Tesamorelin

Generic name: tesamorelin [ TES-a-moe-REL-in ]
Brand names: Egrifta, Egrifta SV
Dosage form: subcutaneous powder for injection (1 mg; 2 mg)
Drug class:Growth hormones

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Feb 22, 2022. Written by Cerner Multum.

What is tesamorelin?

Tesamorelin is made with growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF).

Tesamorelin is used to reduce excess fat around the stomach that is caused by taking certain HIV medications. This condition is also called lipodystrophy (LYE-poe-DIS-troe-fee).

Tesamorelin is not a weight-loss medication and should not be used to treat obesity.

Warnings

Tesamorelin can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects. Do not use if you are pregnant.

You should not use tesamorelin if you are allergic to it, or if you have a history of tumor or surgery of your pituitary gland, a history of head injury or radiation treatment,

Before using tesamorelin, tell your doctor if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, diabetes, epilepsy, asthma, migraines, an adrenal gland disorder, or if you have ever had cancer, any type of tumor, or open heart surgery.

Also tell your doctor about any major illness or recent trauma or medical emergency.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use tesamorelin if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

• cancer;

• a pituitary gland disorder;

• a history of pituitary gland tumor or surgery;

• a history of head injury or radiation treatment; or

• if you are pregnant.

To make sure you can safely take tesamorelin, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• a history of cancer or any tumor (either benign or malignant);

• heart disease, high blood pressure;

• kidney disease;

• diabetes, eye problems caused by diabetes;

• epilepsy

• asthma;

• migraine headaches;

• adrenal gland disorder;

• if you have ever had open heart surgery; or

• if you have any major illness, or a recent trauma or medical emergency.

FDA pregnancy category X. This medication can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects. Do not use tesamorelin if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant during treatment.

Women with HIV or AIDS should not breast feed a baby. Even if your baby is born without HIV, the virus may be passed to the baby in your breast milk.

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