Tesamorelin Dosage Guide: Reconstitution, Injection Volumes, and Research Protocol

Tesamorelin is an FDA-approved synthetic GHRH analogue (Egrifta) approved for reducing excess abdominal fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy. It stimulates GH release and is studied for visceral fat reduction and GH axis support in non-HIV populations. This guide covers reconstitution and dosing.

What Vials Typically Come In

Pharmaceutical tesamorelin (Egrifta) comes as:

• 1 mg/vial single-use with 0.5 mL sterile water
• 2 mg/vial single-use

Research grade vials:

• 2 mg vials (most common)
• 5 mg vials

How to Reconstitute Tesamorelin

Standard reconstitution for a 2 mg vial:

1. Swab stopper with alcohol; allow to dry

2. Draw 1–2 mL bacteriostatic water

3. Inject water slowly down the inside vial wall

4. Swirl gently — do not shake

5. Allow 2–3 minutes for complete dissolution

6. Solution should be clear and colourless

Concentration examples:

• 2 mg + 1 mL BW → 2000 mcg/mL (2 mg/mL)
• 2 mg + 2 mL BW → 1000 mcg/mL (1 mg/mL)
• 5 mg + 2 mL BW → 2500 mcg/mL (2.5 mg/mL)

Standard Research Dosage Ranges

The clinical dose is 2 mg subcutaneous once daily; some researchers use 1 mg for GH stimulation with fewer visceral fat-specific goals.

Injection Volume Table

Using a 2000 mcg/mL solution (2 mg in 1 mL BW):

Using a 1000 mcg/mL solution (2 mg in 2 mL BW):

Use the Dose Calculator for exact injection volumes.

Frequency, Timing, and Cycle Length

• Timing: Once daily, consistently (morning or evening — bedtime may enhance GH pulse)
• Fasting: Inject on an empty stomach or at least 90 minutes post-meal for optimal GH stimulation
• Injection site: Subcutaneous to abdomen (rotate injection sites)
• Cycle length: 26 weeks in the FDA approval trial; research protocols typically 12–26 weeks

Storage

• Lyophilised vials: 2–8°C (do not freeze pharmaceutical grade)
• After reconstitution: 2–8°C; use within 21 days
• Pharmaceutical vials: Use immediately after reconstitution per label