Tesamorelin plus ipamorelin 1:1 blend (tesamorelin amount)
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Strong human trialsFDA approved as Egrifta +2
Tesamorelin
Also known as: Tesamorelin acetate · TH9507 · Tesa · Egrifta · Egrifta SV · Egrifta WR
Updated 29 sources
Tesamorelin is the only GHRH analog with current FDA approval. It makes your pituitary release more of your own growth hormone, which raises IGF-1. In Phase 3 trials it cut visceral belly fat by about 15% in adults with HIV-related fat gain. That approval and that data are why it stands apart from every other GH peptide. Off label, people run it for belly fat and recomposition.
Quick facts
- Half-life
- 8 minutes (Egrifta SV) and 11 minutes (Egrifta WR) in healthy subjects. Older figures for the original formulation are 26 to 38 minutes.
- Routes
- Subcutaneous injection
- Reported dose ranges
- 1 to 2 mg (subcutaneous injection)
- 125 to 1,000 mcg (subcutaneous injection)
- Vial sizes
- 2 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg
- FDA status
- FDA approved as Egrifta +2
- Brand names
- Egrifta (Theratechnologies): Original form, approved November 10, 2010 (BLA 022505). Sold in 1 mg and 2 mg vials.
- Egrifta SV: 2 mg vial. Daily dose of 1.4 mg, the same exposure as the original 2 mg dose.
- Egrifta WR (Theratechnologies): 11.6 mg vial. Daily dose of 1.28 mg; one vial covers 7 daily doses. Label supplement dated March 2025.
- WADA
- Prohibited
What people use Tesamorelin for
- Visceral (deep belly) fat, the approved use in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy
- Off-label belly fat loss and recomposition, often in bodybuilding
- Liver fat, studied in people with HIV
- Stacks with ipamorelin, retatrutide or MOTS-c
How it is thought to work. Tesamorelin is full-length human GHRH (44 amino acids) with a small chemical cap that slows breakdown. It binds the GHRH receptor and raises GH release in normal pulses, which lifts IGF-1. The label notes no meaningful change in TSH, LH, ACTH or prolactin. Subcutaneous bioavailability is under 4%.
Tesamorelin dosing
11 protocols from studies, guides and community reports, grouped by goal. Tap a source badge to see where a number came from.
Tesamorelin plus ipamorelin 12
Tesamorelin plus ipamorelin 1:1 blend (total blend)
Other protocols: injected9
Phase 3 trials (original Egrifta)
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Egrifta SV label dose
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Egrifta WR label dose
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Forum convention
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Self-logged doses
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Tolerance-check start
Titration (2 steps) and details
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Morning protocol
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IGF-1 guided bedtime dose
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Daily or 5 on, 2 off
Doses shown are what sources report, labelled by origin. Not medical advice.
Full Tesamorelin dosage guideEvery titration step in syringe units, missed doses and how to mix.Vial strengths and syringe units
Every Tesamorelin vial size with the water volumes sources use. Units are what to draw on a U-100 insulin syringe, worked out exactly.
| Water | Strength | 1 mgdose, units | 1.4 mgdose, units | 2 mgdose, units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 mg vial | ||||
| 0.5 mLRegulatory | 4 mg/mL | 250.25 mL | 350.35 mL | 500.5 mL |
| 1 mLCompetitor guide | 2 mg/mL | 500.5 mL | 700.7 mL | 1001 mL |
| 5 mg vial | ||||
| 1 mLCompetitor guide | 5 mg/mL | 200.2 mL | 280.28 mL | 400.4 mL |
| 2 mLCompetitor guide | 2.5 mg/mL | 400.4 mL | 560.56 mL | 800.8 mL |
| 2.5 mLCompetitor guide | 2 mg/mL | 500.5 mL | 700.7 mL | 1001 mL |
| 10 mg vial | ||||
| 3 mLCompetitor guide | 3.333 mg/mL | 300.3 mL | 420.42 mL | 600.6 mL |
Units are on a U-100 insulin syringe (100 units = 1 mL). U-50 and U-30 barrels read the same units.† Water volume sourced for a different vial size. The math is exact either way.Water volumes from
Doses shown are what sources report, labelled by origin. Not medical advice.
Calculate with this peptideYour vial, your water, your dose: Tesamorelin in syringe units, with the math shown.What people report
What Tesamorelin users write on Reddit, counted post by post. These are reports, not measured rates or advice.
Community-reportedFrom 900 Reddit posts and comments, last mined Oct 23, 2026r/Peptides, r/Biohackers, r/Peptidesource, r/PeptideDiscussion
Doses people report for Tesamorelin
Goal not stated251 mentions
| Reported | Mentions |
|---|---|
| 2 mg | 105 |
| 1 mg | 104 |
| 0.5 mg | 18 |
| 1.5 mg | 9 |
| 500 mcg | 8 |
Weight loss81 mentions
| Reported | Mentions |
|---|---|
| 1 mg | 37 |
| 2 mg | 34 |
| 0.5 mg | 7 |
| 500 mcg | 4 |
| 0.25 mg | 3 |
Muscle growth22 mentions
| Reported | Mentions |
|---|---|
| 1 mg | 9 |
| 2 mg | 9 |
| 500 mcg | 2 |
Left out: 5 mentions given in syringe units, which mean different doses in different mixes; 2 mentions far outside every sourced protocol, most likely vial sizes or typos.
How often
| Reported | Mentions |
|---|---|
| Once a day | 167 |
| 5 days on, 2 off | 89 |
| Every other day | 5 |
| Three times a week | 3 |
| Once a week | 2 |
Most mentioned alongside
Side effects people mention
Water retention27 mentions
Most common fixes: lower the dose (3), wait for it to resolve (2)
Insomnia17 mentions
Most common fix: inject earlier in the day (2)
Joint pain16 mentions
Most common fixes: wait for it to resolve (2), lower the dose (2)
Bloating15 mentions
Fatigue8 mentions
Nausea8 mentions
Doses shown are what sources report, labelled by origin. Not medical advice.
Tesamorelin side effects
What trials and labels report, kept apart from what users and guides report. Frequencies are worded as each source states them.
Reported in studies and labels6
From clinical trials and regulatory documents.
Injection-site reaction
17% on Egrifta vs 6% on placebo over 26 weeks (543 vs 263 people)
How people manage it
- Rotate sites across the abdomen, as the label directs.
Joint pain (arthralgia)
13% on Egrifta vs 11% on placebo
Pain in arms or legs
6% on Egrifta vs 5% on placebo
Muscle pain (myalgia)
6% on Egrifta vs 2% on placebo
Swelling in hands or feet (peripheral edema)
6% on Egrifta vs 2% on placebo. The label lists fluid retention, including carpal tunnel symptoms, as a warning
Tingling (paresthesia)
5% on Egrifta vs 2% on placebo
Reported by users and guides2
From community reports and dosing guides. Not measured rates.
High IGF-1
IGF-1 above 2 SDS in 47% and above 3 SDS in 36% of people at 26 weeks
How people manage it
- The label says to consider stopping if IGF-1 stays above 3 SDS and the fat response is weak.
Redness, itch, mild swelling and joint stiffness early on
Guide timeline: injection redness or itch in weeks 1 to 2, mild edema and joint stiffness in weeks 2 to 4
Storage
Powder (before mixing)
- Temperature
- 20 to 25 °C
Egrifta powder is stored at room temperature, 20 to 25 °C, protected from light; WR must not be frozen. Research-vial guides keep powder at 2 to 8 °C and quote 12 to 18 months.
Mixed vial
- Use within
- 7 days
Egrifta SV: use right after mixing and discard the rest. Egrifta WR: discard 7 days after mixing. Guides for research vials range from 5 to 7 days to 30 days in the fridge. The label windows are the only tested numbers.
Mixed with: Bacteriostatic water (research vials); the Egrifta kits supply their own diluent
Mixing. Egrifta SV: 2 mg vial plus 0.5 mL supplied sterile water, draw 0.35 mL for a 1.4 mg dose, discard the rest. Egrifta WR: 11.6 mg vial plus 1.3 mL supplied bacteriostatic water, draw 0.16 mL for 1.28 mg; one vial covers 7 daily doses. A 5 mg tesamorelin plus 5 mg ipamorelin blend takes 2 or 3 mL.
Stacks people report
Combinations from guides and community posts, with the reason given.
GHRH plus GHRP synergy, as a blend or in the same syringe. One guide runs tesamorelin 2 mg with ipamorelin 200 mcg before bed for 12 to 24 weeks. This is the highest-volume stack search.
Run as a triple stack with the CJC-1295 and ipamorelin pair.
Paired with a GLP-1 class drug for fat loss.
Stacked with MOTS-c and AOD-9604 for fat loss.
Stacked with AOD-9604 and MOTS-c for fat loss.
Compare Tesamorelin
Evidence and legal status
Evidence: strong human trials
Randomized trials in an approved indication. NEJM 2007 (412 people, 26 weeks, 2 mg): visceral fat down 15.2% vs up 5.0% on placebo, triglycerides down 50 mg/dL, IGF-1 up 81%. Pooled Phase 3 (806 people): IGF-1 up 108 ng/mL. Outside HIV: a 12-week type 2 diabetes trial showed no glucose worsening. Other trials used 1 or 2 mg for 2 weeks to 12 months.
FDA and WADA
FDA approved as Egrifta +2
Approved by the FDA, but for a narrower use than people take it for here.
FDA approved November 10, 2010 (Egrifta, BLA 022505) to reduce excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy. Not approved for weight loss. Current forms are Egrifta SV and Egrifta WR; a WR label supplement is dated March 2025.
Label contraindications: a disrupted hypothalamic-pituitary axis, active cancer, hypersensitivity and pregnancy. Not named on FDA's 503A category lists or the compounding safety-risk page. WADA 2026 names it under S2.2.4 as a GHRH analogue, banned at all times.
WADA: Prohibited
Tesamorelin questions
How much tesamorelin per day?
Trials used 2 mg once daily. The current labels use 1.4 mg (Egrifta SV) or 1.28 mg (Egrifta WR). All three give the same exposure, so do not compare the raw mg across formulations.
Is 1 mg enough?
Some protocols start at 1 mg, and trials have used 1 or 2 mg. The visceral-fat results come from 2 mg.
How much belly fat does it remove?
In adults with HIV lipodystrophy, visceral fat fell about 15% over 26 weeks versus placebo, and 17.5% by week 52 in those who stayed on it. Waist size in that group was down 3.4 cm. Fat under the skin did not change.
Does the fat come back after stopping?
Yes. In the extension study, visceral fat returned after people stopped.
Morning or night?
The label only asks for once daily. Guides split between bedtime fasted and morning fasted. No study compares them.
How much per week?
Seven daily doses. Some protocols run 5 days a week instead.
Does tesamorelin raise blood sugar?
New diabetes showed up in 5% on Egrifta vs 1% on placebo in the label's pooled data. The NEJM trial and the 12-month liver-fat trial found no significant glucose difference. Check glucose before and during.
What is the dose in a tesamorelin and ipamorelin blend?
Guides range widely, from about 100 mcg to 1 mg of tesamorelin per night, because ipamorelin rises with it in a 1:1 blend. That is the biggest dosing inconsistency for this compound. Separate vials let you keep tesamorelin at a trial dose.
How much water for a 10 mg vial?
One guide uses 3 mL. Use the calculator to turn your dose into syringe units.
How long does a mixed vial last?
Egrifta WR: 7 days after mixing. Egrifta SV: use right away. Research-vial guides say anywhere from 5 days to 30 days.
Does it help liver fat?
In a 12-month trial in people with HIV, liver fat fraction fell 4.1 points more than placebo, a 37% relative drop. 35% vs 4% got below the 5% fatty-liver line.
Is tesamorelin FDA approved?
Yes, but only to reduce excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy.
Is it banned in sport?
Yes. WADA lists it under S2.2.4, banned at all times.
Ask about Tesamorelin
Answers come from this site's pages only, with a link to each source.
Sources
29 sources, each checked by date. Record updated Oct 23, 2026. Numbers are restated in our own words and labelled by where they came from.
Clinical study5
- Metabolic effects of a GRF in HIV (Falutz NEJM 2007)PubMed · checked Oct 23, 2026
- Tesamorelin pooled Phase 3 (Falutz 2010)PubMed · checked Oct 23, 2026
- Sermorelin review (Prakash & Goa 1999)PubMed · checked Oct 23, 2026
Regulatory8
- Drugs@FDA BLA 022505FDA · checked Oct 23, 2026
- Egrifta SV labelDailyMed · checked Oct 23, 2026
- openFDA tesamorelin applicationsFDA · checked Oct 23, 2026
Competitor guide14
- Tesamorelin dosage chartPeptidesExplorer · checked Oct 23, 2026
- Tesamorelin 10 mg vialPeptideDosages · checked Oct 23, 2026
- Tesamorelin 20 mg vialPeptideDosages · checked Oct 23, 2026
Community-reported2
- Performance-enhancing peptides modulating GH-IGF1 axis (Dominikowski 2026)PMC · checked Oct 23, 2026
- Tesamorelin (self-logged doses)PeptIQ · checked Oct 23, 2026