Egrifta

Generic name:tesamorelin [ TES-a-moe-REL-in ]
Drug class:Growth hormones

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 22, 2022.

What is Egrifta?

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

Egrifta 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).

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

Warnings

Egrifta can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects. Do not use if you are pregnant. You should not use Egrifta if you are allergic to tesamorelin, or if you have a history of tumor or surgery of your pituitary gland, a history of head injury or radiation treatment.

Before using Egrifta, 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 using tesamorelin

You should not use Egrifta if you are allergic to tesamorelin, 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 Egrifta, 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. Egrifta can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects. Do not use Egrifta 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. Do not give Egrifta to a child without medical advice.

How Egrifta given?

Egrifta is injected under the skin. You may be shown how to use injections at home. Do not self inject Egrifta if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles and syringes.

Egrifta comes with injec...