Dosage Protocols
FDA-approved dosing for HIV-associated lipodystrophy is 1.4 mg administered subcutaneously once daily. Note: each Egrifta SV vial contains 2 mg of powder, but only 0.35 mL of the 0.5 mL reconstituted solution (1.4 mg) is administered per dose. Non-approved dosing protocols vary based on individual goals and response characteristics.
Standard Protocol: 1–1.4 mg subcutaneously once daily, typically administered in the morning on an empty stomach or before bedtime. Most users begin at 1 mg to assess tolerance before increasing to 1.4 mg if warranted.
Conservative Protocol: 1 mg daily, which represents the lower bound tested in Phase II dose-ranging studies and still produces meaningful reductions in visceral adiposity.
Cycling Considerations: Although FDA-approved use involves continuous daily administration without cycling, some practitioners recommend cycling protocols such as 5 days on/2 days off or 8-12 weeks on followed by 4 weeks off. For more on structuring peptide cycles, see the peptide cycling guide. Cycling rationale includes preventing potential receptor desensitization and allowing the pituitary to maintain sensitivity to GHRH stimulation. However, clinical trial data supporting specific cycling protocols remains limited, and the pivotal trials demonstrating efficacy used continuous daily dosing.
Clinical trial treatment duration typically ranged from 26 to 52 weeks, with benefits maintained throughout treatment periods. Tesamorelin discontinuation typically results in gradual return of visceral fat accumulation, suggesting ongoing administration may be necessary to maintain results.