closeEGRIFTA SV® Personal Assistant
DownloadPatient InformationDownloadPrescribing Information

Frequently Asked Questions

Man surfing
David

Meet David *

David has HIV and managing excess visceral abdominal fat with EGRIFTA SV®. Here, he talks about his own story and experiences and helps answer some common questions you might have about EGRIFTA SV® and excess visceral abdominal fat.

* David has been compensated for his time.

How Do I Know if I Have Excess Visceral Abdominal Fat?

Expand

Despite exercise and diet, David found it difficult to get rid of his big, hard belly. “I felt constricted all the time and had a hard time breathing. It was impossible for me to even tie my shoes,” he says.

The symptoms may vary from person to person, but if you are a person with HIV who suspects they might have excess visceral abdominal fat, measure your Waist-to-Hip Ratio and use the results as a guide to speak to your doctor about your concerns.

How Can EGRIFTA SV® Help Me?

Expand

If you have HIV and have been diagnosed by your physician with lipodystrophy, like David, EGRIFTA SV® might help to reduce your excess visceral abdominal fat.*

Excess visceral abdominal fat may occur in part due to a reduced amount of growth hormone in your body. Growth hormone helps regulate how fat is used and stored in the body. EGRIFTA SV® works by stimulating the production of growth hormone in the body, which helps to reduce the amount of excess visceral abdominal fat.

“Personally, I am thrilled with the results I got from EGRIFTA SV®,” says David.

* EGRIFTA SV® is not indicated for weight loss management. Its impact and safety on cardiovascular health have not been studied, and it’s not known whether taking EGRIFTA SV® helps improve compliance with antiretroviral medications.

How Do I Know if EGRIFTA SV® Is Right for Me?

Expand

“Your doctor is the only person who can evaluate if EGRIFTA SV® may be right for you,” explains David. He encourages you to quickly measure your Waist-to-Hip Ratio to find out if you may have excess visceral abdominal fat.

You can download your results along with the Doctor Discussion Guide to help you have a meaningful conversation with your healthcare provider about excess visceral abdominal fat.

What Changes Have You Noticed Since Starting EGRIFTA SV®?

Expand

David noticed a visible decrease in his waist circumference* after a few months of EGRIFTA SV® treatment. “Occasionally I noticed a mild rash at the injection site,” he explains, “but I also felt less constricted and was able to breathe better. It was a big confidence boost for me!”

* EGRIFTA SV® is not indicated for weight loss management or waist circumference reduction.

What Are the Possible Side Effects of EGRIFTA SV®?

Expand

“Occasionally, I noticed a mild rash at the injection site, which is one of the most common side effects of EGRIFTA SV®,” David shares. Some of the other most common side effects of EGRIFTA SV® are pain in the legs and arms and muscle pain.

What Do I Do if I Am Uncomfortable with Daily Injections?

Expand

Like you, David was initially nervous about the idea of daily injections. “But within the first week of starting EGRIFTA SV®, it easily became a part of my daily routine,” he explains. David also found the THERA patient support® nurses very helpful in training him to prepare and inject EGRIFTA SV® comfortably.

If you are uncomfortable with your daily injections, the Nurse Navigators at THERA patient support® can help teach you how to properly mix and inject EGRIFTA SV®. Contact THERA patient support® by calling 1-833-23THERA (1-833-238-4372).

You can also download the EGRIFTA SV® STEP-BY-STEP ADMINISTRATION GUIDE or watch the STEP-BY-STEP ADMINISTRATION VIDEO.

You Have a Story,
We’d Love to Hear It

Get in touch with THERA patient support® by calling 1-833-23-THERA

IMPORTANT PATIENT INFORMATION ABOUT EGRIFTA SV® (TESAMORELIN) FOR INJECTION

Expand

What is EGRIFTA SV® (tesamorelin) for injection?

  • EGRIFTA SV® is an injectable prescription medicine used to reduce excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy. EGRIFTA SV® is a growth hormone-releasing factor (GHRF) analog.
  • EGRIFTA SV® is not for weight loss management.
  • The long-term safety of EGRIFTA SV® on the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular) is not known.
  • It is not known whether taking EGRIFTA SV® helps improve how well you take your antiretroviral medications.
  • It is not known if EGRIFTA SV® is safe and effective in children; do not use in children.

You should not take EGRIFTA SV® if you:

  • Have a pituitary gland tumor, surgery, or other problems related to your pituitary gland, or have had radiation treatment to your head or head injury.
  • Have active cancer.
  • Are allergic to tesamorelin or any of the ingredients in EGRIFTA SV®.
  • Are pregnant or become pregnant. If you become pregnant, stop using EGRIFTA SV® and talk with your healthcare provider.
  • Are less than 18 years of age.

Before using EGRIFTA SV®, tell your healthcare provider if you:

  • Have or have had cancer.
  • Have problems with blood sugar or diabetes.
  • Have scheduled heart or stomach surgery.
  • Have breathing problems.
  • Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
  • Are taking any other prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

EGRIFTA SV® may cause serious side effects including:

  • Increased risk of new cancer in adults with HIV or your cancer coming back (reactivation). Stop using EGRIFTA SV® and inform your healthcare provider if any cancer symptoms come back.
  • Increased levels of your insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your IGF-1 levels while you are taking EGRIFTA SV®.
  • Serious allergic reaction such as rash or hives anywhere over the body or on the skin, swelling of the face or throat, shortness of breath or trouble breathing, fast heartbeat, feeling of faintness or fainting, itching and reddening or flushing of the skin. If you have any of these symptoms, stop using EGRIFTA SV® and get emergency medical help right away.
  • Swelling or fluid retention. Call your healthcare provider if you have swelling, an increase in joint pain, or pain or numbness in your hands or wrist.
  • Increase in blood sugar (glucose) or diabetes.
  • Injection site reactions. Injection site reactions are a common side effect of EGRIFTA SV®, but may sometimes be serious.
  • Increased risk of death in people who have critical illness because of heart or stomach surgery, trauma or serious breathing (respiratory) problems has been reported after treatment with therapeutic doses of growth hormones.

The most common side effects of EGRIFTA SV® include:

  • Pain in legs and arms
  • Muscle pain

These are not all of the possible side effects of EGRIFTA SV®. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or to THERA patient support® toll-free at 1-833-23THERA (1-833-238-4372).

This information is not intended to replace discussions with your doctor. For additional information about EGRIFTA SV®, see the full Prescribing Information, Patient Information, Patient Instructions for Use, and talk to your doctor. For more information about EGRIFTA SV® contact THERA patient support® toll-free at 1-833-23THERA (1-833-238-4372).