GHRH analog · Egrifta
Tesamorelin
Label FDA-approved indication exists
What it is
Tesamorelin is a growth-hormone-releasing hormone analog with a trans-3-hexenoic acid modification that improves stability. As Egrifta / Egrifta SV / Egrifta WR it is a prescription drug, not a research novelty.
Benefits in plain language
What researchers and reference users usually mean when they talk about this compound. These are study themes and common claims — not a promise that it will do this in you.
- This one has a real approved job: shrink deep belly fat in HIV lipodystrophy (brand Egrifta).
- It tells the pituitary to release more of your own growth hormone, which can change fat distribution.
- Outside that label, people look at it for visceral fat and GH-axis support. That extra use is off-label / research talk.
- Unlike injecting GH itself, it uses your own pulse machinery — still a prescription drug in the approved setting.
If a branded, FDA-approved product exists, that label is the only dose that is actually authorized. Research-chemical vials are a different object.
Mechanism of action
It binds pituitary GHRH receptors, increasing endogenous GH pulses and downstream IGF-1. The labeled metabolic effect is reduction of visceral fat in the approved population — not a general “GH replacement” license.
Possible side effects
From labeled product information and trials: injection-site reactions, arthralgia, myalgia, edema, hyperglycemia / insulin resistance, and IGF-1 elevation. Contraindication themes on the label include active malignancy and disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Research-chemical tesamorelin is not the approved product.
Protocol ranges
| Source tier | Amount | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Label | 2 mg | Once daily SC | Dose used in the Phase 3 lipodystrophy program and on the US label |
| Cited off-label talk | 1–2 mg daily | Daily | Appears in secondary references; not a second approved regimen |