Tesamorelin

Tesamorelin is a prescription growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analog, FDA-approved and sold as EGRIFTA SV (and the newer EGRIFTA WR). It is a prescription medicine, not a research chemical, and must be obtained and used under the supervision of a licensed clinician. This page is purely educational and is not medical advice.

Important: like the other approved medicines in this library (semaglutide, tirzepatide, PT-141), tesamorelin is a regulated drug. WikiPeps does not sell it, does not provide dosing or sourcing guidance, and does not instruct self-administration. The goal here is to help you understand the drug so you can have a better conversation with your prescriber.

What is tesamorelin?#

Tesamorelin is a stabilized synthetic version of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), the natural signal that tells the pituitary gland to release growth hormone (GH). Rather than replacing GH directly, tesamorelin nudges the body to release its own GH in a more natural, pulsatile way, which raises IGF-1 downstream.

What is tesamorelin approved for?#

Tesamorelin has one FDA-approved indication: reducing excess abdominal fat (visceral adipose tissue) in adults living with HIV who have lipodystrophy — a condition in which fat is redistributed to the abdomen. It is not approved for general weight loss, bodybuilding, or anti-aging. Eligibility and use are clinical decisions.

How does tesamorelin work?#

By activating GHRH receptors on the pituitary, tesamorelin increases secretion of endogenous growth hormone, which raises circulating IGF-1. In people with HIV-associated lipodystrophy, this has been shown in trials to reduce visceral fat. Its short half-life (about half an hour) is consistent with a once-daily dose that supports the body's natural GH rhythm rather than flooding it.

How is tesamorelin administered?#

This section is descriptive only — it is not instruction to self-inject. The approved product is supplied as a freeze-dried powder in a single-patient vial that is reconstituted and given as a once-daily subcutaneous injection into the abdomen. Patients are trained directly by their clinician or pharmacist, and preparation, needles, and storage follow the manufacturer's instructions for use. Note that EGRIFTA SV and EGRIFTA WR are different formulations and are not interchangeable.

What are the side effects and risks?#

Commonly reported effects include joint pain (arthralgia), injection-site reactions, peripheral edema (swelling), muscle pain, and paresthesia (tingling). Because tesamorelin raises growth hormone and IGF-1, it can impair glucose tolerance, so blood sugar is monitored, especially in people with or at risk of diabetes. The prescribing information describes contraindications — including active malignancy, disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, and pregnancy — and the theoretical concerns that come with raising IGF-1. Only a prescribing clinician can weigh these for an individual.

Why the bodybuilding and anti-aging interest — and the caution#

Because tesamorelin reliably raises GH and IGF-1, it is discussed in performance and longevity circles for fat loss and recovery. Those uses are off-label and unapproved: they have not been established as safe or effective, the long-term effects of chronically elevated IGF-1 outside the approved population are not well characterized, and raising IGF-1 carries theoretical proliferation risk. WikiPeps strongly discourages sourcing prescription drugs outside the regulated system.

The bottom line#

Tesamorelin (EGRIFTA SV / EGRIFTA WR) is an FDA-approved prescription GHRH analog for reducing excess abdominal fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy. It is a real medicine with real risks, not a research chemical, and it should only be obtained with a valid prescription and used under a licensed clinician's supervision. Use this page to understand it and to ask your prescriber informed questions.