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What is tesamorelin used for?

Updated 2026-05-05

Tesamorelin is approved in the US under the brand Egrifta SV (and the higher-strength Egrifta WR) for one specific use: reducing belly fat in adults with HIV-related lipodystrophy. Off-label, biohackers and longevity clinics use it for general body composition - reducing visceral fat, building lean mass, and improving sleep. It works by signaling your pituitary to release more of your own growth hormone, so it is not a replacement for HGH itself.

IfIf you want approved-use dosing
Thenthen the Egrifta SV label says 1.4 mg subcutaneously once daily into the abdomen
IfIf you are using research-grade tesamorelin off-label
Thenthen most community protocols stay between 1-2 mg daily for 12-26 weeks, then cycle off
IfIf you have visceral fat around your organs
Thenthen tesamorelin is the only growth-hormone-releasing peptide with hard trial data on visceral fat reduction
IfIf you have active cancer or are pregnant
Thenthen tesamorelin is contraindicated - find a different protocol
Key facts
  • Tesamorelin is a synthetic analog of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)
  • Approved in the US since 2010 (Egrifta), with the SV (single-vial) and WR (weekly) reformulations approved later
  • Trial data shows about 15-18% visceral fat reduction at week 26 in HIV lipodystrophy patients
  • Off-label use for general body composition is common in longevity clinics; community protocols typically run 12-26 weeks
  • Half-life is about 26 minutes - it drives a single growth-hormone pulse, not sustained release
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