Tesamorelin · Updated October 17, 2026

What does tesamorelin do?

Short answer

Tesamorelin is a lab-made form of growth hormone-releasing hormone that signals the pituitary gland to release more of the body’s own growth hormone.^[1] In the U.S. it is FDA-approved for one use: reducing excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy.^[1] It is not approved for weight loss, muscle building or anti-aging.^[1]

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You are pregnant or could become pregnant
The label says not to use tesamorelin during pregnancy because it could harm the baby.^[1] Raise this with the provider.
You have active cancer or have had cancer in the past
The label says not to use it with active cancer, and any past cancer should be inactive with treatment finished first.^[1] A provider weighs the risk of it coming back.^[1]
You have a pituitary problem, or have had head radiation or a head injury
The label lists pituitary tumors or surgery, head radiation and head injury as reasons not to use tesamorelin.^[1] Raise this with the provider.
You have diabetes or high blood sugar
Tesamorelin can raise blood sugar, and the label calls for checking it before and during treatment.^[1] People with diabetes also need regular checks for eye problems (retinopathy).^[1]
You do not have HIV
The only approved use is reducing excess belly fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy, so other uses are off-label.^[1] A provider decides whether any option fits you.

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Key facts

What it is: A growth hormone-releasing factor (GHRF) analog, made of the 44 amino acids of human GHRH plus a small added chain.^[1]
Approved use: Reducing excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy.^[1] It is not for weight loss and has a weight-neutral effect.^[1]
How it’s taken: One injection under the skin of the belly each day.^[1] The dose is 1.28 mg for EGRIFTA WR and 1.4 mg for EGRIFTA SV, and the two are not interchangeable.^[1]^[2]
Typical trial result: After 26 weeks, deep belly (visceral) fat fell an average of 18% and 14% in two trials, versus a 2% rise and a 2% fall with placebo.^[1]
Common side effects: Injection site reactions, joint pain, pain in the arms and legs, muscle pain and swelling of the arms, hands, legs or feet.^[1]
Who should not use it: People with pituitary problems, head radiation or a head injury, active cancer, an allergy to tesamorelin, or a pregnancy.^[1]

What happened over time in the trials

Time on treatment	What the trials found
By week 13	Some patients already had IGF-1 levels more than 2 standard deviations above average.^[1]
Week 26	Visceral fat was down an average of 18% and 14% in the two main trials, versus a 2% rise and a 2% fall with placebo.^[1]
Week 52, still taking it	The drop held, at about 17.5% below the starting level.^[4]
Week 52, stopped at week 26	Visceral fat came back, rising 22% and 16% in the 26 weeks after switching to placebo.^[1]

How it works

It signals the pituitary: In lab tests, tesamorelin binds the same receptors as the body’s own growth hormone-releasing hormone, with similar potency.^[1] That signal prompts the pituitary gland to release growth hormone in pulses.^[1]
Growth hormone raises IGF-1: The extra growth hormone then raises IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels.^[1] IGF-1 carries out some, but not all, of growth hormone’s effects.^[1]
It targets deep belly fat: Growth hormone both breaks down fat and builds tissue.^[1] In the main trials, tesamorelin lowered visceral fat without a significant change in the fat just under the skin of the belly.^[4]
Other hormones: Trials found no clinically significant changes in other pituitary hormones, such as thyroid-stimulating hormone or prolactin.^[1]
It acts briefly: Tesamorelin peaks in the blood within minutes of an injection and has a half-life of about 11 minutes.^[1]

What the evidence shows

Belly fat in adults with HIV: In many people with HIV, visceral fat builds up during antiretroviral therapy.^[3] In two 26-week placebo-controlled trials in this group, tesamorelin cut visceral fat by an average of 18% and 14% on CT scans.^[1]
Waist size and weight: Waist size shrank by about 1 to 2 cm more than with placebo, while average body weight changed by less than 1 kg.^[1]
Blood fats: In one of the two main trials, triglycerides fell by 50 mg/dL with tesamorelin and rose by 9 mg/dL with placebo.^[3]
Results fade after stopping: People who kept taking it for a full year held their visceral fat loss.^[4] People switched to placebo after 26 weeks regained visceral fat over the next 26 weeks.^[1]
If fat does not go down: The label advises weighing whether to continue treatment in people whose visceral fat has not gone down.^[1]
People without HIV (off-label): One 12-month trial gave tesamorelin or placebo to 60 adults with abdominal obesity and low growth hormone output, and it excluded people with HIV.^[5] Visceral fat shrank with tesamorelin and grew with placebo, with no change in fasting glucose or HbA1c.^[5] This is not an approved use.^[1]
Liver fat (still being studied): In a 6-month trial of 50 adults with HIV, tesamorelin was linked to modest reductions in liver fat, and the authors said further studies are needed.^[6]
Muscle and anti-aging (off-label): Tesamorelin is not approved to build muscle or slow aging.^[1] The label has no information on its use in people over 65.^[1]

Side effects and who should avoid it

Most common: In the first 26 weeks of trials, injection site reactions affected 25% of people on tesamorelin and 14% on placebo.^[1] Joint pain (13% vs 11%), muscle pain (6% vs 2%) and swelling in the arms or legs (6% vs 2%) were also more common.^[1]
Blood sugar: Tesamorelin can cause glucose intolerance.^[1] In trials, 5% of people on it reached an HbA1c of 6.5% or higher, compared with 1% on placebo.^[1] The label calls for checking blood sugar before and during treatment.^[1]
Raised IGF-1: The long-term effects of high IGF-1 levels are unknown.^[1] The label calls for monitoring IGF-1 during treatment.^[1]
Fluid retention: It can cause swelling, joint pain and carpal tunnel syndrome, which either pass on their own or go away after stopping.^[1]
Cancer: Because it raises growth hormone, a known growth factor, it must not be used with active cancer.^[1] It should be stopped if there is any sign that a past cancer has come back.^[1]
Do not use if you: Have a pituitary tumor, pituitary surgery or other pituitary problem, have had head radiation or a head injury, have active cancer, are allergic to tesamorelin, or are pregnant.^[1] It is not for children.^[1]
Other medicines: People on glucocorticoid replacement for adrenal insufficiency may need a higher dose after starting tesamorelin.^[1] Tell your provider about every medicine and supplement you take.^[1]

When to get medical help

Signs of a serious allergic reaction: A rash over your body, hives, swelling of the face or throat, trouble breathing, a fast heartbeat or fainting. Stop tesamorelin and get emergency help right away.^[1]
Cancer symptoms come back: Stop using tesamorelin and tell your provider.^[1]
Swelling, joint pain, or numbness in the hands or wrists: Call your healthcare provider.^[1]
Problems at the injection site: Redness, itching, pain, bruising, bleeding, rash or swelling around the injection. Call your provider and keep rotating injection sites.^[1]
Pregnancy: If you become pregnant, stop using tesamorelin and talk with your provider.^[1] It could harm the baby.^[1]

Common questions

Does tesamorelin build muscle?

It is not approved for that.^[1] In the HIV trials, lean body mass rose by about 1.2 to 1.3 kg over 26 weeks, compared with almost no change on placebo.^[1] In another trial, the authors noted that part of a similar gain might reflect fluid and water shifts.^[5]

Does tesamorelin reduce belly fat in people without HIV?

It is only approved for adults with HIV and lipodystrophy.^[1] A 12-month trial in 60 adults with abdominal obesity and low growth hormone output, which excluded people with HIV, found that visceral fat shrank with tesamorelin and grew with placebo.^[5] Using it this way is off-label.^[1]

How long does tesamorelin take to work?

The main trials judged results after 26 weeks of daily injections.^[1] In people who kept taking it, the drop in visceral fat lasted through 52 weeks.^[4] In people who stopped at 26 weeks, the fat came back.^[1]

Is tesamorelin a steroid or HGH?

Neither. It is a peptide built on the 44 amino acids of human growth hormone-releasing hormone.^[1] It is not growth hormone itself.^[1] It prompts the pituitary to release the body’s own growth hormone.^[1]

Will tesamorelin help me lose weight?

No. The label says it is not for weight loss because its effect on weight is neutral.^[1] In trials, average body weight changed by less than 1 kg.^[1]

What is the difference between tesamorelin and sermorelin?

Both are versions of growth hormone-releasing hormone.^[1]^[7] Sermorelin is a shorter, 29-amino-acid version.^[7] Its U.S. brand was approved for children with growth hormone deficiency and was discontinued, with FDA later finding this was not for safety or effectiveness reasons.^[8] Tesamorelin uses the full 44-amino-acid chain and is approved only for abdominal fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy.^[1]

Find out if tesamorelin is right for you

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