Reconstitute: Add 3.0 mL bacteriostatic water per 10 mg vial → ~3.33 mg/mL concentration.
Standard daily dose: 2 mg (2000 mcg) once daily subcutaneously (FDA-approved protocol).
Easy measuring: At 3.33 mg/mL, 1 unit = 0.01 mL ≈ 33.3 mcg on a U-100 insulin syringe.
Storage: Lyophilized & Reconstituted: refrigerate at 2–8 °C (35.6–46.4 °F)
Dosing & Reconstitution Guide
Educational guide for reconstitution and weekly dosing
Week/Phase | Daily Dose (MCG)(MG) | Units (per injection) (mL) |
Week 1 | 1 mg / 1000 mcg | 30 units (0.30 mL) |
Weeks 2–12+ | 2 mg / 2000 mcg | 60 units (0.60 mL) |
Frequency: Inject once daily subcutaneously, preferably in the evening to coincide with nocturnal GH release. The 2 mg daily dose is the standard FDA-approved regimen for HIV lipodystrophy. A one-week titration at 1 mg may improve tolerability before advancing to the full 2 mg dose.
Reconstitution Steps
Draw 3.0 mL bacteriostatic water with a sterile syringe.
Inject slowly down the vial wall; avoid foaming.
Gently swirl until dissolved (do not shake).
Label and refrigerate at 2–8 °C (35.6–46.4 °F), protected from light.
Important: This guide is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice.
Supplies Needed
Plan based on an 8–16 week daily protocol at the standard 2 mg dose (after Week 1 titration).
8 weeks ≈ 11 vials (105 mg total)
12 weeks ≈ 17 vials (161 mg total)
16 weeks ≈ 22 vials (217 mg total)
Per week: 7 syringes (1/day)
8 weeks: 56 syringes
12 weeks: 84 syringes
16 weeks: 112 syringes
Bacteriostatic Water: Use 3.0 mL per vial for reconstitution.
8 weeks (11 vials): 33 mL
12 weeks (17 vials): 51 mL
16 weeks (22 vials): 66 mL
Alcohol Swabs: One for the vial stopper + one for the injection site each day.
Per week: 14 swabs (2/day)
8 weeks: 112 swabs
12 weeks: 168 swabs
16 weeks: 224 swabs
Protocol Overview
Concise summary of the FDA-approved once-daily regimen.
Goal: Reduce visceral adipose tissue and improve lipid profiles through sustained GH/IGF-1 elevation.
Schedule: Daily subcutaneous injections for 12–26 weeks (extendable to 52 weeks with medical supervision).
Dose: 2 mg (2000 mcg) daily after Week 1 titration.
Reconstitution: 3.0 mL per 10 mg vial (~3.33 mg/mL) for accurate measurement.
Storage: Lyophilized refrigerated; reconstituted refrigerated; avoid freeze-thaw.
Dosing Protocol
FDA-approved daily dosing approach with tolerability titration.
Week 1: 1 mg (1000 mcg) once daily to assess tolerability.
Weeks 2+: 2 mg (2000 mcg) once daily (standard FDA-approved dose).
Frequency: Once per day (subcutaneous), preferably in the evening.
Cycle Length: 12–26 weeks; clinical trials support up to 52 weeks with monitoring.
Timing: Evening administration recommended; rotate injection sites.
Storage Instructions
Proper storage preserves peptide quality and efficacy.
Lyophilized: Store at 2–8 °C (35.6–46.4 °F); newer formulations (Egrifta SV) stable at 20–25 °C (68–77 °F) before reconstitution.
Reconstituted (with bacteriostatic water): Refrigerate at 2–8 °C (35.6–46.4 °F).
Reconstituted (with sterile water): Use immediately; discard any unused portion.
Do not freeze reconstituted solution; avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Important Notes
Practical considerations for consistency and safety.
Use new sterile insulin syringes for each injection; dispose in a sharps container.
Rotate injection sites (abdomen at least 2 inches from navel, thighs, upper arms) to reduce local irritation.
Inject slowly; wait a few seconds before withdrawing the needle.
Monitor IGF-1 levels periodically due to potent GH stimulation; observe blood glucose in diabetic patients.
Document daily dose and site rotation to maintain consistency.
How This Works
Tesamorelin mimics natural human GHRH by binding to pituitary GHRH receptors, triggering pulsatile growth hormone secretion and consequent IGF-1 elevation. This cascade promotes lipolysis (fat breakdown), protein synthesis, and favorable metabolic shifts. In HIV-associated lipodystrophy, daily tesamorelin significantly reduces visceral adipose tissue and improves lipid profiles over 6–12 months. Research also explores tesamorelin’s potential to reduce liver fat in NAFLD patients and enhance cognitive function in older adults by restoring age-related GH/IGF-1 declines.
Potential Benefits & Side Effects
Observations from clinical trials and FDA-approved use.
Potential Benefits:
Significant reduction in visceral adipose tissue (measurable after 3–6 months).
Improved lipid profiles and potential liver fat reduction in NAFLD.
Enhanced cognitive function in older adults (research ongoing).
Well-tolerated with maintained benefits during continuous use up to 52 weeks.
Common Side Effects:
Injection-site reactions: Mild redness, itching, pain, or bruising at injection area.
Musculoskeletal symptoms: Joint pain (arthralgia), muscle aches, peripheral edema (mild swelling).
Carpal tunnel symptoms: Occasional tingling or numbness in extremities (dose-dependent, reversible).
Metabolic monitoring: IGF-1 elevation requires monitoring; small increases in HbA1c observed in some patients.
Contraindications:
Active malignancies (tesamorelin may accelerate growth of latent tumors).
Pregnancy (may harm fetus).
Known hypersensitivity to tesamorelin or mannitol.
Lifestyle Factors
Complementary strategies for optimal outcomes.
Combine with a balanced, protein-forward diet to support GH/IGF-1 anabolic effects.
Integrate resistance training and aerobic activity to maximize fat loss and metabolic benefits.
Prioritize 7–9 hours of quality sleep to optimize natural GH pulsatility.
Manage stress through mindfulness or relaxation techniques to support adherence and recovery.
Injection Technique
Subcutaneous injection best practices from clinical guidelines.
Clean the vial stopper and skin with alcohol swabs; allow to air-dry completely.
Pinch a skinfold at the injection site (abdomen preferred, at least 2 inches from navel).
Insert the needle at 90° (if adequate subcutaneous fat) or 45° (if lean).
Release the pinch, then inject slowly; wait 2–3 seconds before withdrawing.
Rotate injection sites systematically (left/right abdomen, thighs, upper arms) to prevent lipohypertrophy.
Dispose of used syringes immediately in a puncture-proof sharps container.