Tesamorelin vs Ipamorelin
How Tesamorelin and Ipamorelin differ on mechanism, dosing, and the strength of the evidence behind each.
How this is graded
Every compound below carries a REGEN research grade, from S (regulatory approval behind the use it is bought for) down to F (no clinical evidence). Ordering follows that grade rather than search volume, so the compound at the top is the one with the most evidence, not the one most often sold. Doses are those reported in published protocols and are not recommendations.
Tesamorelin
Tesamorelin is a stabilized growth hormone releasing hormone analog and one of the few peptides in this space with FDA approval (for HIV-associated lipodystrophy). It is notable for its strong effect on visceral adipose tissue, making it a target-of-choice for stubborn abdominal fat, and has shown cognitive benefits in older adults. Like other GHRH analogs it raises IGF-1, so monitoring is advised. It is more potent on visceral fat than CJC-1295 and is sometimes used as a standalone or stacked with Ipamorelin.
Ipamorelin
Ipamorelin is a selective growth hormone secretagogue that mimics ghrelin to trigger a clean pulse of growth hormone from the pituitary, without the cortisol, prolactin, or hunger spikes seen with older secretagogues like GHRP-6. Its selectivity makes it one of the most popular and well-tolerated GH peptides. It is typically paired with a GHRH like CJC-1295 to produce a larger, more physiological GH release. Common goals are recovery, sleep quality, and gradual improvements in body composition. Track IGF-1 to confirm response.
Evidence compared
| Tesamorelin | Ipamorelin | |
|---|---|---|
| Research grade | Sgrade | Cgrade |
| Reported dose | 1–2 mg | 200–300 mcg |
| Frequency | 1x daily | 1-3x daily |
| Half-life | ~25-40 min | ~2 hours |
| Routes | subcutaneous | subcutaneous |
| Tracked outcomes | Body Composition, Muscle Growth | Body Composition, Muscle Growth, Sleep Quality |
| Contraindications | active malignancy, pregnancy, pituitary disorder | active malignancy, pregnancy |
Which has more behind it
Tesamorelin carries the stronger evidence grade (S) against Ipamorelin at C, which means more of what is claimed for Tesamorelin has been tested in humans. Both entries link through to the full reference, where the trial list and citations for each claim are set out in full.
Full Tesamorelin reference · Full Ipamorelin reference
At a glance
| Compound | Grade | Reported dose | Half-life |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesamorelin | Sgrade | 1–2 mg · 1x daily | ~25-40 min |
| Ipamorelin | Cgrade | 200–300 mcg · 1-3x daily | ~2 hours |
Frequently asked questions
Tesamorelin or Ipamorelin, which has better evidence?
Tesamorelin carries the stronger evidence grade (S) against Ipamorelin at C, which means more of what is claimed for Tesamorelin has been tested in humans.
Can Tesamorelin and Ipamorelin be used together?
Tesamorelin and Ipamorelin are commonly paired in reported protocols. Combining compounds does not combine their evidence, each still carries its own grade.
What doses are reported for Tesamorelin?
Published protocols report 1–2 mg, 1x daily. This is what the literature describes, not a recommendation.
References
- Effects of tesamorelin on visceral fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy · Falutz J, et al. · 2007
- Falutz J, et al. Metabolic effects of a growth hormone-releasing factor in patients with HIV. New England Journal of Medicine. 2007;357(23):2359-2370. · Falutz J, Allas S, Blot K, Potvin D, Kotler D, Somero M, Berger D, Brown S, Richmond G, Fessel J, Turner R, Grinspoon S · 2007
- Visceral fat reduction with tesamorelin is associated with improved liver enzymes in HIV. · Fourman LT, Czerwonka N, Feldpausch MN et al. · 2017
- FDA prescribing information
- Falutz J, et al. Effects of tesamorelin (TH9507), a growth hormone-releasing factor analog, in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with excess abdominal fat. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2010;95(9):4291-4304. · Raappana A, Koivukangas J, Ebeling T, Pirilä T · 2010
- Predictors of Treatment Response to Tesamorelin, a Growth Hormone-Releasing Factor Analog, in HIV-Infected Patients with Excess Abdominal Fat. · Mangili A, Falutz J, Mamputu JC et al. · 2015
- [PDF] Egrifta, 1 mg/vial. - accessdata.fda.gov
- Stanley TL, et al. Effect of tesamorelin on visceral fat and liver fat in HIV-infected patients with abdominal fat accumulation. JAMA. 2014;312(4):380-389. · Stanley TL, Feldpausch MN, Oh J, Branch KL, Lee H, Torriani M, Grinspoon SK · 2014
- Effects of tesamorelin (TH9507), a growth hormone-releasing factor analog, in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with excess abdominal fat: a pooled analysis of two multicenter, double-blind placebo-controlled phase 3 trials with safety extension data. · Falutz J, Mamputu JC, Potvin D et al. · 2010
- [PDF] SUMMARY REVIEW - accessdata.fda.gov
- Makimura H, et al. Effects of tesamorelin on cardiometabolic risk factors in HIV-infected patients. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2011;96(9):2831-2838. · Newens KJ, Thompson AK, Jackson KG, Wright J, Williams CM · 2011
- Effects of tesamorelin on inflammatory markers in HIV patients with excess abdominal fat: relationship with visceral adipose reduction. · Stanley TL, Falutz J, Mamputu JC et al. · 2011
- Metabolic Effects of a Growth Hormone–Releasing Factor in Patients with HIV · Falutz J, Allas S, Blot K, Potvin D, Kotler D, Somero M, Berger D, Brown S, Richmond G, Fessel J, Turner R, Grinspoon S · 2007
- Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue · Raun K, et al. · 1998
- Prospective, randomized, controlled, proof-of-concept study of the Ghrelin mimetic ipamorelin for the management of postoperative ileus in bowel resection patients. · Beck DE, Sweeney WB, McCarter MD et al. · 2014
- Ipamorelin | C38H49N9O5 | CID 9831659 - PubChem - NIH
- Hansen BS, et al. The growth hormone secretagogue ipamorelin: pharmacological profile. Endocrinology. 1999;140(11):5552-5561. · Cowen ME, Miles BJ, Cahill DF, Giesler RB, Beck JR, Kattan MW · 1998
- Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of ipamorelin, a growth hormone releasing peptide, in human volunteers. · Gobburu JV, Agersø H, Jusko WJ et al. · 1999
- Johansen PB, et al. Ipamorelin, a new growth-hormone-releasing peptide, induces longitudinal bone growth in rats. Growth Hormone & IGF Research. 1999;9(2):106-113. · Johansen PB, Nowak J, Skjaerbaek C, Flyvbjerg A, Andreassen TT, Wilken M, Orskov H · 1999
- Determination of growth hormone releasing peptides metabolites in human urine after nasal administration of GHRP-1, GHRP-2, GHRP-6, Hexarelin, and Ipamorelin. · Semenistaya E, Zvereva I, Thomas A et al. · 2015
- Svensson J, et al. Effects of growth hormone secretagogues on bone. Endocrine. 2001;14(1):63-66. · Heffernan M, Summers RJ, Thorburn A, Ogru E, Gianello R, Jiang WJ, Ng FM · 2001
- A high-throughput LC-MS/MS screen for GHRP in equine and human urine, featuring peptide derivatization for improved chromatography. · Timms M, Hall N, Levina V et al. · 2014
- Efficacy of ipamorelin, a ghrelin mimetic, on gastric dysmotility in a ... · Greenwood-Van Meerveld B, Tyler K, Mohammadi E, Pietra C · 2012
- Beck DE, et al. Prospective, randomized, controlled, proof-of-concept study of the ghrelin mimetic ipamorelin for postoperative ileus. Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. 2008;12(7):1223-1231. · Akramiene D, Kondrotas A, Didziapetriene J, Kevelaitis E · 2007