Tesamorelin
TESA · 10 mg · daily, 5 on / 2 off
SCIENCE • STRENGTH • LONGEVITY
Before you draw anything. Every figure in this document assumes a 10 mg vial reconstituted with 2.0 mL of bacteriostatic water. Change either number and every unit measurement here changes with it. Confirm the milligram strength printed on your vial first.
Tesamorelin is a growth hormone-releasing hormone analog. It signals the pituitary to release more of your own growth hormone in its natural pulsatile rhythm rather than supplying growth hormone directly. It is the only GHRH analog with FDA approval — sold as Egrifta for HIV-associated lipodystrophy — which puts it on different footing from most research compounds.
RECONSTITUTION
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Vial | 10 mg |
| Bacteriostatic water | 2.0 mL |
| Concentration | 5 mg/mL (5,000 mcg/mL) |
| Conversion | 40 units = 2 mg · 20 units = 1 mg · 1 unit = 50 mcg |
| Route | Subcutaneous, abdomen |
| Timing | Once daily, consistent time |
| Reconstituted storage | 2–8 °C. Do not freeze. |
| Lyophilized storage | −20 °C, 12+ months |
- Let the vial and the bacteriostatic water reach room temperature.
- Swab both stoppers with alcohol and let them dry.
- Draw the planned volume of bacteriostatic water into a sterile syringe.
- Aim the stream at the inside wall of the glass, never directly at the powder.
- Roll gently for 30 to 60 seconds until fully dissolved. Never shake — shaking damages the peptide.
- Confirm the solution is clear before use.
- Label with product, concentration, and date, then refrigerate.
DOSING SCHEDULE
| Phase | Amount | Units | Frequency | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 2 mg | 40 | Daily, 5 on / 2 off | Full cycle |
| Egrifta SV equivalent | 1.4 mg | 28 | Daily | Label dose reference |
| Egrifta WR equivalent | 1.28 mg | ~26 | Daily | Label dose reference |
No titration. Unlike the metabolic compounds, tesamorelin is run at full dose from day one. The clinical protocol has no ramp-up phase. If a lower starting point is preferred for tolerance, the Egrifta label doses above are the reference points rather than an arbitrary fraction.
Cycling
| Element | Pattern | Reason | Vials needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 5 days on, 2 days off | Preserves pituitary sensitivity | — |
| Cycle | 3 months on | Standard active period | ~13 per month |
| Break | 1–2 months off | Reverses receptor downregulation | — |
Continuous uninterrupted GHRH stimulation downregulates the receptor. The pituitary cells that respond to tesamorelin become progressively less sensitive if the signal never stops, which is why the weekly two-day gap and the between-cycle break both exist. Running straight through produces diminishing returns rather than better ones.
Notes
- A 10 mg vial covers 5 daily doses at 2 mg. Plan vial count against injection count — at 5 days per week this is roughly one vial per week.
- Abdomen only, rotating sites daily. Stay at least two inches from the navel.
- Inject slowly and pause briefly before withdrawing the needle to reduce leakage.
- Skip a missed dose and resume on the next scheduled day. Do not double up.
- Never combine with exogenous growth hormone. Choose one or the other.
CAUTIONS
- Active malignancy. Growth hormone and IGF-1 elevation are contraindicated where a proliferative process is present. This is the primary contraindication for any GH secretagogue.
- Diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance. GH elevation reduces insulin sensitivity and can raise fasting glucose.
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Known hypersensitivity to tesamorelin or mannitol.
- Prohibited by WADA and will test positive.
Monitoring
IGF-1 is the marker that reflects what this compound is actually doing, and it is worth a baseline reading plus a follow-up after the first cycle. HbA1c and fasting glucose matter because GH elevation works against insulin sensitivity. Fluid retention, joint aching, and carpal-tunnel-type symptoms are the usual early signals of running too high.
Supplies
- U-100 insulin syringes, 0.3 mL / 30-unit. Half-unit gradations matter at these draw volumes.
- Bacteriostatic water, 10 mL bottle.
- Alcohol prep pads and a sharps container.
- Roughly one 10 mg vial per week at the standard schedule.
Record keeping
Log the date, units drawn, and site for every injection, alongside any symptoms. This catches gradual dose drift, and if something does go wrong it identifies exactly which step it started on.