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.
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.
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
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.
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.