Tesamorelin (Egrifta): Evidence and What Users Report
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Anonymous user report. Not medical advice. Peptides discussed are not FDA-approved for the uses described. Editorial process →
What is tesamorelin?
Tesamorelin is a growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analogue that prompts the pituitary to release growth hormone. In the US it is FDA-approved as Egrifta WR only to reduce excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Its label states it is not indicated for weight-loss management because it is weight-neutral. As of 11 November 2026 this hub lists 35 published reports. This is not a dosing recommendation.
What the research says
In two 26-week placebo-controlled trials in 816 adults with HIV lipodystrophy, visceral (deep belly) fat fell about 18% and 14% with tesamorelin, with little change in overall body weight. Long-term cardiovascular safety has not been established. Label warnings include raised IGF-1, fluid retention (swelling, joint pain, carpal tunnel symptoms), glucose intolerance or diabetes, and injection-site reactions. Evidence in people without HIV is limited.
Health Canada issued a Notice of Compliance for Egrifta in 2014 for excess visceral fat in treatment-experienced adults with HIV lipodystrophy. The Drug Product Database later listed both DINs as cancelled (post-market, 30 September 2022, and pre-market, 13 July 2023), and no tesamorelin product is currently marketed in Canada. Tesamorelin is named on the 2026 WADA Prohibited List under S2.2.4 (growth hormone-releasing factors) and is prohibited at all times in sport, including where a therapeutic product exists. Last reviewed: November 11, 2026.
What tesamorelin confessions describe
Writers often say the scale did not move while their waist shrank (#295), consistent with its effect on visceral fat. Others describe slow belly-fat change with unexpected skin effects (#211) or an improvement in anxiety they attribute to it (#356).
Negative accounts include whole-body tingling and vomiting in the first week (#380) and a hospital stay for very low blood sugar after combining it with ipamorelin (#746). These are anonymous accounts, not evidence. Related: tesamorelin side effects and tesamorelin results.
Anonymous tesamorelin reports
If you have used tesamorelin, prescribed or not, submit what happened.
Submit yoursCommunity Q&A
- Is tesamorelin FDA approved?
- Yes, as Egrifta WR, but only to reduce excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy. It is not approved as a general weight-loss drug.
- Is tesamorelin available in Canada?
- Health Canada authorized Egrifta in 2014 for a narrow HIV lipodystrophy indication. Both Drug Product Database DINs were later cancelled, and no tesamorelin product is currently marketed in Canada.
- Does tesamorelin cause weight loss?
- Not much overall: the US label calls it weight-neutral. In trials it reduced visceral belly fat by roughly 14% to 18% over 26 weeks.
- Is tesamorelin banned in sport?
- Yes. It is named under WADA S2.2.4 and is prohibited at all times, even though an approved therapeutic product exists in some countries.
- What are tesamorelin's main side effects?
- The label lists joint pain, swelling, injection-site reactions, muscle pain, raised IGF-1 and possible glucose intolerance or diabetes.
- How many tesamorelin reports are on this site?
- As of 11 November 2026, this hub lists 35 published reports. The heading count updates as new reports are published.
- Does this page give dosing or sourcing advice?
- No. This is not a dosing recommendation.
Sources
Anonymous first-hand reports plus sourced context — educational only, not medical advice. Editorial policy & corrections.