What are the side effects of Tesamorelin?
The most commonly reported Tesamorelin side effects are injection-site reaction, fluid retention, joint stiffness. Most are mild and tend to be dose dependent. It is generally avoided with active malignancy. Human clinical evidence for Tesamorelin is limited, so this reflects reported and observed effects, not a complete safety profile.
Reported Tesamorelin side effects
- Injection-site reaction
- Fluid retention
- Joint stiffness
- Numb/tingling extremities
Who should avoid it
- Active malignancy
- Pituitary disorders
- Pregnancy / nursing
Bloodwork worth tracking
- IGF-1 baseline + every 6 weeks
- Fasting glucose
References
- Tesamorelin for HIV-associated lipodystrophy — Falutz J et al., NEJM, 2007
- Effect of tesamorelin on visceral fat and liver fat in HIV-infected patients with abdominal fat accumulation: a randomized clinical trial — Stanley TL et al., JAMA, 2014
- Effects of tesamorelin (TH9507), a growth hormone-releasing factor analog, in HIV-infected patients with excess abdominal fat: a pooled analysis of two multicenter, double-blind placebo-controlled phase 3 trials with safety extension data — Falutz J et al., Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2010
Pepdex is an editorial reference, not medical advice. Peptides vary in legal and approval status by country, many are research compounds without full human safety data. Talk to a qualified clinician before starting anything.
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Last updated 2026-06-06.