Thoughts on tesa?

[amylynntaulbee]

Is Tesa worth the cost? Usually I’ll get a couple vials of something and try it out, before committing to a kit, but it seems like Tesa takes a while to get results. Is it worth getting kit?

 

[Delta]

What are your goals? If its visceral fat loose Tesa works well for that, but so does Triz and Reta. If its for lean muscle Tesa also does that. Ipa & CJC also works for lean muscle and are cheaper to run. Does running Ipa & CJC work better that Tesa, not really sure. I have been running all three for about a month now and have notice some gains from them. I torn my right rotator cuff in 2 locations early this year, had to stop lifting for rehab, and lost some muscle mass during the process. Decided to run all three once I was cleared to start lifting again do help out.

 

[GLP1Pharmacist]

IMHO side effects Tesa make the GLP1s the clear choice imho

 

[AndyPanda]

Just get HGH. 😂 SO MANY of these peptides are ineffective and only claim to do what HGH does. Even the rare ones that do work only do what you can accomplish with HGH that will give you additional benefits.

 

[GLP1Pharmacist]

HGH is even worst, like your internal organs growing

 

[AndyPanda]

HGH is even worst, like your internal organs growing

If you are taking ridiculously high doses, it might. If you are outside of your 30s and taking 2-3iu it isn’t going to be any worse than taking a growth hormone releasing hormone.

 

[Calm Logic]

One way to check if HGH dose is too high, besides IGF-1, is to check the ratio of IGF-1 to IGFBP-3:

IGFBP-3: Growth Marker for Peptide Safety & Cancer Risk

Discover why IGFBP-3 testing is crucial for peptide therapy safety and cancer risk assessment. Expert insights from Internal Healing & Wellness MD.

internalhealingandwellnessmd.com

More people would do it if IGFBP-3 was cheaper to test for. At Fitomics, it's $50 something compared to $13 for IGF-1.

 

[Calm Logic]

Glowing praise for tesa:

https://thinksteroids.com/community/threads/loving-my-first-go-at-tesamorelin.134430817/post-3528916

OTOH there, like @AndyPanda was saying:

"Other GH like effects, better skin, nails, etc, are present but less pronounced and slower to come on than GH"

Ipa & CJC also works for lean muscle and are cheaper to run.

Definitely. HGH is also cheaper than tesa.

 

[G Vice]

I've been really enjoying muscle building effects of tesa & ipa, while on maintenance reta leaning me out even more. I've got decent amount of stock on hand, but might just move on to hgh 2 iu at some point, after recent rabbit-holing on the subject. And of course, keeping up with regular labs from Fitomics.

 

[PackmanJohnny]

I'm about to start my Reta journey - is stacking it with Tesa going to be effective? if both target VAT deposits(Which I'm becoming more concerned about into my 30's) is there any receptor overlap? Not seeing a lot of data on combining the two together but Im kinda wishing I had snagged some when I ordered the other stuff.

 

[Calm Logic]

Overpriced vials at some random reseller using jotform, but a good stack:



Since I'm cheap, I would get CJC instead of tesa or just use HGH.

 

[PackmanJohnny]

Since I'm cheap, I would get CJC instead of tesa or just use HGH.

So the way Im reading it - Tesa Specifically targets VAT vs HGH just reducing overall BF. CJC doesnt seem to be as strong as either in the fat burning dept.

Is there any reason you'd prefer the CJC? or strictly for price.

 

[Calm Logic]

From what I read, CJC would help more with recovery and sleep, compared to tesa. My Achilles heel is literally my Achilles heel, haha.

Regarding fat burning, a generated table for comparison, including Anavar (the winner) and TRT as well as ipa, CJC, tesa, and HGH:

Feature	Ipamorelin (Ipa)	CJC-1295 (often with Ipamorelin)	Tesamorelin (Tesa)	Human Growth Hormone (HGH)	Anavar (Oxandrolone)	Testosterone Cypionate (Test-C)
Type of Substance	Growth Hormone Secretagogue Peptide	GHRH Analog Peptide (longer acting)	GHRH Analog Peptide (highly targeted)	Recombinant Human Growth Hormone (exogenous)	Oral Anabolic Androgenic Steroid (AAS)	Injectable Anabolic Androgenic Steroid (AAS)
Mechanism of Action for Fat Loss	Stimulates natural GH release in pulsatile manner, leading to increased lipolysis and metabolism.	Stimulates sustained natural GH release, leading to increased lipolysis and metabolism.	Stimulates natural GH release, uniquely targeting and reducing visceral adipose tissue (VAT).	Direct lipolytic effects; increases metabolism; in deficient individuals, restores fat metabolism.	Directly promotes lipolysis; preserves/builds lean muscle mass, increasing metabolic rate.	Promotes lean muscle mass, increasing metabolic rate; may directly influence fat cell metabolism; plays a role in overall body composition.
Primary Fat Target	General fat loss (subcutaneous and visceral)	General fat loss (subcutaneous and visceral)	Specifically Visceral Adipose Tissue (VAT)	General fat loss (subcutaneous and visceral), especially in deficient states.	General fat loss (subcutaneous and visceral), with notable effects on abdominal fat.	General fat loss (subcutaneous and visceral), particularly in individuals with low testosterone.
Fat Burning Efficacy (General)	Moderate (as part of overall body recomposition)	Moderate to Good (as part of overall body recomposition)	High for VAT; less pronounced for overall subcutaneous fat.	Moderate to High in GH-deficient individuals; Modest in healthy individuals.	High (especially for preserving muscle during caloric deficit).	Moderate to High (especially in hypogonadal men, contributes to better body composition).
Targeted Fat Reduction	Indirect via GH increase	Indirect via sustained GH increase	Highly targeted to VAT	General, but can reduce VAT in deficient states.	General, with strong effects on body recomposition.	General, helps optimize body composition.
Muscle Preservation/Gain	Yes, by increasing GH and IGF-1	Yes, by increasing GH and IGF-1	Yes, due to increased GH and IGF-1	Yes, promotes muscle growth and preservation, especially in deficient states.	Significant, known for preserving lean mass during cutting.	Significant, primary role is muscle growth and strength.
Typical Use Context	Anti-aging, general wellness, body recomposition	Anti-aging, general wellness, body recomposition, recovery	HIV-associated lipodystrophy (FDA-approved), some off-label for VAT.	GH deficiency treatment; some off-label in sports (controversial).	Medical: muscle wasting conditions; Illicit: bodybuilding (cutting).	Medical: Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) for hypogonadism; Illicit: bodybuilding.
Legal Status (USA)	Prescription peptide (generally)	Prescription peptide (generally)	Prescription drug (FDA-approved)	Prescription drug (Controlled substance for non-medical use)	Prescription drug (Controlled substance)	Prescription drug (Controlled substance)
Potential Side Effects	Mild (e.g., injection site reactions, transient flushing)	Mild (e.g., injection site reactions, transient flushing)	Mild (e.g., injection site reactions, headache, joint pain)	Swelling, joint pain, carpal tunnel, insulin resistance, acromegaly (with abuse).	Liver toxicity, cholesterol changes, virilization in females, hair loss, acne.	Estrogen-related (gynecomastia, water retention), acne, hair loss, prostate issues, cardiovascular risks.

Summary of Fat Burning Strengths:
* Anavar: Generally considered the most direct and potent for overall fat loss and body recomposition among these compounds, especially for cutting cycles, due to its ability to preserve muscle while stripping fat.
* Tesamorelin: Uniquely effective and targeted for visceral fat reduction, particularly its FDA-approved use in HIV-related lipodystrophy.
* HGH: Highly effective for fat loss in GH-deficient individuals. Its efficacy for significant fat loss in otherwise healthy individuals is more modest and controversial.
* Testosterone Cypionate: Contributes to fat loss primarily by increasing lean muscle mass and improving overall body composition, especially in men with low testosterone.
* Ipamorelin & CJC-1295: These GH-releasing peptides promote fat loss indirectly by naturally increasing GH and IGF-1 levels, contributing to improved metabolism and body composition over time. They are generally milder than direct HGH or steroids.

Comparing recovery, with nothing supposedly beating TB and BPC, and HGH the next best:

Substance	Recovery Focus	Healing Power	Legal Status (USA)
Ipamorelin (Ipa)	GH-mediated tissue repair, sleep	Good	Prescription Peptide
CJC-1295 (w/Ipa)	Sustained GH/IGF-1 for repair, sleep	Very Good	Prescription Peptide
Tesamorelin (Tesa)	Indirect GH for general tissue health (VAT focus)	Moderate	Prescription Drug
Human Growth Hormone (HGH)	Direct tissue regen., collagen, inflammation	Excellent	Controlled Drug
Anavar	Muscle preservation/repair, anabolic	Good	Controlled Drug
Testosterone Cypionate	Muscle growth/repair, anti-catabolic	Very Good	Controlled Drug
BPC-157	Targeted tissue/GI/nerve healing, anti-inflam.	Exceptional	Unapproved Drug
TB-500	Broad tissue repair (muscle, tendon, skin), flexibility	Exceptional	Unapproved Drug
GHK-Cu	Skin/wound healing, anti-inflam., collagen	Good	OTC/Unapproved Inj.

 

[Calm Logic]

Also, as @AndyPanda once said, just use clen instead of tesa teso.

Gemini says clen can burn more fat than anything else mentioned in this thread, and it gave this study, which used double the dose I normally take :

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31887249/

Before and 140 min after ingestion of 80 μg clenbuterol, resting metabolic rate and contractile function of the quadriceps muscle were measured, and blood samples as well as vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were collected. Clenbuterol increased resting energy expenditure by 21% (P < 0.001), and fat oxidation by 39% (P = 0.006), whereas carbohydrate oxidation was unchanged.

I'm on a clen cycle now, but it's hard to know what tirz vs. clen is doing. After reading the article on clen at Meso, I also bought albuterol tablets since they are less potentially risky.

 

[AndyPanda]

Also, as @AndyPanda once said, just use clen instead of tesa.

Gemini says clen can burn more fat than anything else mentioned in this thread, and it gave this reference:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31887249/


I'm on a clen cycle now, but it's hard to know what tirz vs clen is doing.

I believe that was in reference to tesofensine. But, Clenbuterol is definitely an awesome tool. As far as the GHRHs like Tesamorelin, Sermorelin, CJC-1295, Ipamorelin, I just recommend people commit and use HGH. Possible side effects are the same but they only provide a fraction of the benefits, if any at all. I understand the programming that causes people to resist the idea of HGH and some proven AAS’ (ones that have legit human medical uses) but if people do their research and start conservatively they can absolutely improve their physical and mental health.

 

[kris10karma]

I believe that was in reference to tesofensine. But, Clenbuterol is definitely an awesome tool. As far as the GHRHs like Tesamorelin, Sermorelin, CJC-1295, Ipamorelin, I just recommend people commit and use HGH. Possible side effects are the same but they only provide a fraction of the benefits, if any at all. I understand the programming that causes people to resist the idea of HGH and some proven AAS’ (ones that have legit human medical uses) but if people do their research and start conservatively they can absolutely improve their physical and mental health.

Thats kinda where Im at. I need to rabbit hole it all.

 

[Calm Logic]

but they only provide a fraction of the benefits, if any at all.

A similar thing easy to forget in the peptide hype is that it takes longer with peptides, compared to traditional taboo pharma like stimulants and AAS.

Teso would fall under traditional pharma too, compared to the peptide tesa, which has a longer timeline:

Clinical trials [of tesamorelin] typically show significant reductions in visceral fat after 26 weeks (about 6 months) of daily treatment.

Substance(s)	Time to Start Noticing Fat Changes	Primary Reason for Length / Fat Burning Mechanism
Clenbuterol (Clen)	As early as 1-2 weeks, more significant at 2-4 weeks	Potent thermogenic; directly increases calorie expenditure and fat breakdown.
Phentermine	Within 1-4 weeks (primarily via appetite suppression)	Appetite suppressant (sympathomimetic); reduces caloric intake.
Anavar (Oxandrolone)	Within 2-4 weeks (indirect via muscle preservation)	Indirect fat loss by preserving/building lean muscle, raising metabolic rate.
Modafinil	Variable; appetite changes in 1-2 weeks for some, but fat loss is secondary	Wakefulness-promoting agent; can indirectly aid fat loss by suppressing appetite or increasing physical activity.
Tesofensine	Appetite changes in 2 weeks; noticeable weight loss in 1-3 months	Appetite suppression, increased resting energy expenditure, increased fat oxidation.
Ipamorelin, CJC-1295, Tesamorelin	Body composition changes in 4-8 weeks; optimal effects longer	Stimulate natural GH release, leading to lipolysis. Tesamorelin specifically targets visceral fat.
HGH (Human Growth Hormone)	Subtle changes in 1-2 months; significant in 3-6 months	Promotes lipolysis (fat breakdown). Effects are gradual and cumulative.
Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT)	Noticeable changes in 2-3 months; significant over 6-12 months	Normalizes testosterone levels, leading to increased muscle and reduced body fat (systemic improvement).

 

[PackmanJohnny]

A similar thing easy to forget in the peptide hype is that it takes longer with peptides, compared to traditional taboo pharma like stimulants and AAS.

Teso would fall under traditional pharma too, compared to the peptide tesa:

I loved everything else about GH, but It made me fuckin drop, and I already dont sleep enough and thats not changing soon enough for me to take GH again.

also - if Tesa has some mechanism that specifically targets VAT the way it does, GH itself doesnt neccesarily do that. if I have a reta or some clen or whatver mix for overall fat loss, I think Id rather add something specifically to target VAT vs more overall fat loss.

 

[Calm Logic]

Everyone here who took tesa was on GLPs, all of which burn visceral fat, so it's hard to know anything by anecdotal evidence. And the clinical trials for tesa were for a specific population.

@exploitedworkerbee exploited tesa before and said it seemed to help, but it was not in the holy trinity of reta, HGH, and BPC.

 

[exploitedworkerbee]

Everyone here who took tesa was on GLPs, all of which burn visceral fat, so it's hard to know anything by anecdotal evidence. And the clinical trials for tesa were for a specific population.

@exploitedworkerbee exploited tesa before, but it was not in the holy trinity of reta, HGH, and BPC.

tesa was worthwhile for sure, but it made my CTS bad so I had to stop it. by the time I had a CT release I had done enough research to conclude that gh is a better choice for me anyway, so I never tried the tesa again post-surgery. i do think the tesa was effective for trimming down the midsection a bit, though.

 

[Calm Logic]

Of the GLPs, reta is expected to burn the most visceral fat (and lower cholesterol and triglycerides the most), followed by the dual agonists targeting glucagon (survo, madz), the GIP-targeting tirz, and then sema:

Medication (Brand Names)	Mechanism of Action	Status (as of July 2025)	Average Weight Loss (Clinical Trials)	Visceral Fat Reduction Potential (Relative Order)	Notes on Visceral Fat
Retatrutide ("Reta")	Triple GLP-1/GIP/Glucagon Receptor Agonist	Phase 3 Clinical Trials	~20-25% of body weight (Phase 2 data)	Highest	Triple action targets fat metabolism more comprehensively; exceptional overall weight loss strongly indicates superior visceral fat reduction. Strong liver fat reduction also observed.
Survodutide	Dual GLP-1/Glucagon Receptor Agonist	Phase 3 Clinical Trials	~15-19% of body weight (Phase 2 data)	Very High	Glucagon agonism directly promotes fat breakdown and energy expenditure, which is key for visceral fat. Significant liver fat reduction seen.
Mazdutide ("Madz")	Dual GLP-1/Glucagon Receptor Agonist	Approved in China (Obesity, T2D); Phase 3 in other regions	~12-19% of body weight (Phase 2/3 data from China)	Very High	Similar to survodutide, its dual GLP-1/glucagon action is highly effective for fat burning and has shown significant reductions in waist circumference and liver fat.
Tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro)	Dual GIP/GLP-1 Receptor Agonist	Approved (Obesity, T2D)	~15-22% of body weight (Zepbound)	High	Powerful overall weight loss, with studies specifically showing significant reductions in visceral fat mass and waist circumference. Strong evidence for liver fat reduction.
Semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic, Rybelsus)	GLP-1 Receptor Agonist	Approved (Obesity, T2D)	~15% of body weight (Wegovy)	High	Proven to significantly reduce visceral fat and liver fat, while preserving lean muscle mass more effectively than some other weight loss methods.

 

[hexagonal]

HGH is even worst, like your internal organs growing

Why do you think GH secretagogues don't carry the same risks as exogenous HGH dosed at levels to give you the same amount of GH/IGF-1/etc.?

Because a GH secretagogue increasing your natural production to the same level as you would get from exogenous HGH carries those same risks.

A tesa/ipa stack also massively increased my blood glucose and insulin levels vs. more potent HGH dosages.

I have swapped to HGH and won't look back.

 

[hexagonal]

So the way Im reading it - Tesa Specifically targets VAT vs HGH just reducing overall BF. CJC doesnt seem to be as strong as either in the fat burning dept.

Is there any reason you'd prefer the CJC? or strictly for price.

To the best of my (non-expert) knowledge there is no reason to believe that tesa and HGH actually function any differently in regards to visceral fat. We do not know of any mechanism on which tesa acts on VAT or body fat in general outside of increased GH production.

 

[exploitedworkerbee]

To the best of my (non-expert) knowledge there is no reason to believe that tesa and HGH actually function any differently in regards to visceral fat. We do not know of any mechanism on which tesa acts on VAT or body fat in general outside of increased GH production.

I think the distinction is that tesa only works on visceral fat, it does not have an effect on subcutaneous fat. HGH has an effect on both. I am also non-expert but that’s how i understand it, if you want to know the mechanism I bet chatgpt could tell you.

 

[PackmanJohnny]

To the best of my (non-expert) knowledge there is no reason to believe that tesa and HGH actually function any differently in regards to visceral fat. We do not know of any mechanism on which tesa acts on VAT or body fat in general outside of increased GH production.

As a GHRH I automatically wanted to default to that, but the clinical data on Tesa's effects on visceral fat are aggressive vs GH's, looks like there IS a difference in how they stimulate lipolysis, but we dont have a 'why':

(Per ChatGPT4)

Tesamorelin is a growth hormone–releasing hormone (GHRH) analog. It binds to the GHRH receptor on the anterior pituitary, which:

1. Triggers pulsatile release of endogenous GH — mimicking how your body naturally secretes GH.
2. GH then stimulates the liver to produce IGF‑1, which helps with fat metabolism.
3. GH and IGF‑1 promote lipolysis — especially in visceral fat depots — via:
   
   • Upregulating hormone-sensitive lipase
   • Downregulating lipoprotein lipase
   • Inhibiting lipogenesis
4. GH also reduces lipid uptake and storage in visceral adipocytes.

Why it works better on VAT:
Tesamorelin’s physiologic GH pulses appear to selectively activate VAT lipolysis over subcutaneous fat, likely due to:

• More GH receptors in visceral tissue
• Tesamorelin’s rhythmic GH mimicking nocturnal secretion (when VAT is more metabolically active)

Whereas GHs mechanics seem to target all fat deposits evenly:

HGH (Somatropin) Mechanism​

Exogenous HGH bypasses your hypothalamic-pituitary axis entirely. It:

1. Raises blood GH levels non-pulsatile, often sustained
2. Stimulates IGF‑1 from the liver and tissues
3. Causes global fat loss (visceral and subcutaneous), muscle growth, and bone turnover
4. However, chronically elevated GH blunts insulin sensitivity, which can blunt fat loss and increase VAT long-term if not managed

Why it’s less VAT-specific:

• HGH affects all fat depots more evenly
• High IGF‑1 can stimulate preadipocyte differentiation in some contexts
• It lacks the rhythmic, physiologic “fat-burning pulse” seen with Tesamorelin

maybe at a certain dose GH is blunting the fat loss its also responsible for? maybe this is one of Exogenous GH's shortcoming that Endogenous GH stimulated by Tesa is incabale of mimicking? Who knows.

 

[Calm Logic]

For recon for tesa, it seems to benefit from filtering more than other peptides:

https://thinksteroids.com/community/threads/sudden-reaction-to-tesamorelin.134429508/post-3476597

Tesa is already probably the most aggregation prone pharma peptide out there. That's why it (Egrifta) was always only available as a single dose vial that you injected right after reconstitution