Tesamorelin is a GHRH analogue with a trans-3-hexenoic acid modification that extends its half-life. It is FDA-approved for HIV-associated lipodystrophy at 2 mg/day and is the most clinically validated GHRH analogue.
FDA-Approved Dose vs Research Protocols
FDA-approved dose (Egrifta): 2 mg subcutaneously once daily. Off-label research protocols use 1–2 mg/day. The 2 mg dose is the most studied and produces consistent IGF-1 elevation of 100–150 ng/mL above baseline.
Injection Timing
Tesamorelin is most commonly administered in the evening, 30–60 minutes before sleep. Growth hormone secretion naturally peaks during slow-wave sleep, and evening dosing amplifies this pulse.
Tesamorelin vs Sermorelin: Key Difference
Tesamorelin's half-life is approximately 26 minutes vs ~10 minutes for sermorelin. The longer half-life produces a more sustained GH pulse and consistently higher IGF-1 elevation in clinical studies. Tesamorelin is the preferred GHRH analogue when consistent IGF-1 elevation is the primary endpoint.