Tesamorelin: The Complete Guide for 2026

Egrifta WR is the newest formulation. It’s still injected daily, but each vial only needs to be mixed once a week, and it uses less than half the injection volume of Egrifta SV. Each Egrifta WR box contains four vials, each holding seven doses.

The doses differ because the formulations differ. Egrifta WR’s 1.28 mg dose was shown to deliver comparable exposure to the original 2 mg Egrifta dose.

Tesamorelin mimics natural GHRH:

• It binds to GHRH receptors in the pituitary gland.
• The pituitary releases growth hormone (GH) in its natural, pulsatile pattern.
• GH raises IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1) and promotes the breakdown of fat, especially visceral fat.

Because tesamorelin works through the body’s own growth hormone system rather than replacing growth hormone directly, it preserves normal feedback signaling.

Visceral Fat Reduction

In a pivotal trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine, 412 adults with HIV and excess abdominal fat received tesamorelin 2 mg daily or placebo for 26 weeks:

Total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol also improved significantly in the tesamorelin group.

Longer-Term Results

With continued use, visceral fat reduction reached about 18% at 52 weeks. About 69% of tesamorelin-treated patients achieved at least an 8% reduction in visceral fat at 26 weeks, compared with 33% on placebo.

What Happens When You Stop?

In an extension study, people who switched from tesamorelin to placebo regained visceral fat to near baseline levels within 26 weeks. Results depend on continued use.

Liver Fat

Tesamorelin has also been studied for liver fat. A 2014 JAMA trial reported reductions in liver fat in people with HIV, and a separate analysis linked visceral fat reduction with improved liver enzymes. Research into fatty liver disease is ongoing, but this is not an approved use.

The most common side effects reported for tesamorelin include:

• Joint pain (arthralgia)
• Injection site reactions, such as redness, itching, or pain
• Pain in the arms or legs
• Swelling (peripheral edema)
• Muscle pain (myalgia)

Other Risks Listed on the Label

• Elevated blood sugar: tesamorelin may cause glucose intolerance, so blood sugar should be monitored, especially in people with diabetes.
• Fluid retention
• Allergic reactions
• Long-term cardiovascular safety has not been established.

Tesamorelin should not be used by people who:

• Are pregnant or planning pregnancy
• Have disorders affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, such as a pituitary tumor or pituitary surgery
• Have active cancer
• Are allergic to tesamorelin or its ingredients

Tesamorelin is a prescription medication injected under the skin of the abdomen once daily. Egrifta WR is mixed with the bacteriostatic water provided, and unused solution is discarded 7 days after mixing. Your healthcare provider will monitor IGF-1 and blood sugar during treatment.

Tesamorelin stands out because it has large, randomized, placebo-controlled trials and current FDA approval, while most other growth hormone peptides are sold only as research chemicals.

Tesamorelin is prohibited by WADA under Section S2 as a growth hormone–releasing hormone analog. Athletes in WADA-tested sports should not use it without a Therapeutic Use Exemption.

• What is tesamorelin used for? It’s FDA-approved to reduce excess abdominal (visceral) fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy.
• Does tesamorelin help with weight loss? Not directly. It reduces visceral fat but is considered weight-neutral and isn’t approved for weight loss.
• How much visceral fat does tesamorelin reduce? About 15% over 26 weeks in clinical trials, and about 18% at 52 weeks with continued use.
• What is the difference between Egrifta WR and Egrifta SV? Egrifta WR only needs to be mixed once a week and uses a smaller injection volume. Egrifta SV is mixed daily.
• What are the side effects of tesamorelin? Joint pain, injection site reactions, limb pain, swelling, and muscle pain are most common. It can also raise blood sugar.
• Does tesamorelin increase growth hormone? Yes. It stimulates the pituitary to release growth hormone, which raises IGF-1 levels.
• Is tesamorelin banned in sports? Yes. It’s prohibited by WADA as a GHRH analog.

• Tesamorelin is an FDA-approved GHRH analog sold as Egrifta.
• It’s approved to reduce visceral fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy.
• Trials showed about 15% visceral fat reduction at 26 weeks.
• Benefits fade after stopping treatment.
• Egrifta WR, approved in 2025, needs only weekly reconstitution.
• Common side effects include joint pain, swelling, and injection site reactions.

• NEJM via Ovid – Metabolic Effects of a Growth Hormone–Releasing Factor in Patients With HIV
• Epocrates – FDA OKs New Formulation of Tesamorelin (Egrifta WR)
• SEC Filing – Theratechnologies Receives FDA Approval for Egrifta WR
• Drugs.com – Tesamorelin
• aidsmap – Reductions in Visceral Fat During Tesamorelin Therapy
• BioSpace – Theratechnologies Phase 3 52-Week Results
• PMC – Visceral Fat Reduction With Tesamorelin and Liver Enzymes
• Superpower – Tesamorelin Guide