Tesamorelin
Reviewed
Short answer
An approved medicine for one specific HIV-related body-composition outcome. It is not a general weight-loss or anti-aging medicine. An FDA-approved product exists for a narrow indication.
The Peptide Field explains research. Its pages are not independently medically reviewed, and they do not diagnose, prescribe, or recommend treatment.
Read the study findingsAlso known as Egrifta SV · Egrifta WR · TH9507 · GHRF analogue
Part of Growth hormone peptides
Compared with Sermorelin · Ipamorelin · CJC-1295
Legal status Is Tesamorelin legal? See the status table
Study and product details
What it is
Tesamorelin is a changed version of a body signal that releases growth hormone. The approved product has a narrow labeled group of people and outcome.
Type of peptide: Growth hormone-releasing factor analogue. This describes what the substance is or how it works. It does not show that it is safe, effective, or approved.
What has been studied?
- Strong: Several reliable sources describe this clearly.
Phase 3 trials support visceral-adipose-tissue reduction in the labeled HIV population.
The approved label characterizes IGF-1 response, exposure, and product-specific use.
The label describes neoplasm, glucose, fluid-retention, hypersensitivity, and other risks.
High for authentic Egrifta SV; no automatic transfer to other formulations.
Products with the same ingredient can differ.
The ingredient name does not tell you everything about a product. Check its other ingredients, its form, how it enters the body, and the use and people covered by the research or approval.
Egrifta SV
2024 label- Ingredients and form
- 2 mg single-dose vial
- How it enters the body
- Under the skin (subcutaneous)
- Use and people covered
- Reduction of excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy; not indicated for weight-loss management.
Egrifta WR
March 2025- Ingredients and form
- 11.6 mg single-patient-use multidose vial
- How it enters the body
- Under the skin (subcutaneous)
- Use and people covered
- Reduction of excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy; not indicated for weight-loss management.
- Egrifta SV
- Egrifta WR
- Reduction of excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy
What studies found
Controlled trials in adults with HIV-associated abdominal fat accumulation found less visceral fat, which is fat around internal organs. The Egrifta SV and Egrifta WR labels say the products are not indicated for weight-loss management and that long-term cardiovascular safety has not been established. Their formulations are not substitutable.
These results do not establish general fat loss, muscle gain, anti-aging benefit, athletic recovery, or equivalent outcomes from compounded products.
Which products do these findings apply to?
The two approved products are not interchangeable. Egrifta SV and Egrifta WR are approved, non-substitutable formulations with product-specific labeling. Tesamorelin sold or compounded outside those products is not automatically equivalent.
Side effects in the Egrifta label
Egrifta is the FDA-approved form of tesamorelin. It is approved only to reduce extra belly fat in adults with HIV who have lipodystrophy. Lipodystrophy is a change in where the body stores fat. Its FDA label lists side effects from 26-week trials in those adults.
The most common were reactions where the shot was given, joint pain, pain in the arms or legs, muscle pain, and swelling in the legs.
The label also warns about a higher risk that cancer could grow, higher blood sugar, a rise in the growth factor IGF-1, fluid buildup, and allergic reactions.
Each number is the share of people in a group who reported the problem in the first 26 weeks. The label lists problems reported by at least 1% of people on Egrifta and more often than on placebo. The first table shows the ones reported by 5% or more of people on Egrifta. Placebo means a shot with no medicine in it.
Trials in the FDA label
Adults with HIV and extra belly fat 26 weeks
Adults with HIV and lipodystrophy in placebo-controlled trials. 543 got Egrifta and 263 got placebo.
| Reported problem | Egrifta | Placebo |
|---|---|---|
| Reactions where the shot was given | 17% | 6% |
| Joint pain (arthralgia) | 13% | 11% |
| Pain in the arms or legs | 6% | 5% |
| Muscle pain (myalgia) | 6% | 2% |
| Swelling in the legs (peripheral edema) | 6% | 2% |
| Tingling or prickly skin (paresthesia) | 5% | 2% |
Source for Adults with HIV and extra belly fat: Egrifta WR prescribing information on DailyMed , label revised .
Show less common side effects (1% to 4%)
Less common side effects in the same trials
Adults with HIV and extra belly fat, less common 26 weeks
The same trials. 543 got Egrifta and 263 got placebo.
| Reported problem | Egrifta | Placebo |
|---|---|---|
| Less feeling or numbness in the skin (hypoesthesia) | 4% | 2% |
| Rash | 4% | 2% |
| Vomiting | 3% | 0% |
| Indigestion | 2% | 1% |
| Muscle and bone pain | 2% | 1% |
| Pain | 2% | 1% |
| Itching | 2% | 1% |
| Stiff muscles or joints | 2% | 0% |
| Higher level of a muscle enzyme (CPK) in the blood | 1% | 0% |
| Carpal tunnel syndrome (numb or tingling hand) | 1% | 0% |
| Joint swelling | 1% | 0% |
| Muscle strain | 1% | 0% |
| Night sweats | 1% | 0% |
| Pounding or fast heartbeat (palpitations) | 1% | 0% |
Source for Adults with HIV and extra belly fat, less common: Egrifta WR prescribing information on DailyMed , label revised .
Blood sugar
Egrifta can raise blood sugar. In the trials, 5% of people on Egrifta and 1% on placebo reached an HbA1c of 6.5% or higher by week 26. HbA1c is a blood test of average blood sugar, and 6.5% is the level used to diagnose diabetes.
The label says to check blood sugar before starting and from time to time during use. It also says people with diabetes should have regular eye checks, because a rise in IGF-1 may start or worsen diabetic eye disease.
IGF-1, a growth factor
Egrifta makes the body release more growth hormone, which raises IGF-1 in the blood. After 26 weeks, 47% of people had IGF-1 above the normal range (more than 2 standard deviations), and 36% had it more than 3 standard deviations above. The label says the effects of high IGF-1 over a long time are unknown. It says doctors should check it and consider stopping Egrifta if it stays high.
Fluid buildup
Egrifta can make the body hold on to fluid. This can show up as swelling, joint pain, or carpal tunnel syndrome. The label says these problems either did not last or went away after stopping.
Allergic and shot-site reactions
Allergic reactions happened in 4% of people on Egrifta. They included itching, red skin, flushing, hives, and rash. The label says to get medical help and stop the medicine if an allergic reaction is suspected.
The warnings section gives a higher count of shot-site problems than the table: 25% of people on Egrifta and 14% on placebo.
Who should not use it
Growth hormone helps cells grow. The label says Egrifta must not be used by people with active cancer, and that it should be stopped if cancer comes back.
The label also says Egrifta must not be used during pregnancy, because it could harm an unborn baby. It must not be used by people whose pituitary gland is damaged or was removed, or by people who are allergic to it.
Growth hormone has been linked to more deaths in people who are critically ill. So the label says to consider stopping Egrifta in people who become critically ill.
How to report a side effect
The label asks people to report suspected side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or through FDA MedWatch. FDA MedWatch
What these numbers do not show
- The trials included only adults with HIV and lipodystrophy. The label says Egrifta is not for weight loss, because it does not change body weight overall.
- The trials used an older form of Egrifta. Each current label says its form is expected to have side effects like the older form. The Egrifta SV label shows the same table.
- The label says long-term heart safety has not been established.
- The label says side-effect rates from one medicine's trials cannot be directly compared with rates from another medicine's trials.
- Trials can miss rare harms and harms that take years to appear.
- These numbers describe Egrifta. They do not describe tesamorelin sold online, which is not the FDA-approved product.
Label checked .
Fact checks
3 statements checked. Read what the results mean.
“Tesamorelin reduces visceral fat in adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy.”
Phase 3 trials and the product label support this outcome in the labeled population.
- What this answer is based on
- Health results from a study with randomly assigned groups
- Limits of this answer
- Adults with HIV and excess abdominal fat meeting the trial and label criteria.
Sources for this fact check (3)
“Tesamorelin is an approved general weight-loss drug.”
The label specifically says it is not indicated for weight-loss management.
- What this answer is based on
- Official record or product label
- Limits of this answer
- The current Egrifta SV and Egrifta WR labels.
Sources for this fact check (2)
“Tesamorelin is permitted for competitive athletes.”
The 2026 WADA Prohibited List names tesamorelin in the S2 peptide-hormone and growth-factor category, which is prohibited at all times for covered athletes.
- What this answer is based on
- Official record or product label
- Limits of this answer
- Sport governed by the World Anti-Doping Code.
Sources for this fact check (1)
Questions people ask about Tesamorelin
The Egrifta label lists shot-site reactions, joint pain, arm or leg pain, muscle pain, and leg swelling as common side effects. Shot-site reactions affected 17% of people on Egrifta and 6% on placebo. The label also warns about blood sugar, IGF-1, fluid buildup, and allergic reactions. It must not be used with active cancer or during pregnancy. These numbers do not describe tesamorelin sold online.
Risks and safety limits
This prescription drug has benefits for a specific group and important monitoring requirements. No dosing, cycling, stacking, or performance-use guidance is provided.
Tesamorelin is named as a prohibited growth-hormone-releasing hormone analogue on the 2026 WADA Prohibited List and is prohibited at all times for covered athletes.
Reviewed .Check the rules for athletes ↗Read the official rules ↗Terms used in the studies
- outcome
- what the study measured
- indication
- the approved or studied use and patient group
- analog
- a changed version made to act like another substance
- formulation
- the ingredients and physical form of the finished product
- compounded
- made for one patient by a pharmacy, or in batches by a permitted outsourcing facility; a compounded drug is not FDA-approved
- randomized
- assigned to study groups by chance
- peptide
- a short chain of amino acids
- amino acid
- a small building block that makes peptides and proteins
Read the sources
Show 4 sources
Review history
Revalidated the current Egrifta WR indication and weight-loss limitation against FDA labeling, and confirmed tesamorelin remains named on the 2026 WADA Prohibited List.
Updated for Egrifta SV and Egrifta WR product identity, non-substitutability, phase 3 outcomes, and the 2026 WADA list.
Not independently medically reviewed. This page is not a dosing, sourcing, or treatment guide.
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