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Tesamorelin dosing schedules stacking side effects and fasting optimization

206 replies81 peopleJun 12, 2026☆ Follow
Summary

what practical experiences exist with tesa dosing frequency timing stacking and common side effects

Users report daily or 5/2 tesa at 1-2 mg often stacked with ipa or reta while tracking GH pulse during fasting windows after morning injections. Water retention of several pounds appears early and masks scale progress yet waist size and recovery improve. Sleep deepens for many once timing stabilizes and injection reactions stay mild with glute or lower belly sites. Stacking yields better recomp and energy but occasional stalls or hunger occur and illness disrupts dosing.

What this discussion establishesWhere people disagree

whether small calories blunt the GH pulse

Still open

optimal long-term bloodwork outcomes during extended runs or illness

Nothing here is advice.

206 replies · 81 people · page 1 of 5
LevelTimber39archiveopening postJun 12

Tesamorelin: which side effects have you noticed? Which dose worked best for you?

SteadyAnchor31archiveJun 13

First injection yesterday. It stung for half an hour and I didn't enjoy that. Woke up from deep sleep several times. On top of that I think the needles were dull. So far so good though.

BlueQuill24archiveJun 13

My first injection was today. Planning to begin low and raise the dose gradually. Started at 1 mg and will stay there each day for the first week before going up. Also using Reta. After reading other reports I'll pin Tesa in the morning on an empty stomach and wait until later in the afternoon for the first meal. Keeping the active single vial at room temperature with the house around 71 degrees.

SteadyAnchor31archiveJun 14
↳ replying to @SteadyAnchor31

Day 3 done. The sting lasts twenty to thirty minutes. Switched to fresh needles and they are fine.

AmberCompass48archiveJun 14
↳ replying to @SteadyAnchor31

Just started last night and on my third pin. Both stung a bit but nothing major. The glp1s seem to be slowing gastric emptying so I'm switching to morning pins starting with this one. This thread is fun since several of us are just beginning tesa.

PlainBeacon66archiveJun 14

Have been using Tesa in the morning for the past week at 2 mg every day. After about seven days it appears to be working besides the sting, and I've noticed a bit more energy in the morning. It's pricey but I plan to run it for at least five months.

LevelBeacon32archiveJun 14
↳ replying to @LevelTimber39 (opening post)

Began at 1 mg, stung for twenty minutes the first week and then never again.

QuietAlder20archiveJun 14

I really enjoy this stuff. I stick with a hundred-day run of it two times every year. Using the twenty-milligram version, I take two milligrams each evening right before sleep. I've never noticed any burning feeling, and the current batches all checked out fine when tested. Naturally the same goes for NAD, glutathione, GLOW, KLOW, and MOTS too. 😂

WarmAlder80archiveJun 14

Curious why certain folks prefer using this stuff during morning hours rather than later at night. Does the timing affect how well someone rests? Haven't begun with it myself yet but plan to switch after finishing the blend I'm currently on.

AmberCompass48archiveJun 14
↳ replying to @WarmAlder80

High doses of those GLP-1 meds keep my stomach from emptying properly, so food lingers even hours after I've eaten. I prefer not to trigger insulin spikes or reduce GH pulses, hence the current morning schedule.

WryHarbour43archiveJun 14

I'm keeping an eye on this thread since I've considered incorporating tesa or ipa once I get to the maintenance or recomp stage of my tirz process. Those who administer in the morning, what's the typical delay needed between injection and consuming food? My pattern involves rising early and going directly to exercise at five, followed by a protein drink at seven prior to starting work at eight fifteen. Doing the shot prior to working out seems inconvenient since I'm not very alert then.

GreyAlder96archiveJun 14
↳ replying to @WarmAlder80

A number of folks notice trouble sleeping yet it tends to work stronger without any recent meals. Insulin lowers those growth hormone spikes and GLP compounds make the after-eating period last longer.

NorthKettle44archiveJun 14
↳ replying to @AmberCompass48

I agree with those points too. I inject right after getting up in the morning and it becomes routine quickly. My shots happen first thing when I rise then I hold off two hours prior to having my usual protein drink combined with mushroom coffee. That keeps me in a fasted condition and stops any odd dreaming. For the past thirteen days I've used a two to one mix of Tesa to Ipa at five hundred and two hundred fifty micrograms each day. Everything feels great with more overall vitality my rest is steady and body reshaping has started now that I reached my target weight recently. Nothing bad has shown up and there's been no extra fluid retention. I aim to continue at this reduced amount so the whole thing lasts longer.

SteadyAnchor31archiveJun 14

Yep I think I fall into the group with sleep disturbance. Couldn't fall asleep and the sleep I did get wasn't great. Will try AM and see how it goes.

SharpSparrow28archiveJun 15

About nine days back I began taking one and a half each morning. Since then the scale has gone up by three or four pounds. I figure it's probably just fluid retention, yet that amount still surprised me. Did others notice something similar?

WarmSparrow33archiveJun 15
↳ replying to @QuietAlder20

Nothing produces that sharp sensation for me either.

AmberCompass48archiveJun 15
↳ replying to @SharpSparrow28

I think that's pretty common though I haven't experienced it.

GreenBramble47archiveJun 15
↳ replying to @SharpSparrow28

I gained about 1.2 lbs after my first week of 1 mg. I think it's normal. I've since resumed a downward trend.

SlowSparrow49archiveJun 15

I've begun using tesa/ipa on my own. I'm taking reta every three days at 1.5 mg. My schedule right now has cjc/ipa at 200 mcg before bed along with tesa/ipa at 0.5/0.25 mg after waking. I plan to keep this going for several weeks until the opening vial runs out before raising the dose to 1/0.5 mg if nothing feels off. After that I'll track how things are going along with bloodwork since fresh trt results are due in about a month and I can slip in an igf-1 reading too then adjust upward if it looks right. I received my igf-1 value and z score from seven days back which gives me a starting reference. I'm also thinking about lifting cjc/ipa to 250-300 mcg depending on how I feel.

QuietAlder20archiveJun 15
↳ replying to @AmberCompass48

Dandelion root knocks that water right out of you.

LevelSignal72archiveJun 15

At thirty six years old my starting reading sat at one hundred sixty nine with a z score of zero point four. After one milligram of tesa it climbed to three hundred forty four and a z score of two point one. Adding three hundred micrograms of ipa to two milligrams of tesa pushed it to five hundred two with a z score of three point one. That second amount of tesa turned out excessive for my system. The only issues I noticed were wrist discomfort and fluid retention. Roughly a week after quitting I shed several pounds of water weight. Next I intend to test the cjc ipa stack instead.

SlowSparrow81archiveJun 15
↳ replying to @BlueQuill24

My shipment of the first two items still hasn't shown up, and I'm also mulling over the third option. I've been leaning toward doing every injection during daylight hours only. Evening shots simply clash with how my day runs because of the other med I'm taking. Bedtime falls around ten or eleven, so that would push dinner earlier than usual, yet that's when I normally do my lifts and still require a meal once I'm done. The whole arrangement ruins any chance of using them right before sleep. It'll be curious to learn whether morning shots alone produce results, and I'm keen to hear what you find if you test the same approach.

BlueQuill24archiveJun 15

I keep giving myself the shot first thing each morning as part of my daily habit. The medication I use slows how fast my stomach empties, so that's the only time I can start with nothing in it and then skip food for several hours afterward. The questions on my mind center on handling this daily and whether to store the mix chilled or not. Beginning with the smaller containers ended up working out since the solution doesn't hold up long after mixing.

SlowSparrow81archiveJun 15
↳ replying to @BlueQuill24

From various spots online and in conversations I've seen, daily use works fine without the usual five days on and two off pattern. Breaks like that mainly come down to saving cash since the product costs quite a bit. I have no idea about storing it cold or leaving it out, though.

WarmHarbour52archiveJun 15

These days I handle my dose first thing each morning. Early on I tried evenings instead, but after finishing dinner I would lose track and doze off. Now I pair it with my other early shots. One milligram every day stays the same.

WryFenwick45archiveJun 15

I felt nervous beginning this treatment on account of reports about discomfort in the joints. By the fourth day my knee joints seemed improved instead. It appears the cartilage damage might be mending. There is zero inflammation or ache in the joints now. The injection happens around two hours prior to bedtime. My rest has stayed the same, neither worse nor enhanced. I experience no burning sensation at all. Such a burn could result from a pungent element similar to copper, alternatively from the body reacting immunologically as if to an allergen, or possibly from an impurity that gets removed through filtering.

NorthKettle44archiveJun 15
↳ replying to @BlueQuill24

Research mostly indicates no requirement for skipping days within a week so everyday use works fine yet this compound calls for structured periods of several weeks on followed by time off. The supporting information varies widely and bloodwork should guide amounts and length instead of personal feelings or rough estimates. Baseline values and individual reactions differ so those factors set the schedule. On storage many note that mixing leads to a thickened texture if kept cold prompting suggestions for a shaded spot at room temperature but that choice may hasten breakdown which explains the common two week window for finishing a batch. My view on the thickening points to either subpar material or lower grade mixing solution. Reports from others show that better versions combined with standard sterile water stay workable when chilled. Mine has sat cold for fourteen days without issue and remains usable through the full forty daily shots from this preparation.

SteadyAnchor31archiveJun 15
↳ replying to @SteadyAnchor31

I switched away from doing the injections in the morning and keeping the tesa stored differently. Before the fourth day I had it sitting at normal room conditions. After that I placed it inside the refrigerator. On day four I had five smaller portions spread across the hours, with the final one ending at seven in the evening. I took the tesa from the fridge around ten thirty and injected at ten fifty at night. The sharp sensation stopped after fewer than ten minutes. I managed six solid hours of sleep without breaks. The exercise session early the next day turned out great.

SharpHarbour41archiveJun 15

Started this two months back and it's great. One point five milligrams gets taken daily around midnight. No meals past eight pm since other things are in my routine too. Sleep is much better with it.

AmberCompass48archiveJun 15
↳ replying to @SharpHarbour41

My belly still seems overloaded from last night's meal. I've tried skipping breakfast over the past couple mornings and it feels more comfortable. No eating from the time I get up through my shift until around midday. This routine seems like it will suit me better overall.

SharpHarbour41archiveJun 15
↳ replying to @AmberCompass48

This thing knocks me out, so using it before noon just doesn't work for me. Without that issue I'd split a milligram between bedtime and when I get up.

SteadyAnchor31archiveJun 16
↳ replying to @AmberCompass48

From experimenting with these compounds I've seen that amounts aren't the same for everyone. At six foot one and two thirty pounds my own reta intake runs at just half my partner's even though she's built much smaller than me. It really comes down to working out the level that fits me personally.

SteadyLedger60archiveJun 16
↳ replying to @SharpSparrow28

I added roughly the same weight. The fluid retention however filled out my muscles well and produced a nice bulk.

WryFenwick45archiveJun 16

After starting the one milligram dose several days back my knee has improved. There is no new joint discomfort though I doubt I would separate it from the aches already present and bending looks slightly easier. Could it all be imaginary?

SharpAlder17archiveJun 16

Around three and a half weeks ago I started testing this mix at those levels. The steady drop I saw earlier has come to a complete stop. I added a couple pounds right away and haven't shifted since. I had also loaded up on creatine ahead of time. Even after raising the other amount I'm still not moving. There's minor discomfort in my knuckles but it might be unrelated. Taking it before bed gave me very clear dreams and I got up much sooner than usual. Now I do it mornings hoping the growth hormone release lines up with my workout. I'm unsure if it helps yet I'm staying hopeful. I'll continue a little longer but expect to lower it to one milligram over two hundred fifty soon. I keep it cold and nothing has gone wrong.

NorthMarble34archiveJun 16

I'm hoping for updates on how things are going from those who commented at the start.

RustCompass54archiveJun 17
↳ replying to @SharpHarbour41

I notice pinning right after waking up doesn't work well because cortisol levels are highest then. For getting good rest, half a milligram right before sleeping works wonders for me. Anything above that doesn't improve the rest any further. Based on trying it out briefly, I think half a milligram before bedtime and one to one and a half in the early part of the day suits me best. I'll fine-tune it using my IGF-1 readings in a couple weeks. Being someone who stays up late, dosing during daytime hours never made me tired; instead it seemed to sharpen my focus. The notion about GLP-1 slowing digestion and thus keeping insulin elevated overnight, which might lessen the impact of those growth hormone releasers, seems plausible too. Everyone should probably experiment to find their own optimal timing.

WryBramble37archiveJun 17

Taking 1 mg tesa with 200 mcg ipa right before bed. Finally getting the best sleep and my sleep score has improved a lot since day one. Also on trt, KLOW, HCG, reta.

SteadyAnchor31archiveJun 17

Finished my fifth day now. The prick went on for about twelve minutes yet it wasn't as strong. I rested way better this evening though I'm unsure about any mass increase. Checking the scale later this week. Have others tried injecting in spots besides the stomach? My midsection feels like a sewing kit at the moment.

WryMarble61archiveJun 17
↳ replying to @SteadyAnchor31

Not on tesa currently, but I pin in love handles and upper glutes. Relatively painless. Abdomen is a sensitive spot for me.

RustCinder98archiveJun 17
↳ replying to @RustCompass54

0.5 seems questionable as an effective dose. Only one quarter of the clinical trial dose.

NorthKettle44archiveJun 17
↳ replying to @SteadyAnchor31

I place injections that might cause irritation in a couple of locations. One is the lower part of the buttock on the side, the other is the upper leg near the groin. For one mixture I use the glute area and for the other the thigh region. Neither causes much discomfort and any sensation fades quickly. Reaching the thigh spot requires an odd posture where I have to shift things aside and bend down, which appears strange. Still, it turns out to be the spot with minimal pain compared to others I've tried, which surprises me since that area seems like it should feel more tender. It works really well though.

RustCinder98archiveJun 17
↳ replying to @NorthKettle44

That's curious. With my own RS, taking two milligrams daily brings zero unwanted reactions. The effects aren't intense at all, just subtle. Because it costs a lot, I think you're fortunate to manage with half a milligram.

PlainAlder11archiveJun 17
↳ replying to @AmberCompass48

I've been mulling over whether to try something on the fat around my midsection that refuses to shift.

AmberCompass48archiveJun 18
↳ replying to @PlainAlder11

Started using this on the evening of the eleventh and the growth hormone impacts are noticeable for sure. Planning to keep going two or three months unless unexpected bad reactions show up. Haven't had any discomfort or wrist problems so far and no bloating from fluid either. The needles hardly hurt at all. Combined it with ipamorelin for the morning shots. After three or four weeks of daily use I'll share how things are progressing.

RustCompass54archiveJun 18
↳ replying to @RustCinder98

Pointing out the important part in case it went unnoticed: With only the evening .5mg/.150mg of those two at that level, everything feels good, healing gets better, and rest comes easily. Still, I believe the amount may have to rise after setting other things properly. Blood work will guide the next steps. Also, assuming that lower amount already hits the target for the growth marker, there is no point in using more. Plus, people pursue different objectives.

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