Tesamorelin
An FDA-approved peptide that targets stubborn belly fat by stimulating your body to produce more growth hormone naturally. Originally approved for a specific condition but gaining interest for body composition.
This peptide is an FDA-approved drug product that can be legally prescribed by licensed clinicians.
The basics
- Generic Name
- tesamorelin acetate
- Brand Names
- Egrifta, Egrifta SV
- Regulatory Status
- Prescribed by Doctors
- Therapeutic Areas
- Metabolic & Weight Management, Endocrine
- Prescribing Specialties
- Endocrinology, Infectious disease
Wellness Goals
What it does
Tesamorelin is an FDA-approved medication that your doctor can prescribe. Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analog that stimulates the pituitary gland to produce and release growth hormone, reducing visceral adipose tissue.
How it's taken
Daily subcutaneous injection
How people access it
Prescribed as Egrifta by endocrinologists or infectious disease specialists. Originally approved for HIV-related lipodystrophy. Some clinicians prescribe off-label for body composition.
What doctors prescribe it for
- Reduction of excess abdominal fat in HIV-infected patients with lipodystrophy
Clinicians may prescribe FDA-approved drugs for off-label uses based on their clinical judgment. Off-label indications have not undergone the same FDA review process as the labeled uses listed above.
How to know it's legit
You can independently verify the FDA-approval status of Tesamorelin through these free, publicly available databases:
- DailyMed (dailymed.nlm.nih.gov) — Search for Egrifta to find the current FDA-approved labeling, including indications, dosing, warnings, and contraindications.
- Drugs@FDA (accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/) — Search to find the original approval letter, review documents, and approval history.
- FDA Orange Book (orangebook.fda.gov) — Search for therapeutic equivalence evaluations and patent/exclusivity information.
Common Questions
Tesamorelin (Egrifta) is FDA-approved specifically for reducing excess abdominal fat in HIV-infected patients with lipodystrophy. Some providers prescribe it off-label for other uses, but only the HIV-related indication has been formally reviewed and approved.
Tesamorelin stimulates your body to produce its own growth hormone naturally, rather than replacing it directly. This means your body's feedback systems stay in the loop, which may result in fewer side effects than synthetic growth hormone.
Tesamorelin has been shown to reduce visceral (belly) fat in clinical trials. However, it's not FDA-approved as a general weight loss drug. Talk to your doctor about whether it might be appropriate for your situation.
Want to learn more?
Explore how Tesamorelin compares to other options, or dive deeper into how FDA approval works.
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