Tesamorelin is administered as a once-daily subcutaneous injection into the abdomen. Learn dosing, injection steps, storage, and key safety notes.
Tesamorelin is administered as a once-daily subcutaneous injection, usually into the fat layer of the abdomen. In the United States it is sold only by prescription as Egrifta SV or Egrifta WR, and it is injected with a small needle rather than swallowed as a capsule, rubbed on as a gel, or delivered through an inhaler. The FDA approved it for a narrow purpose: reducing excess abdominal fat in adults living with HIV-associated lipodystrophy.
The Short Answer: One Shot Under the Skin Every Day
Every FDA-approved tesamorelin product is injected subcutaneously once every 24 hours. Online marketing language does not change that fact — the route is subcutaneous, the frequency is daily, and the dose comes from a prescription written by a clinician.
- Route: subcutaneous (into fatty tissue), not intramuscular and not intravenous.
- Site: the abdomen, at least two inches away from the navel. Rotate sites daily.
- Frequency: once every 24 hours.
- Timing: the same time each day. Many clinicians suggest the evening because natural growth hormone release peaks during sleep.
- Needle: a short, fine-gauge needle, usually supplied with the product.
Labeled strengths differ by product. Egrifta SV is dosed at 1.4 mg once daily, while earlier formulations were labeled at 2 mg once daily. Your own prescription and package insert always take priority over general summaries.
How to Inject Tesamorelin: Step by Step
- Wash your hands with soap and water and set out your supplies on a clean surface.
- Check the vial or device: confirm the drug name, strength, and expiration date.
- If your product requires mixing, add the supplied diluent slowly down the inside wall of the vial and swirl gently. Never shake it.
- Draw the prescribed dose, or prepare the device exactly as the instructions show.
- Choose a spot on your abdomen at least two inches from the navel. Avoid scarred, bruised, or tender skin.
- Clean the site with an alcohol swab and let it dry completely.
- Pinch a fold of skin, insert the needle at a 45- to 90-degree angle, inject slowly, then withdraw.
- Press gently with gauze if needed, but do not rub. Rotate sites each day and place used needles in a sharps container.
Never combine tesamorelin with another peptide or medication in the same syringe. If a dose or an injection looks wrong, call your pharmacist rather than guessing.
Capsules, Gels, and Pens: What Exists vs. What Is Sold Online
Searches for tesamorelin peptide capsules, tesamorelin gel, or a tesamorelin peptide pen usually lead to research-chemical websites instead of pharmacies. Those formats are not FDA-approved for human use, and a swallowed peptide would likely be broken down in the stomach before it could act.
| Format | Status in the US | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Subcutaneous injection (vial plus syringe) | FDA-approved (Egrifta SV, Egrifta WR) | Once-daily dosing; requires a prescription and clinician monitoring. |
| Oral capsule | Not approved | Sold as a "research chemical"; no proven absorption or human safety data. |
| Transdermal gel | Not approved | No FDA-reviewed tesamorelin gel exists; skin absorption is unproven. |
| Pen device | Not approved | A pen is only a delivery method; no FDA-approved tesamorelin pen is sold in the US. |
A pen is simply a way to deliver the same injectable drug, so "pen" does not make a product safer or more legitimate. Unapproved vials sold online are frequently mislabeled, underdosed, or contaminated because they are not made under the same quality rules as prescription medicines. Questions like how is bpc 157 made and how is somatropin made come up for the same reason: the manufacturing process determines whether a peptide is what its label claims.
Reconstitution, Storage, and Bacteriostatic Water
Egrifta SV is supplied as a powder that must be mixed with the diluent in the kit before injection and used within the time window printed in the instructions. Egrifta WR is a newer formulation designed so the product does not need refrigeration. Either way, keep vials out of direct light and never use a solution that is cloudy or contains particles.
People who handle peptides at home often ask how long is bac water good for once opened, because bacteriostatic water has a limited shelf life after the rubber stopper is first punctured. If you use it, write the puncture date on the vial and follow your pharmacist's guidance on when to replace it. Never freeze a product the label says to refrigerate.
How Often You Inject and What to Do About a Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember on the same day. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one and do not double up.
Consistency matters more than hitting an exact minute, so pairing the injection with a nightly routine helps. Results are not immediate — clinical trials measured changes over months, and tesamorelin is not a cure for lipodystrophy.
Side Effects and Safety Considerations
Reported side effects include injection-site redness or pain, joint pain, swelling in the hands and feet, muscle aches, and numbness or tingling. Some people develop carpal tunnel-like symptoms, and tesamorelin can raise IGF-1 levels and affect blood sugar.
Tesamorelin is not used during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and it is generally avoided in people with active cancer or certain pituitary conditions. Tell your clinician about every medication and supplement you take, including other peptides. People comparing growth-hormone options sometimes ask how effective is cjc 1295 and ipamorelin, but tesamorelin's approval is much narrower and tied to a specific diagnosis.
This article is general information and does not replace medical advice. Talk with a healthcare professional before starting, stopping, or changing any injection routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can tesamorelin be taken as a pill instead of an injection?
No FDA-approved oral tesamorelin exists in the United States. Capsules sold online are marketed as research chemicals, are not reviewed for safety or purity, and are unlikely to survive digestion in a way that produces the effects of the injected drug.
How often do you inject tesamorelin peptide?
Approved tesamorelin is injected subcutaneously once every 24 hours, ideally at the same time each day. Many clinicians recommend an evening injection because natural growth hormone release peaks during sleep. Your prescriber's instructions and the package insert control the exact dose and schedule.
Does tesamorelin come in a pen or a gel?
No FDA-approved tesamorelin pen or tesamorelin gel is sold in the US. Egrifta SV is a powder that is mixed with a supplied diluent, and Egrifta WR is a formulation designed to avoid refrigeration. Any pen, gel, or capsule advertised online is an unapproved product.
This page provides educational research information and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.