Page last checked 2026-09-07

Growth hormone-releasing factor (GHRF) analog · safety

Tesamorelin side effects

Tesamorelin side effects: the source table reports 17% for injection site reactions in EGRIFTA 2 mg (1 mg/vial trial formulation) (n=543), compared with 6% in placebo (n=263). Read the source table.

Rarer, but worth being able to spot: increased risk of new or reactivated malignancy, elevated IGF-1 levels and fluid retention, and 3 more in the table below.

The sources describe these effects in relation to the dose and to the early weeks.

Also sold as Egrifta SV and Egrifta WR — one molecule, so these reactions apply to every brand of it.

Medically reviewed by Kenneth Montecillo, MD2026-09-07open the primary sources

Common reactions

The full list, with the frequency band the FDA label gives for each one. Where the source gives only a band, the table keeps that band instead of turning it into an exact rate.

For each exact reaction, the frequency cell keeps the treatment arm and treatment arm size beside the comparator arm and comparator arm size, followed by the source table coordinates.

◆ Common reactionslabel frequency

Reaction	Frequency
Injection site reactions	17%EGRIFTA 2 mg (1 mg/vial trial formulation) · n=543 · Placebo 6% (n=263) · Reported in ≥1% and more often than placebo (26 weeks)SPL 3d783378-b02d-4f19-99dd-0fc91a042224 · §6.1, Table 1 · fetched 2026-09-06 · HTTP 200
Arthralgia (joint pain)	13%EGRIFTA 2 mg (1 mg/vial trial formulation) · n=543 · Placebo 11% (n=263) · Reported in ≥1% and more often than placebo (26 weeks)SPL 3d783378-b02d-4f19-99dd-0fc91a042224 · §6.1, Table 1 · fetched 2026-09-06 · HTTP 200
Pain in extremity	6%EGRIFTA 2 mg (1 mg/vial trial formulation) · n=543 · Placebo 5% (n=263) · Reported in ≥1% and more often than placebo (26 weeks)SPL 3d783378-b02d-4f19-99dd-0fc91a042224 · §6.1, Table 1 · fetched 2026-09-06 · HTTP 200
Myalgia (muscle pain)	6%EGRIFTA 2 mg (1 mg/vial trial formulation) · n=543 · Placebo 2% (n=263) · Reported in ≥1% and more often than placebo (26 weeks)SPL 3d783378-b02d-4f19-99dd-0fc91a042224 · §6.1, Table 1 · fetched 2026-09-06 · HTTP 200
Peripheral edema	6%EGRIFTA 2 mg (1 mg/vial trial formulation) · n=543 · Placebo 2% (n=263) · Reported in ≥1% and more often than placebo (26 weeks)SPL 3d783378-b02d-4f19-99dd-0fc91a042224 · §6.1, Table 1 · fetched 2026-09-06 · HTTP 200
Paresthesia	5%EGRIFTA 2 mg (1 mg/vial trial formulation) · n=543 · Placebo 2% (n=263) · Reported in ≥1% and more often than placebo (26 weeks)SPL 3d783378-b02d-4f19-99dd-0fc91a042224 · §6.1, Table 1 · fetched 2026-09-06 · HTTP 200
Hypoesthesia (reduced sensation)	4%EGRIFTA 2 mg (1 mg/vial trial formulation) · n=543 · Placebo 2% (n=263) · Reported in ≥1% and more often than placebo (26 weeks)SPL 3d783378-b02d-4f19-99dd-0fc91a042224 · §6.1, Table 1 · fetched 2026-09-06 · HTTP 200
Rash	4%EGRIFTA 2 mg (1 mg/vial trial formulation) · n=543 · Placebo 2% (n=263) · Reported in ≥1% and more often than placebo (26 weeks)SPL 3d783378-b02d-4f19-99dd-0fc91a042224 · §6.1, Table 1 · fetched 2026-09-06 · HTTP 200
Dyspepsia (indigestion)	2%EGRIFTA 2 mg (1 mg/vial trial formulation) · n=543 · Placebo 1% (n=263) · Reported in ≥1% and more often than placebo (26 weeks)SPL 3d783378-b02d-4f19-99dd-0fc91a042224 · §6.1, Table 1 · fetched 2026-09-06 · HTTP 200
Musculoskeletal pain	2%EGRIFTA 2 mg (1 mg/vial trial formulation) · n=543 · Placebo 1% (n=263) · Reported in ≥1% and more often than placebo (26 weeks)SPL 3d783378-b02d-4f19-99dd-0fc91a042224 · §6.1, Table 1 · fetched 2026-09-06 · HTTP 200
Pain	2%EGRIFTA 2 mg (1 mg/vial trial formulation) · n=543 · Placebo 1% (n=263) · Reported in ≥1% and more often than placebo (26 weeks)SPL 3d783378-b02d-4f19-99dd-0fc91a042224 · §6.1, Table 1 · fetched 2026-09-06 · HTTP 200
Pruritus (itching)	2%EGRIFTA 2 mg (1 mg/vial trial formulation) · n=543 · Placebo 1% (n=263) · Reported in ≥1% and more often than placebo (26 weeks)SPL 3d783378-b02d-4f19-99dd-0fc91a042224 · §6.1, Table 1 · fetched 2026-09-06 · HTTP 200
Vomiting	3%EGRIFTA 2 mg (1 mg/vial trial formulation) · n=543 · Placebo 0% (n=263) · Reported in ≥1% and more often than placebo (26 weeks)SPL 3d783378-b02d-4f19-99dd-0fc91a042224 · §6.1, Table 1 · fetched 2026-09-06 · HTTP 200
Musculoskeletal stiffness	2%EGRIFTA 2 mg (1 mg/vial trial formulation) · n=543 · Placebo 0% (n=263) · Reported in ≥1% and more often than placebo (26 weeks)SPL 3d783378-b02d-4f19-99dd-0fc91a042224 · §6.1, Table 1 · fetched 2026-09-06 · HTTP 200
Blood creatine phosphokinase increased	1%EGRIFTA 2 mg (1 mg/vial trial formulation) · n=543 · Placebo 0% (n=263) · Reported in ≥1% and more often than placebo (26 weeks)SPL 3d783378-b02d-4f19-99dd-0fc91a042224 · §6.1, Table 1 · fetched 2026-09-06 · HTTP 200
Carpal tunnel syndrome	1%EGRIFTA 2 mg (1 mg/vial trial formulation) · n=543 · Placebo 0% (n=263) · Reported in ≥1% and more often than placebo (26 weeks)SPL 3d783378-b02d-4f19-99dd-0fc91a042224 · §6.1, Table 1 · fetched 2026-09-06 · HTTP 200
Joint swelling	1%EGRIFTA 2 mg (1 mg/vial trial formulation) · n=543 · Placebo 0% (n=263) · Reported in ≥1% and more often than placebo (26 weeks)SPL 3d783378-b02d-4f19-99dd-0fc91a042224 · §6.1, Table 1 · fetched 2026-09-06 · HTTP 200
Muscle strain	1%EGRIFTA 2 mg (1 mg/vial trial formulation) · n=543 · Placebo 0% (n=263) · Reported in ≥1% and more often than placebo (26 weeks)SPL 3d783378-b02d-4f19-99dd-0fc91a042224 · §6.1, Table 1 · fetched 2026-09-06 · HTTP 200
Night sweats	1%EGRIFTA 2 mg (1 mg/vial trial formulation) · n=543 · Placebo 0% (n=263) · Reported in ≥1% and more often than placebo (26 weeks)SPL 3d783378-b02d-4f19-99dd-0fc91a042224 · §6.1, Table 1 · fetched 2026-09-06 · HTTP 200
Palpitations	1%EGRIFTA 2 mg (1 mg/vial trial formulation) · n=543 · Placebo 0% (n=263) · Reported in ≥1% and more often than placebo (26 weeks)SPL 3d783378-b02d-4f19-99dd-0fc91a042224 · §6.1, Table 1 · fetched 2026-09-06 · HTTP 200

Serious reactions to watch for

These are rarer, and they are the ones clinicians monitor for. Seek medical care if you have symptoms.

◆ Serious — monitorwarning/precaution

Reaction	Frequency
Increased risk of new or reactivated malignancy	Labeled warning — contraindicated in active malignancy
Elevated IGF-1 levels	47% exceeded +2 SDS and 36% exceeded +3 SDS by 26 weeks — monitor
Fluid retention (edema, arthralgia, carpal tunnel syndrome)	Labeled warning — transient or resolves on discontinuation
Glucose intolerance or new-onset diabetes	HbA1c reached 6.5% or higher in 5% vs 1% on placebo by week 26 — monitor
Hypersensitivity reactions (pruritus, erythema, flushing, urticaria, rash)	4% in trials — discontinue and seek medical attention
Increased mortality in acute critical illness	Labeled warning — reported with pharmacologic growth hormone

FDA labelEvery reaction above comes from the product’s regulatory document. These are label facts, not personal advice.

When to seek medical care

Each one below is a serious reaction from the table above, written as the signs you would actually notice. Spotting them is the job of this section; working out what they mean is a clinician’s.

Severe hypersensitivity reaction

Urgent

Signs: Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, trouble breathing or swallowing, a rash or hives spreading fast, or suddenly feeling faint.

This is the one on the list that does not wait. Call emergency services immediately rather than a clinic.

EmergencySome symptoms should not wait for an appointment. Call emergency services (911 in the US) if they are severe, getting worse fast, or involve trouble breathing, chest pain, fainting or confusion.

Tesamorelin is a prescription copy of the hormone that prompts growth hormone release, sold as Egrifta. It is approved for one thing: reducing excess belly fat in adults with HIV-related lipodystrophy. It is bought off-label for visceral fat and for general anti-aging.

Its label is unusually blunt about the second use. It says the drug is not approved for weight loss, and describes the effect on body weight as neutral.

At a glance

Common reactions listed

Serious reactions listed

Boxed warning

None on label

Strongest source

FDA label

The counts show how many distinct reactions the FDA label names. The percentages show how often a reaction appeared in a study group, not the chance that it will happen to you.

2Read deeperTiming, evidence limits, and product context

When these effects tend to occur

The cited evidence describes these effects in relation to the dose and to the early period of taking it, rather than as a constant background throughout.

When a study reports how side effects changed over time, it describes the group as a whole. It cannot predict one person’s experience.

Egrifta SV and Egrifta WR side effects

Egrifta SV and Egrifta WR are brand names for tesamorelin. The frequency bands above describe the molecule. Percentages can still differ by brand because each label may be based on different trials, doses and groups of people.

Tesamorelin won FDA approval in 2010.

It sells in two forms, and their own labels state they are not substitutable. Egrifta SV holds 2 mg per vial and gives 1.4 mg once daily. Its label directs Sterile Water, and use right away.

Egrifta WR holds 11.6 mg per vial and gives 1.28 mg once daily. Its label directs Bacteriostatic Water, then discard 7 days after mixing. Dose, diluent, vial count and storage all differ.

A number read off one form does not describe the other.

Common questions

How long do tesamorelin side effects last, and do they go away?

The sources do not commit to a set number of days. What they describe is a pattern — reactions cluster after you start and after each increase, then ease while the dose is held steady. Any page quoting an exact number of days is quoting something the sources do not say.

What are the most common tesamorelin side effects?

Injection site reactions, arthralgia (joint pain), pain in extremity and myalgia (muscle pain) — the table above has the rest, each with its frequency band and source.

Does tesamorelin have a boxed warning?

No — its label carries none. That reflects what regulatory review has and has not covered, not a finding that serious risks were looked for and ruled out.

Can the tesamorelin dose be lowered if side effects are hard to tolerate?

That decision belongs to the prescribing clinician. The label sets a single dose rather than a ladder, so there is no step to hold at. Any change to it sits with the prescriber.

Does tesamorelin cause hair loss?

Hair loss is not among the reactions listed on this page for tesamorelin, because the FDA label cited here does not carry it. Anything missing from the tables is outside what can be sourced here rather than ruled out, and a symptom that worries you belongs with a clinician.

Is fatigue a listed tesamorelin side effect?

No — the FDA label cited here does not list it. That describes what was reported, not proof that the symptom cannot happen.

Is constipation a listed tesamorelin side effect?

Not separately. If a source groups stomach and gut events together, this page keeps that group intact. It does not invent named reactions the source never listed.

What should someone do about a serious tesamorelin reaction?

Contact a clinician promptly, and emergency services if symptoms are severe or getting worse quickly. The section above describes what those reactions actually look like, so they can be spotted early rather than explained away.

Do the frequencies on this page mean the chance it happens to one person?

No. These figures describe groups in a study. A band shows how often a reaction appeared under that trial’s conditions. It cannot predict what will happen to one person.

The schedule these reactions were recorded against, the comparisons, and the sourcing rules behind every grade on this page.

Tesamorelin — class, half-life and regulatory standing

Brand names include Egrifta SV and Egrifta WR; each contains the same active ingredient.

Where tesamorelin stands in tesamorelin vs sermorelin

Dosing, source strength, half-life and reactions for tesamorelin vs sermorelin, cited row by row past tesamorelin.

The tesamorelin half of tesamorelin vs cjc-1295

Each page in tesamorelin vs cjc-1295 on its own terms, rather than folded into tesamorelin.

Tesamorelin concentration in the tesamorelin reconstitution calculator

The concentration in mg/mL for every tesamorelin vial and water pairing, printed in full.

Tesamorelin abdominal-fat results, study by study

Each percentage keeps its study, comparator, visit and population attached.

Mixing tesamorelin with something else

Alcohol is a common question, but the published studies did not evaluate it, including tesamorelin

Browse the EGRIFTA 1 mg/vial trial-formulation analysis behind tesamorelin

The complete EGRIFTA trial-formulation finding for tesamorelin remains on its dedicated page.

Check the same draw on a vial that is not tesamorelin

Any vial at all, tesamorelin among them, with the arithmetic shown rather than hidden.

Download the incidence table

Take the exact treatment and comparison-arm percentages above, with both denominators and the fetched source coordinates kept on every row. Frequency bands elsewhere on this page are not converted into point estimates and do not enter this file.

How to cite this table

HealthspanLedger. EGRIFTA 2 mg (1 mg/vial trial-formulation) table adverse-reaction incidence. Edition 2026.09 (version 2796588441d8). Derived from EGRIFTA SV (tesamorelin) for injection — FDA-approved Prescribing Information (DailyMed SPL), retrieved 2026-09-06. Licensed CC BY 4.0. https://healthspanledger.com/compounds/tesamorelin/side-effects

Analysis by HealthspanLedger · edition 2026.09 · version 2796588441d8 · retrieved 2026-09-06

The label states no open-data license; its wording remains the publisher’s work.. Their wording and images are not included in our license. This table — how we select, join, label and bound the facts — is ours, and it is published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). Reuse it, including commercially, and credit HealthspanLedger with a link to this page.

2primary sources, each with the day we read it — open the documents used on this page

EGRIFTA SV (tesamorelin) for injection — FDA-approved Prescribing Information (DailyMed SPL)retrieved 2026-09-06FDA label
EGRIFTA WR (tesamorelin) for injection — FDA-approved Prescribing Information (DailyMed SPL)retrieved 2026-09-19FDA label