From the FDA Drug Label
Tesamorelin is a human growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) analog produced synthetically It is comprised of the 44 amino acid sequence of human GRF and a hexenoyl moiety, a C6 chain with a double bond at position 3, attached to the tyrosine residue at the N-terminal part of the molecule. Growth hormone-releasing factor (GHRF), also known as growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), is a hypothonic peptide that acts on the pituitary somatotroph cells to stimulate the synthesis and pulsatile release of endogenous growth hormone (GH), which is both anabolic and lipolytic
Tesamorelin is a human growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) analog. It stimulates growth hormone secretion, and subsequently increases IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels. Tesamorelin is comprised of the 44 amino acid sequence of human GRF and a hexenoyl moiety. It acts on the pituitary somatotroph cells to stimulate the synthesis and pulsatile release of endogenous growth hormone (GH), which is both anabolic and lipolytic 1
From the Research
Tesamorelin is a synthetic growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analog that should be used to reduce excess abdominal fat in HIV-infected patients with lipodystrophy, as it has been shown to decrease visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and improve body image parameters 2. The standard dosage of tesamorelin is 2 mg injected subcutaneously once daily, typically in the abdomen. Before starting treatment, patients should undergo baseline testing including glucose levels, as tesamorelin can affect glucose metabolism 3. The medication comes as a powder that must be reconstituted with sterile water for injection and used immediately after preparation. Common side effects include injection site reactions, joint pain, and mild swelling in extremities. Tesamorelin works by stimulating the pituitary gland to release growth hormone, which helps reduce visceral adipose tissue while preserving subcutaneous fat. Some key points to consider when using tesamorelin include:
- The presence of metabolic syndrome, triglyceride levels, and white race may impact the likelihood of response to tesamorelin 2
- Tesamorelin is not approved for weight loss in the general population or for bodybuilding purposes, and treatment should be discontinued if no clinical improvement is seen after 6 months
- Patients with active malignancy, intracranial hypertension, or diabetic retinopathy should avoid using this medication
- The reduction in VAT achieved with tesamorelin is maintained in the longer term in patients who continue to receive the medication, but discontinuation of therapy results in the reaccumulation of VAT 4, 5