Sermorelin vs Tesamorelin Dosing Compared

Last updated: July 2026

Sermorelin and tesamorelin are both growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analogs given by once-daily subcutaneous injection, but they sit on very different dose scales: sermorelin is typically dosed around 0.2–0.3 mg (200–300 mcg) per day, while the FDA-approved tesamorelin product EGRIFTA SV is dosed at a fixed 1.4 mg per day. The number of syringe units you draw for either one depends entirely on how the vial was reconstituted — not on which peptide it is.

Have a lyophilised vial and a target dose? Work out the concentration, draw volume, and exact U-100 units in one step.

Peptide reconstitution calculator →

TL;DR — key takeaways

Different dose scales. Sermorelin is usually run near 0.2–0.3 mg/day; tesamorelin’s licensed dose (EGRIFTA SV) is 1.4 mg/day — roughly 5× higher on paper because tesamorelin is a stabilised, longer-acting molecule.
Same drug family, same timing. Both are GHRH analogs that prompt the pituitary to release its own growth hormone in pulses, and both are injected once daily, usually at night.
Units follow concentration. Whether 0.3 mg is 15 units or 30 units depends only on the mg/mL strength of your reconstituted vial.
Only one is FDA-approved. Tesamorelin (EGRIFTA) is approved for HIV-associated lipodystrophy; sermorelin’s old FDA product (Geref) is discontinued, so it now circulates as a compounded peptide. Neither is a general anti-ageing or bodybuilding drug.

Why the two dose numbers look so different

Sermorelin is the 1–29 fragment of human GHRH — the shortest piece of the hormone that still fully activates the GHRH receptor. It works upstream: instead of adding growth hormone directly, it nudges the anterior pituitary to release the growth hormone it already makes, so the body’s own feedback loop still governs the peak. Its half-life is only about 10–20 minutes, which is why it is dosed daily and why a low milligram number is enough.

Tesamorelin is a modified, stabilised GHRH(1–44) analog. A chemical add-on protects it from being broken down as fast, so it lasts longer in circulation and drives a larger, more sustained growth-hormone and IGF-1 response. That extra potency and stability is exactly why its label dose is a whole 1.4 mg rather than a few tenths of a milligram — the bigger number is not “stronger per molecule,” it is the dose the pivotal trials actually used.

Both belong to the GHRH-analog class, which is different from the ghrelin-mimetic secretagogues (ipamorelin, GHRP-2, and similar). Because GHRH analogs preserve the natural pulse of growth-hormone release, the dosing goal is a steady once-daily rhythm rather than a large single spike — the schedule is part of the dose.

Side-by-side: dosing at a glance

Property	Sermorelin	Tesamorelin
Class	GHRH(1–29) analog	Stabilised GHRH(1–44) analog
FDA status	Former (Geref, discontinued); now compounded	Approved (EGRIFTA / EGRIFTA SV / EGRIFTA WR)
Typical daily dose	~0.2–0.3 mg	1.4 mg (EGRIFTA SV label)
Route & frequency	Subcutaneous, once daily	Subcutaneous, once daily
Approx. half-life	~10–20 minutes	~26–38 minutes
Approved use	Historically pediatric GH-deficiency testing	HIV-associated lipodystrophy (visceral fat)
Comes as	Lyophilised powder, reconstituted	Lyophilised powder, reconstituted

Figures reflect the EGRIFTA SV prescribing information and published sermorelin dosing ranges. Compounded vials are drawn manually, so you must calculate the draw volume yourself; always follow the exact protocol your prescriber sets.

The dose-scale gap, visualised

The same daily-injection habit, two very different milligram markers on the scale. Because tesamorelin is stabilised and longer-acting, its licensed dose lands far higher than a typical sermorelin dose.

How to turn any dose into syringe units

This is where most people stall. The milligram dose is not what you read on the barrel — you read units, and a U-100 insulin syringe has 100 units per 1 mL. The conversion is always the same: find the concentration (mg/mL), divide your dose by it to get mL, then multiply by 100 to get units.

Worked example 1 — tesamorelin, exactly per label

EGRIFTA SV is a 2 mg vial reconstituted with 0.5 mL of diluent → 2 ÷ 0.5 = 4 mg/mL. The label dose is 1.4 mg.

1.4 mg ÷ 4 mg/mL = 0.35 mL. 0.35 mL × 100 = 35 units.

Draw 35 units — matching the label’s stated 0.35 mL.

Worked example 2 — sermorelin from a 5 mg vial

A compounded 5 mg sermorelin vial reconstituted with 2.5 mL bacteriostatic water → 5 ÷ 2.5 = 2 mg/mL. Target dose 0.3 mg.

0.3 mg ÷ 2 mg/mL = 0.15 mL. 0.15 mL × 100 = 15 units.

Draw 15 units on a U-100 syringe.

Worked example 3 — same sermorelin dose, more water

The same 5 mg vial reconstituted with 5 mL instead → 5 ÷ 5 = 1 mg/mL. Same 0.3 mg dose.

0.3 ÷ 1 = 0.3 mL × 100 = 30 units.

Twice the water, half the concentration, double the units — for the identical milligram dose.

Worked example 4 — compounded tesamorelin

A 10 mg tesamorelin vial reconstituted with 2 mL → 10 ÷ 2 = 5 mg/mL. Target dose 2 mg.

2 mg ÷ 5 mg/mL = 0.4 mL × 100 = 40 units.

Draw 40 units on a U-100 syringe.

Worked example 5 — same tesamorelin dose, stronger vial

The same 2 mg dose from a 10 mg + 1 mL vial = 10 mg/mL: 2 ÷ 10 = 0.2 mL × 100 = 20 units.

Double the concentration, half the units — which is why “how many units” has no answer without the vial strength.

Worked example 6 — low-end sermorelin

A 3 mg sermorelin vial reconstituted with 3 mL → 1 mg/mL. Target dose 0.2 mg.

0.2 ÷ 1 = 0.2 mL × 100 = 20 units.

Draw 20 units — a small, easy-to-read mark near the 0.2 mL line.

Dose-to-units reference chart

Common daily doses for each peptide, shown as units on a U-100 syringe at two typical reconstituted concentrations. Always confirm against your own vial label.

Dose	At 2 mg/mL	At 4 mg/mL
0.2 mg (sermorelin low)	10 units	5 units
0.3 mg (sermorelin typical)	15 units	7.5 units
1 mg	50 units	25 units
1.4 mg (tesamorelin label)	70 units	35 units
2 mg (tesamorelin, older label)	100 units	50 units

Notice the 2 mg row at 2 mg/mL fills a whole 1 mL syringe (100 units). If a draw ever exceeds 1 mL, use a higher-concentration vial rather than two injections.

How this is calculated

Every number here uses two facts only: a U-100 syringe holds 100 units per mL, and concentration is dose ÷ volume. There is no peptide-specific constant — the arithmetic is identical for sermorelin, tesamorelin, or any other lyophilised vial. The only figures taken from outside sources are the licensed tesamorelin dose (from the EGRIFTA SV label) and the published sermorelin dosing range; the unit conversions are plain arithmetic you can check by hand or with the calculator. None of this is medical advice or a recommendation to use either peptide — it is the maths behind a dose your prescriber has set.

Frequently asked questions

Is tesamorelin just a stronger sermorelin?

They are close relatives — both GHRH analogs — but tesamorelin is chemically stabilised so it lasts longer and drives a larger growth-hormone response, which is why its licensed dose (1.4 mg) is far higher than a typical sermorelin dose. A bigger milligram number reflects the studied dose, not a simple “more potent per molecule” ranking.

Why is sermorelin dosed in tenths of a milligram?

Sermorelin has a very short half-life and works by prompting your own pituitary to release growth hormone, so only a small daily amount is needed to trigger the pulse. Doses around 0.2–0.3 mg once daily are commonly described in the literature.

Do I draw more units for tesamorelin than sermorelin?

Usually yes, because its dose is larger — but units always depend on concentration. A 1.4 mg tesamorelin dose from a 4 mg/mL vial is 35 units; a 0.3 mg sermorelin dose from a 2 mg/mL vial is 15 units. Change the reconstitution and both numbers change.

Are these peptides FDA-approved for anti-ageing?

No. Tesamorelin (EGRIFTA) is approved only for reducing excess abdominal fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy, and sermorelin’s former product was for pediatric growth-hormone testing. Anti-ageing and bodybuilding uses are off-label or unapproved; discuss any use with a licensed clinician.

Sources

This guide is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always follow your prescriber’s specific instructions and consult a qualified clinician before changing any protocol.