Tesamorelin
GHRH analog (synthetic GRF 1-44)
- Class
- GHRH analog
- Half-life
- ~8–38 min (varies by formulation and dosing duration)
- Route
- Subcutaneous (SubQ)
- Cadence
- Daily
- Evidence
- Human clinical trials
Overview
Tesamorelin is the only FDA-approved GHRH-style peptide on the market. It's approved as Egrifta for reducing belly fat in HIV patients with lipodystrophy — a specific indication, but the drug works on the same pathway you'd be targeting for general visceral-fat reduction.
How it works: a daily subcutaneous injection that asks your pituitary to release growth hormone in brief natural-style pulses. Over 6 months, the Phase 3 trial showed a 15-18% reduction in visceral fat (the deep belly fat around your organs, which is the worse kind metabolically). Triglycerides also drop. The effect requires continued dosing — visceral fat creeps back when you stop.
Outside the HIV indication, tesamorelin has been studied for fatty liver (NAFLD/NASH) and cognitive aging with modest positive signals. Use for any of those is off-label, and the cost of branded Egrifta makes that path mostly theoretical.
Safety considerations
A few of the safety signals worth knowing — the full list, with dosing context and what to monitor, is inside AIx Core.
- Glucose intolerance and new-onset elevated blood sugar are real — if you're pre-diabetic, this drug will likely push you closer to the line.
- Injection-site reactions (redness, itch, sometimes a small lump) are the most common side effect — usually mild but very common.
- Hard no if you have active cancer, are pregnant, or have any pituitary disorder (hypopituitarism, recent pituitary surgery, head trauma).
+ 2 more safety notes inside AIx Core →
Commonly monitored
Markers and signals people track when researching Tesamorelin.
- IGF-1 — aim to stay between 1× and 2× upper-normal range; above that, drop the dose
- Fasting glucose / HbA1c — GH suppresses insulin sensitivity over time
- Lipid panel — most people see triglycerides improve
- Waist circumference (or DEXA if you have access) — the main signal that the drug is working
- Injection-site skin (the most common side effect in trials)
Frequently asked questions
What is Tesamorelin?
GHRH analog (synthetic GRF 1-44). Tesamorelin is the only FDA-approved GHRH-style peptide on the market. It's approved as Egrifta for reducing belly fat in HIV patients with lipodystrophy — a specific indication, but the drug works on the same pathway you'd be targeting for general visceral-fat reduction.
How is Tesamorelin administered?
Subcutaneous (SubQ), typically daily.
What is the half-life of Tesamorelin?
~8–38 min (varies by formulation and dosing duration) — Cleared from blood fast — gives a brief natural-style GH pulse.
Is Tesamorelin approved for human use?
Tesamorelin is approved by at least one regulator for one or more indications. Use outside an approved indication is off-label and not endorsed here.
What does the evidence show for Tesamorelin?
Evidence tier: Human clinical trials. Falutz 2007 (the Phase 3 trial in HIV lipodystrophy, N=412, 26 weeks): visceral fat dropped ~-15%, with significant triglyceride improvements. The pooled analysis (Falutz 2010) of both Phase 3 trials showed triglycerides improved by ~50 mg/dL. That's the dataset the FDA approval is built on.
What is commonly monitored when researching Tesamorelin?
Commonly tracked markers + signals: IGF-1 — aim to stay between 1× and 2× upper-normal range; above that, drop the dose, Fasting glucose / HbA1c — GH suppresses insulin sensitivity over time, Lipid panel — most people see triglycerides improve, Waist circumference (or DEXA if you have access) — the main signal that the drug is working, Injection-site skin (the most common side effect in trials).
Related compounds
Open this in AIx Core for the full picture
Mechanism breakdown, receptor pathway diagram, full safety list, monitored items, source citations, and one-tap add-to-protocol. Free with any account.