Tesamorelin

Overview

Tesamorelin is a synthetic analog of the 44-amino-acid hypothalamic hormone GHRH, stabilized against enzymatic breakdown, that binds the GHRH receptor and stimulates the pituitary to release the body's own growth hormone. It is FDA-approved (since 2010, marketed as Egrifta) for one narrow indication: reducing excess visceral abdominal fat in people with HIV-associated lipodystrophy, where Phase 3 trials showed a roughly 15-18% reduction in visceral fat versus placebo. That approval does not extend to general fat loss, anti-aging, bodybuilding, or cognition, where evidence is far weaker or absent. As a GHRH analog it raises IGF-1, so people with active cancer or certain other conditions are typically excluded.

Commonly Reported Uses

These are uses commonly discussed or marketed by users and vendors — not a list of proven or approved benefits, and not a recommendation.

• Reduction of excess visceral abdominal fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy (FDA-approved indication)
• General visceral/abdominal fat loss in people without HIV lipodystrophy (off-label; human evidence limited)
• Anti-aging and body-composition 'optimization' (marketed claim; not an approved use)
• Cognitive support in older adults (early research signal only; not an approved use)

What to Track

Data points you and your clinician might monitor. For observation only — not a diagnostic protocol.

• InBody/DEXA — visceral fat and body-fat % over time (the approved endpoint is visceral adipose tissue)
• Smart scale — weight and body-fat % trend against a baseline
• Labs — IGF-1 (expected to rise) and fasting glucose / HbA1c, since GH-axis stimulation can affect glucose
• WHOOP — sleep stages and recovery score, often cited subjectively but unproven
• Subjective daily check-ins — energy and injection-site tolerance

Sources & References

1. [1]Tesamorelin — Wikipedia
2. [2]FDA Approves F8 Formulation of Theratechnologies' Tesamorelin for HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy
3. [3]List of drugs banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency — Wikipedia