GH secretagogue
Tesamorelin
The only compound in this class with a real FDA label.
Also known as Egrifta · Egrifta SV · Egrifta WR · TH9507
At a glance
Dose summary
Reconstitution
What to draw, at the usual vial
A 10 mg vial reconstituted with 2 mL of bacteriostatic water gives 5.00 mg/mL. A typical 2 mg dose is 0.400 mL — pull the plunger to 40 units on a U-100 syringe.
Same dose, other vial sizes
| Vial | Water | Concentration | Draw | Units | Doses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 mg | 2 mL | 1.00 mg/mL | 2.000 mL | 200 units | 1 |
| 5 mg | 2 mL | 2.50 mg/mL | 0.800 mL | 80 units | 2 |
| 10 mg | 2 mL | 5.00 mg/mL | 0.400 mL | 40 units | 5 |
The highlighted row is the one quoted above: the smallest listed vial that holds at least four typical doses. Change any of it — a different vial, more or less water, a different dose — on the reconstitution calculator, which draws the syringe to true U-100 graduations.
Mechanism & evidence
What it is, and what is known
The only compound in this class with a real FDA label. Tesamorelin is a stabilised GHRH (1-44) analogue approved as Egrifta to reduce excess visceral abdominal fat in HIV-infected patients with lipodystrophy, supported by two phase 3 randomized placebo-controlled trials over 26 weeks with a 26-week extension. Label dosing is 2 mg subcutaneously once daily (Egrifta and Egrifta SV); the reformulated Egrifta WR is 1.28 mg once daily, which is why the range here starts at 1280 mcg.
Approved dosing applies ONLY to that HIV lipodystrophy indication - use for general body composition, and any product bought as a research chemical, is off-label and unapproved. Not studied in and not indicated for weight loss in the general population. Note that the Egrifta label directs administration immediately after reconstitution with the supplied diluent; the 30-day figure here reflects bacteriostatic-water reconstitution of multi-dose vials, which is not a labeled practice.
The caveat
Approved only to reduce visceral fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Use for general body composition is off-label and was never studied.Tolerability
Reported side effects
- Injection site erythema, pruritus, pain or bruising, the most common label reaction
- Arthralgia and peripheral edema
- Myalgia and paraesthesia or hypoaesthesia
- Carpal tunnel-type symptoms in the hands
- Rising IGF-1 and reduced glucose tolerance, so glucose should be monitored
- Hypersensitivity or rash
Hard stops
Do not use this if
- Pregnancy, possible pregnancy, or breastfeeding
- Active, suspected or recently treated malignancy
- Under 18
These are flags, not a screening. They do not replace a conversation with a clinician who knows your history.
Handling
Storage
Keep it cold, keep it dark, and label the vial with the date you mixed it. Discard anything cloudy or past the window above.
Combinations
Commonly stacked with
Stacking multiplies the side-effect surface and makes it impossible to tell which compound did what. Add one thing at a time.
Where it shows up
Protocols using this compound
References
Sources
Educational information only, not medical advice. Talk to a licensed clinician before starting, changing, or stopping anything.