GH secretagogue

Tesamorelin

Approved for a specific use (US)Approved drugEgriftaEgrifta SVEgrifta WR

A stabilized GHRH analog and the only GH-releasing peptide with full approval: Egrifta, for reducing excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV-related lipodystrophy. In those trials it cut visceral (deep belly) fat by roughly 15-20% over six months. Benefits faded after stopping.

Canada
Check the Drug Product Database; not widely available
United States
Approved (Egrifta) to reduce excess belly fat in adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy

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Not medical advice — talk to your doctor before making medical decisions.

At a glance

Class
GH secretagogue (GHRH analog)
Mechanism
Raises GH and IGF-1 in natural pulses
Evidence
Approved drug (narrow indication)
Canada
Check DPD
Us
Approved (Egrifta)
Half Life
About 30-40 minutes
Routes
SubQ, daily
Common Side Effects
Joint pain, site reactions, swelling, muscle aches, tingling
Key Cautions
Raised blood sugar; avoid with active cancer; IGF-1 monitoring
Trial Weight Loss
Visceral fat ~15-20% down in HIV lipodystrophy (not total weight)

What the research says

  • Is it approved for fat loss in general?

    No. Approval is only for abdominal fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Use outside that is off-label and not well studied.

  • What did trials measure?

    Visceral fat on CT scans, which dropped about 15-20% over 26 weeks. Total body weight didn't change much. Fat returned after stopping.

  • Blood sugar?

    The label warns it can worsen glucose control. Labs usually include fasting glucose, A1C and IGF-1.

  • With a GLP-1?

    Not studied together. Opposite pushes on blood sugar; track labs.

Common side effects and cautions

  • Water retention, tingling or numb hands, joint aches and headache are the usual GH-related effects.
  • Raised growth hormone and IGF-1 can raise blood sugar and lower insulin sensitivity. Worth watching if you're also on a GLP-1 or have prediabetes.
  • Flushing, light-headedness or a rush of hunger right after injection are commonly reported.
  • Long-term raised IGF-1 is linked in studies to cancer growth, so people with active cancer or a history of it are usually told to avoid GH-raising compounds.
  • Prohibited in sport (WADA S2) if you're drug-tested.

Get medical care if

  • Redness, heat, swelling or pus at a site that spreads or comes with fever
  • Hives, swelling of the face or throat, or trouble breathing (call 911)

Dose calculator

Doses are set with your prescriber. This converts a dose you already have into what to draw; it doesn't recommend one. Check every number against your syringe and your vial's label.

Doses left in the vial
A blend vial

Not medical advice — talk to your doctor before making medical decisions.

Sources

Researched 2026-10-27. Trial results and approval status change.

  1. PubMed: tesamorelin studies
  2. Health Canada Drug Product Database (check for a DIN)
  3. ClinicalTrials.gov: tesamorelin

General education, not medical advice. Nothing here is a dose recommendation. Doses, schedules and changes are set with a prescriber.