Sermorelin vs tesamorelin
Two peptides that prompt your body to release more of its own growth hormone. How they compare, and what's actually known about them.
How they work
Both are growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analogs. Rather than supplying growth hormone directly, they signal your pituitary gland to release more of your own, in its natural rhythm.
That's the main reason people are interested in them: they work with the body's own system instead of replacing it.
Tesamorelin
Tesamorelin is the active ingredient in Egrifta, which the FDA approved to reduce excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy. That's a specific group of patients, and the studies behind the approval were done in that group.
People also ask about tesamorelin for belly fat and body composition more generally. Those uses are off-label, and the evidence outside the approved group is limited. It's usually taken as a daily injection.
Sermorelin
Sermorelin was once FDA-approved as a brand-name product and was later discontinued by its manufacturer. Today it's available only as a compounded medication, which is not FDA-approved.
It's commonly used for sleep, recovery and body composition, and is usually taken as a nightly injection. Research in healthy adults is limited, so it's best thought of as an option to discuss with a clinician rather than a proven fix.
Safety first
Growth-hormone-releasing peptides aren't appropriate for anyone with active cancer or who is pregnant, and they can affect blood sugar. Your clinician will go through your history and may ask for labs before prescribing.
We only offer peptides that are legal to compound today. Some peptides sold online, such as BPC-157 and TB-500, aren't, so we don't offer them.
Sources
This guide is general education, not medical advice. Whether a treatment is right for you is a decision for you and a licensed clinician. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved.