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№ 013

Tesamorelin

Used to shrink deep belly fat. A GHRH analog that's FDA-approved for HIV-associated lipodystrophy and used off-label for visceral fat reduction.

GH-axis
Evidence: Strong

Tesamorelin: Used to shrink deep belly fat. A GHRH analog that's FDA-approved for HIV-associated lipodystrophy and used off-label for visceral fat reduction. Tesamorelin is an FDA-approved GH-axis peptide that specifically targets visceral fat, the deep belly fat around organs.

FDA ⓘ
Approved
WADA
Banned
Typical dose
1-2 mg sub-q daily
Half-life ⓘ
~30 minutes
Route ⓘ
Subcutaneous
Schedule
Once daily
In plain English

Tesamorelin is an FDA-approved GH-axis peptide that specifically targets visceral fat, the deep belly fat around organs. Daily injection. Slow burn, but the visceral fat reduction is well-documented.

Status & legalityWhat do these mean? →
Natty? ⓘ
Not natty
FDA ⓘ
Approved

Approved as Egrifta, 2010, for HIV-associated lipodystrophy.

Compounding ⓘ
Approved drug

Available as an FDA-approved drug, not a compounded peptide.

WADA ⓘ
Banned (S2)
Prescribed ⓘ

Yes for HIV indication. Off-label use outside that scope is common but not on-label.

Who it's for

  • →Users targeting visceral (deep abdominal) fat specifically
  • →Older adults wanting GH-axis support without HGH
  • →People with elevated visceral fat on DEXA

What to expect

  1. Week 1

    Sleep deepens. Nothing visual yet.

  2. Week 4

    Subtle waist measurement changes for users tracking carefully.

  3. Week 8

    Visceral fat reduction visible on imaging in clinical trials.

Looking at Tesamorelin? Your next 3 steps

  1. 1Work out your exact dose

    Vial size + BAC water turns into the exact units to draw for Tesamorelin.

    Open calculator →
  2. 2See what to stack & monitor

    The companion supplements and the bloodwork worth tracking on this kind of protocol.

    Bloodwork guide →
  3. 3Save it & ask the Coach

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How it works (mechanism)

GHRH analog with structural modifications that resist proteolytic breakdown. Binds the same GHRH receptor as Sermorelin and CJC, with longer activity window. Specifically reduces visceral fat through GH-mediated lipolysis.

Dosing protocol

Members only

Stacks well with

Members only

Stack essentials

Members only

Side effects

01Injection-site reaction
02Fluid retention
03Joint stiffness
04Numb/tingling extremities

When NOT to use

  • ⚠Active malignancy
  • ⚠Pituitary disorders
  • ⚠Pregnancy / nursing

Bloodwork to monitor

  • • IGF-1 baseline + every 6 weeks
  • • Fasting glucose

Common mistakes

  • • Expecting subcutaneous fat loss (it primarily targets visceral)
  • • Stopping before week 12 (the response builds over months)
  • • Not measuring visceral fat at baseline so you can't tell if it worked

Drug & supplement interactions

  • ⚠Glucocorticoids and oral estrogen may reduce response
  • ⚠Insulin requirements may shift in diabetics
  • ⚠Cytochrome P450 substrates: tesamorelin may modestly increase metabolism, disclose all medications

Community patterns

Members only
Free, no account needed

New to Tesamorelin? Grab the starter checklist.

Drop your email and we'll send the one-page first-cycle starter checklist, plus a heads-up if Tesamorelin changes legal status. No account needed.

No spam. No selling your email. Just the checklist and the occasional reclassification alert.

AI Coach, live sample
Members only
is 250mcg of bpc enough for a knee injury?
For a knee, 250 mcg sub-q daily is the standard working dose and a solid place to start. The trick with BPC is consistency, give it weeks, not days. Inject close to the joint, run it 4-6 weeks, and don't drop below 200 mcg, it tends to stop cracking the threshold reliably down there. If it hasn't moved at all by week 3, that's when adding TB-500 earns its place.
how much bac water for a 10mg reta vial?
3 mL is the standard play for a 10 mg reta vial. That's 3,333 mcg/mL, clean unit math across the titration: 2 mg = 60 units, 4 mg = 120 units, 6 mg = 180 units on a 100-unit insulin syringe. Run 2 mL instead if you want fewer, more concentrated shots (5,000 mcg/mL, so 2 mg = 40 units). Since most people titrate up over ~12 weeks, 3 mL keeps the numbers cleanest.
what should i track on bloodwork for tirzepatide?
Lipid panel, ALT/AST (liver enzymes), and an A1C, baseline before you start then every 3 months. If you've got metabolic-syndrome history, add fasting glucose and insulin so you can actually watch insulin sensitivity improve. You don't need a big hormone panel for a GLP-1.

Ask the Coach anything about Tesamorelin or your own stack. This is it working.

Trained only on Pepdex content. Does the dose math, flags interactions, knows your stack. Won't push vendors, won't pretend to be a doctor.

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Frequently asked

What is Tesamorelin?+
Tesamorelin is an FDA-approved GH-axis peptide that specifically targets visceral fat, the deep belly fat around organs. Daily injection. Slow burn, but the visceral fat reduction is well-documented.
Is Tesamorelin FDA approved?+
Approved as Egrifta, 2010, for HIV-associated lipodystrophy.
Is Tesamorelin legal?+
Tesamorelin is FDA-approved and legal to obtain by prescription in the US. Yes for HIV indication. Off-label use outside that scope is common but not on-label.
Is Tesamorelin banned by WADA?+
Tesamorelin is on the WADA prohibited list under Banned (S2).
Are you still natty after taking Tesamorelin?+
No. Tesamorelin is a performance-enhancing peptide and would disqualify a strict natty claim.
Do doctors prescribe Tesamorelin?+
Yes for HIV indication. Off-label use outside that scope is common but not on-label.
What's the typical dose of Tesamorelin?+
1-2 mg sub-q daily. Taken at the same time each day, ideally before bed.
What are the side effects of Tesamorelin?+
Common side effects include: Injection-site reaction; Fluid retention; Joint stiffness; Numb/tingling extremities. Less common effects and full safety details are on the entry page.
How long until Tesamorelin starts working?+
Sleep deepens. Nothing visual yet.
What can you stack with Tesamorelin?+
Common pairings: Standalone; Some users add Ipamorelin for amplified pulse, though not formally studied. Full stacking protocol and timing on the entry page.
Where do people get Tesamorelin?+
Tesamorelin is dispensed through licensed pharmacies with a prescription. Some compounding pharmacies and telehealth services prescribe it. Pepdex is not a vendor or pharmacy. See /coa for how to verify Certificate of Analysis on any supplier.
Tesamorelin vs Ipamorelin, which is better?+
Ipamorelin vs Tesamorelin: ghrelin mimetic vs GHRH analog. Two different paths to a higher GH pulse. Full head-to-head comparison: https://pepdex.co/compare/ipamorelin-vs-tesamorelin
Tesamorelin vs Sermorelin, which is better?+
Tesamorelin vs Sermorelin: two GHRH analogs head-to-head on potency, FDA status, cost, and dosing protocol. Full head-to-head comparison: https://pepdex.co/compare/tesamorelin-vs-sermorelin
Tesamorelin vs HGH (Somatropin), which is better?+
HGH vs Tesamorelin: synthetic growth hormone vs GHRH analog that stimulates your own production. Legal and risk differences. Full head-to-head comparison: https://pepdex.co/compare/hgh-vs-tesamorelin

Head-to-head with Tesamorelin

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Tesamorelin vs Ipamorelin →
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Tesamorelin vs Sermorelin →
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Tesamorelin vs HGH (Somatropin) →

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