Tesamorelin (Egrifta®): what to know about HIV-associated abdominal fat

Updated 2026-10-05 · Reviewed for accuracy by the EKO Labs team. Educational only; not medical advice.

Tesamorelin is a prescription medicine sold as Egrifta®. It is FDA-approvedFDA-approved the FDA reviewed the medicine's safety and effectiveness for a specific use. for one specific use: to reduce excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV who have lipodystrophyLipodystrophy an abnormal change in where the body stores fat. Tesamorelin is approved for a form linked to HIV., a change in how the body stores fat that can happen in people living with HIV.

How does it work?

Tesamorelin is a man-made version of growth hormone-releasing factor (GHRF), a hormone made in the brain. It signals the pituitary gland to release more of the body's own growth hormone, which in turn affects how the body handles fat stored deep in the belly.

What it is not for

Tesamorelin is not a weight-loss medicine. It is not approved for general weight loss, and its long-term effect on heart health has not been established. If you stop taking it, the abdominal fat may come back.

Who should not use it?

• People who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant
• People with a disorder of the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus, or who have had pituitary surgery or head radiation
• People with active cancer
• People allergic to tesamorelin or mannitol

Possible side effects

The most common side effects in clinical studies were joint pain, redness or itching where the injection is given, swelling in the legs or arms, and muscle pain. Tesamorelin can raise blood sugar, so your doctor may check your glucose. Tell your doctor right away about signs of an allergic reaction.

How is it taken?

It is an injection under the skin, given once a day. Your doctor explains how to use the medicine prescribed for you. EKO Labs does not publish dosing instructions.

Questions to ask your doctor

• Is my belly fat related to HIV lipodystrophy, or to something else?
• Do I need blood tests before or during treatment?
• How will tesamorelin fit with my HIV medicines?
• What should make me call you?

Source: FDA prescribing informationPrescribing information (label) the official FDA document for a medicine, with its uses, warnings and side effects. for Egrifta SV® (tesamorelin for injection). This guide is general information, not medical advice.