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Educational comparison - not medical advice. This page compares two compounds for informational purposes. Neither is recommended as treatment. Any protocol decision is a conversation with your licensed healthcare provider.
Home/Peptides/HGH vs Tesamorelin
HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPARISON

HGH vs Tesamorelin

Users researching the trade-off between direct hormone replacement and axis-stimulating peptides.

OPTION A
HGH
Human Growth Hormone (Somatropin)
Exogenous recombinant GH - the direct-injection option vs the pulsatile secretagogue approach.
Full profile →
OPTION B
Tesamorelin
Tesamorelin (Egrifta)
FDA-approved GHRH analog with the strongest IGF-1 response of any peptide in its class.
Full profile →
THE CORE DIFFERENCE

HGH (somatropin) is direct exogenous recombinant growth hormone - bypasses the pituitary entirely. Tesamorelin stimulates the pituitary to release endogenous GH. HGH produces larger and more predictable IGF-1 elevation but suppresses the natural axis, carries higher insulin-resistance risk, and has a greyer legal status. Tesamorelin preserves pulsatility and the body's feedback loops. Most optimization users prefer tesamorelin unless specifically indicated.

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Each protocol guide pairs the relevant compounds with the supplement stack that supports them and the biomarkers that show whether it’s working.
FEATURE COMPARISON
HGH
Tesamorelin
Full name
Human Growth Hormone (Somatropin)
Tesamorelin (Egrifta)
Category
Growth
Growth
FDA status
FDA-approved for specific pediatric and adult GH-deficiency indications. Off-label use is legally grey.
FDA-approved as Egrifta for HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Widely used off-label.
Half-life
~2–3 hours
~26 minutes
Typical dosing
1–4 IU daily (0.33–1.33 mg); optimization dosing typically 1–2 IU
1–2 mg nightly, subcutaneous, on an empty stomach
Route
Subcutaneous
Subcutaneous (abdominal)
Classification
Recombinant 191-amino-acid protein identical to endogenous hGH
Synthetic GHRH (growth hormone releasing hormone) analog
BIOMARKERS COMMONLY TRACKED
On HGH
  • • IGF-1
  • • IGFBP-3
  • • Fasting glucose
  • • Fasting insulin
  • • HbA1c
  • • Thyroid panel
  • • Hematocrit
On Tesamorelin
  • • IGF-1 (primary)
  • • IGFBP-3
  • • Fasting glucose
  • • HbA1c
  • • Fasting insulin
CALCULATOR
HGH reconstitution →
CALCULATOR
Tesamorelin reconstitution →
CONDITIONS USERS RESEARCH THESE FOR
Informational only - neither compound is presented as a treatment for any condition. These are contexts in which users research these compounds and discuss them with their licensed provider.
RECOVERY
Poor Sleep Quality
Chronic insufficient or fragmented sleep - upstream of most metabolic, hormonal, and cognitive markers.
METABOLIC
Elevated Visceral Fat
The metabolically-active abdominal fat linked to cardiovascular + insulin-resistance risk. Hard to see; visible in labs.
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Informational comparison only - not medical advice. Research-stage compounds discussed are not FDA-approved unless specifically noted. Any protocol decision should be made with a licensed healthcare provider.