Tesamorelin: dosing, reconstitution and evidence
A stabilized GHRH analog and the only FDA-approved compound in this category — indicated for HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Has strong human data for reducing visceral adipose tissue specifically.
Also known as Egrifta, TH9507
Tesamorelin quick start
- Route
- SubQ
- Typical dose
- 1–2 mg
- Frequency
- Daily
- Half-life
- About 26–38 minutes (SubQ).
- Cycle
- Continuous under prescription; effects reverse when stopped.
- Vial sizes sold
- 10mg or 2mg
How to run it
- How often
- Daily
- Cycle length
- Continuous under prescription; effects reverse when stopped.
- Half-life
- About 26–38 minutes (SubQ).
- Route
- SubQ
What people actually run
Growing use for visceral fat. One of the few GH-axis compounds with an actual FDA approval behind it.
What to expect
Most people tolerate Tesamorelin well. Here is what is worth knowing going in, so nothing catches you by surprise.
Known interactions
Interactions involving Tesamorelin's drug class that DoseIQ screens for. Each one cites where it comes from — an FDA label section or the published record — because an interaction warning you can't trace is just noise.
Growth hormone raises glucose and insulin resistance — it works directly against glucose-lowering medication.
What to do: Fasting glucose and HbA1c are worth tracking; medication doses sometimes need adjusting. Your prescriber should know GH peptides are in the picture.
Source: GH pharmacology; tesamorelin label §7
Reconstitution guide
Tesamorelin ships as a lyophilised powder and gets mixed with bacteriostatic water before use. How much water you add sets the concentration, which sets how many syringe units make up each dose. One unit on a U-100 syringe is 0.01 mL — the tables below do the arithmetic for the vial sizes you are most likely to be holding.
10mg vial most common
| Water added | Concentration | 1mg | 2mg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2mL (common) | 5 mg/mL | 0.20 mL 20 units | 0.40 mL 40 units |
| 3mL | 3.33 mg/mL | 0.30 mL 30 units | 0.60 mL 60 units |
2mg vial
| Water added | Concentration | 1mg | 2mg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2mL (common) | 1 mg/mL | 1.00 mL 100 units | 2.00 mL 200 units * |
| 3mL | 666.67 mcg/mL | 1.50 mL 150 units * | 3.00 mL 300 units * |
* More than 100 units — that is more than a single U-100 insulin syringe holds. Either use a larger syringe, split it across two draws, or mix with less water to concentrate it. Adding less water is usually the easier fix.
Standard steps
- Inspect the vialConfirm the label and that the powder cake is intact. Do not use a cracked or compromised vial.
- Let it reach room temperatureSitting out for a few minutes reduces condensation inside the vial when the seal is broken.
- Disinfect both stoppersWipe the compound vial and the bacteriostatic water vial with a fresh alcohol swab and let them air-dry.
- Draw the bacteriostatic waterUse a sterile syringe to draw the volume you have chosen from the reconstitution table.
- Add the water down the vial wallInject slowly so it runs down the inside wall rather than spraying directly onto the powder. This limits foaming.
- Dissolve gentlySwirl or roll the vial between your hands until the cake dissolves. Never shake — agitation damages peptide bonds. The solution should end up clear.
- Label and refrigerateWrite the reconstitution date and concentration on the vial. Store at 2–8°C. Do not freeze.
This page is an educational research reference and is not medical advice. Dose figures reflect the published record and what the community has converged on — starting points to weigh, not instructions. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any protocol.