Tesamorelin + ipamorelin, sold as "Tesa/Ipa," is a two-peptide blend that pairs a GHRH analog with a selective ghrelin-receptor agonist: two separate signals that both trigger growth-hormone release. Tesamorelin is a synthetic analog of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) with the strongest human evidence for reducing visceral fat — about 15% reductions in HIV-associated lipodystrophy trials (Falutz et al., NEJM 2007). Ipamorelin is a selective ghrelin receptor agonist that, in animal studies, raised GH without the cortisol or prolactin rises seen with older GHRPs (Raun et al., 1998). The case for combining the two classes rests on older work: GHRH given with the original hexapeptide GHRP released GH synergistically in healthy men (Bowers et al., JCEM 1990). No published trial has tested tesamorelin and ipamorelin together; the evidence comes from each peptide separately. The blend is most commonly sold as 10mg tesamorelin + 3mg ipamorelin in a single vial; some vendors list other splits, such as 13mg/3mg, so the label and COA show the actual ratio. This is not medical advice.
Research-context information only. Tesamorelin is the active ingredient in FDA-approved products for HIV-associated lipodystrophy; research-peptide and compounded forms are not FDA-approved and are sold for research purposes only. Protocols, doses, and reactions reported below come from clinical trials and community sources. This article reports what has been documented, not what should be done. Consult a licensed physician for personal medical decisions.
Tesamorelin vs Ipamorelin: How the Two Differ
The two peptides in a Tesa/Ipa vial reach the same end point, growth-hormone release from the pituitary, through different receptors. That difference is the whole reason they are sold together.
| Tesamorelin | Ipamorelin | |
|---|---|---|
| Class / mechanism | GHRH analog: stimulates synthesis and release of endogenous GH (Dhillon 2011) | Ghrelin-mimetic (GHRP-class) secretagogue: triggers a separate GH pulse |
| Receptor | GHRH receptor | GH secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a, the ghrelin receptor) |
| Half-life | Short: given once daily subcutaneously in the Phase III trials (Falutz 2007) | About 2 hours terminal half-life after IV infusion in healthy men (Gobburu 1999) |
| Research status | Active ingredient in an FDA-approved product for HIV-associated abdominal fat; research-peptide forms are not approved | No FDA approval; human data limited to early pharmacology studies |
| What it is studied for | Visceral fat: a 15.2% reduction over 26 weeks vs a 5.0% rise on placebo in an HIV lipodystrophy RCT (Falutz 2007); liver fat in a later RCT (Stanley 2014) | Selective GH release: in swine, no ACTH or cortisol rise even at doses far above its GH-releasing ED50 (Raun 1998) |
| How they are combined | The GHRH half of the pair | The GHRP half; GHRH + GHRP-class pairs released GH synergistically in a 1990 study of the original GHRP (Bowers 1990) |
The pairing logic is class-level. The synergy data come from GHRH and an earlier GHRP, not from tesamorelin and ipamorelin specifically, and no trial has studied the two peptides in one vial.
Tesamorelin / Ipamorelin Blend Dosing Table
Match your vial size below — reconstitution and dose math update automatically.
Vials are labeled "10/3" — 10 mg tesamorelin + 3 mg ipamorelin (13 mg total). Doses below are split at that same 10:3 ratio.
| Dose | Syringe units | mL volume | Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 mg + 150 mcg | 10 units | 0.1 mL | Daily PM SubQLower |
| 1 mg + 300 mcg | 20 units | 0.2 mL | Daily PM SubQ (5-on/2-off)Standard |
Math assumes U-100 insulin syringes (1 mL = 100 units). Verify your syringe matches before injecting. Round half-units to the nearest visible mark.
Quick Reference: Standard Protocol
| Parameter | Community-reported value |
|---|---|
| Total dose per injection | 1 mg tesamorelin + 300 mcg ipamorelin |
| Frequency | Once daily, evening before bed |
| Schedule | 5 days on / 2 days off |
| Cycle length | 8 weeks on / 8 weeks off |
| Route | Subcutaneous (abdomen rotation) |
| Vial | 10mg / 3mg blend, reconstituted in 2 mL BAC water |
| Units drawn per dose (as described in community protocols) | 20 units on a U-100 insulin syringe |
These values report how community protocols describe the blend, not a recommended schedule.
For reconstitution step-by-step, see the Tesamorelin Reconstitution Guide. For ipamorelin's safety profile as a standalone, see Ipamorelin Benefits.
Cycling Details
Community sources justify the 5-on/2-off weekly pattern and 8-on/8-off cycle structure by the pulsatile biology of the GH axis, arguing that continuous dosing downregulates both receptor systems; neither pattern has been clinically validated. Community-reported timelines describe gradual body composition shifts from week 3-4; the tesamorelin trials measured visceral fat at 26 weeks.
Goal timing described in community protocols:
- Fat loss focus — PM pre-bed dosing over an 8-week cycle; community protocols describe an optional second AM injection in weeks 4-8, splitting the total (0.5 mg tesa + 150 mcg ipa per dose)
- Recovery/anti-aging — PM only, 8-week cycles, 1mg/300mcg
- Body recomposition with resistance training — PM + post-workout on training days (split dose)
Routes of Administration
Subcutaneous is the standard. Community sources describe abdomen sites (avoiding the 2" navel radius) as the most consistent. Community protocols describe rotating injection sites daily. Community sources describe intramuscular injection as possible but not used, since the trials used SC.
Reconstitution Quick Reference
| Vial Size | BAC Water | Concentration | 1mg/300mcg Dose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10mg / 3mg blend | 2 mL | 5 mg/mL + 1.5 mg/mL | 20 units |
Community reconstitution protocols document the following dilution math: 10mg / 2mL = 5mg/mL = 5,000mcg/mL. For 1mg tesamorelin: 1,000 / 5,000 = 0.2 mL = 20 units. The ipamorelin at 3mg/2mL = 1.5mg/mL rides along at 300mcg per 20-unit dose — the same draw delivers both. Ratio is fixed by the vial — community sources note that protocols describing higher ipamorelin amounts add standalone ipamorelin separately.
Community protocols describe swirling gently (not shaking), followed by refrigeration at 2–8°C; vials are typically used within 28 days. For step-by-step reconstitution with photos, see the Tesamorelin Reconstitution Guide.
