Peptide therapy
Tesamorelin (Egrifta®): what to know
Medical review pending · Last updated
Regulatory status: FDA-approved product. FDA-approved (Egrifta®) to reduce excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV who have lipodystrophy. It is not approved for general weight loss or anti-aging. Any off-label use is a clinical decision by a licensed provider.
What is Tesamorelin?
Tesamorelin is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing factor that stimulates the pituitary to release growth hormone.
Who it may be for
Adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy, as determined by a licensed provider. Not for use in pregnancy or in people with certain pituitary or tumor histories.
How it is given
Subcutaneous injection, if prescribed.
Safety considerations
- Can raise blood sugar; glucose monitoring may be needed.
- Possible joint pain, swelling, injection-site reactions, and allergic reactions.
- Contraindicated in pregnancy and in disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.
Any prescription is at the sole discretion of a licensed provider after evaluation. Metabcore does not make claims that Tesamorelin treats, cures, or prevents any disease beyond FDA-approved labeling.
Read next: Sermorelin vs. tesamorelin
Frequently asked questions
Is tesamorelin approved for weight loss?
No. Its FDA approval is specifically for reducing excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy.
Can tesamorelin be compounded?
Because an FDA-approved product exists, a licensed provider would ordinarily prescribe the approved product. Compounded copies of commercially available drugs are restricted under federal law.
Sources
- FDA-approved prescribing information: Egrifta WR (tesamorelin) (DailyMed, NLM)
- FDA-approved prescribing information: Egrifta SV (tesamorelin) (DailyMed, NLM)
Sources are listed for reference and do not imply endorsement. Regulatory status can change; check the date above.
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