction
  • Fluid retention
  • Joint pain
  • Nausea
  • Glucose dysregulation

Goes with.

Compared with.

Questions people ask.

What is Tesamorelin?

The only GHRH analog currently FDA-approved (to reduce excess abdominal fat in HIV lipodystrophy). Tesamorelin targets visceral fat, the deep abdominal fat around the organs: in two phase 3 trials it cut visceral fat about 15% in 26 weeks.

How is Tesamorelin dosed in research?

The research range for Tesamorelin is 1–2 mg, daily. Studied in research — not a recommendation. FDA-approved as Egrifta WR (1.28 mg) and Egrifta SV (1.4 mg), SubQ once daily, to reduce excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV lipodystrophy.

How long does Tesamorelin last?

The half-life of Tesamorelin is ~8–11 min (current EGRIFTA SV/WR labels; the original label listed ~26 min).

What do people report on Tesamorelin?

Commonly reported on Tesamorelin: waist and belly shrinking while body weight barely moves, with injection-site redness and early joint aches.

Is Tesamorelin safe?

The research basis for Tesamorelin is established: clinical trials or FDA-approved use exists. Common side effects in the library: injection site reaction, fluid retention, joint pain, nausea and glucose dysregulation.

What does Tesamorelin stack with?

Common stacks for Tesamorelin: Ipamorelin and BPC-157.

Research.

The literature

Search the latest research

PubMedGoogle Scholar

Guide

What to take alongside each peptide

Read the guide

Reference.

Cadence

Daily

Half-life

~8–11 min

~8–11 min (current EGRIFTA SV/WR labels; the original label listed ~26 min)

Research basis

●●● Established

Clinical trials or FDA-approved use exists

PepVault for iPhone

Track Tesamorelin in PepVault

Log every dose, keep your vial and the doses left in it and watch its estimated active level. 7 days free on the yearly plan for new subscribers.

Download on the App Store

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