CJC-1295
Modified GRF 1-29, CJC-1295 without DAC
A modified fragment of growth-hormone-releasing hormone that amplifies the pituitary's GH pulse. Without the DAC modification it has a short half-life, which is precisely why it is paired with compounds like ipamorelin.
- Category
- Growth & Performance
- Half-life
- Approximately 30 minutes without DAC; about 6–8 days with DAC
- Cycle length
- 8–16 weeks typical
- Level
- intermediate
Overview
CJC-1295 exists in two forms: with and without the drug-affinity complex (DAC). The DAC version binds albumin and stays active for days, producing a sustained GH elevation. The version used in most stacking protocols — modified GRF 1-29, often called CJC-1295 no-DAC — is deliberately short-acting, producing a discrete pulse that mimics the body's natural rhythm rather than flattening it.
How it works
It is a GHRH receptor agonist. Where ipamorelin acts on the ghrelin receptor, CJC-1295 acts on the GHRH receptor on pituitary somatotrophs. Activating both receptor pathways at once is the reason the pairing is described as synergistic in the literature — the combined GH release exceeds the sum of the individual responses.
Reported benefits
- Amplified endogenous GH pulse
- Synergistic when combined with a ghrelin-receptor agonist
- Improved recovery and sleep reports
- Short action window suits pulsatile dosing
Reported benefits describe what the published literature and user reports suggest — not a promise of outcome for any individual.
Dosing reference
Typically described at 100–200 mcg per administration, once or twice daily, paired with ipamorelin at roughly 100–300 mcg. Subcutaneous injection, usually before sleep and away from food.
The no-DAC form is timed to peak alongside the natural nocturnal GH pulse. If you are reading a protocol quoting 1–2 mg doses, that is the DAC form and a completely different pharmacokinetic profile — do not swap them.
Community-reported: 100–200 mcg once or twice daily, most often with 200–300 mcg of ipamorelin 20–30 minutes before sleep, in eight- to twelve-week runs.
These figures are what people report using in public communities. They have not been studied, verified or checked against certificates of analysis, and they are not a recommendation, a prescription or a target to aim for.
Where the reported amounts come from
Amounts are reproduced for education only. Doses from trials cannot be assumed to suit anyone else, and community-reported amounts are frequently wrong. Self-administering unapproved compounds carries serious risk.
The research picture
Human studies of the no-DAC fragment show reliable, dose-dependent increases in GH and IGF-1. The synergistic effect with ghrelin-receptor agonists is well documented in controlled settings. As with all GH secretagogues, the honest position is that the hormonal response is proven and the long-term body-composition or longevity benefit is not.
Primary sources
Preclinical & non-clinical data
Backbone modifications extend the stability of this GHRH analogue in animal models. Without the drug-affinity complex it behaves as a short-acting analogue that peaks within roughly an hour, which is why it is dosed close to sleep. Human work measures the growth-hormone pulse, not clinical outcomes.
Non-clinical data comes from cells and animals unless stated otherwise. It answers whether a compound is worth studying in people — not whether it is safe or effective in them.
What users report
Most public accounts pair it with ipamorelin before sleep and describe deeper sleep, waking hunger and gradual recovery improvements over eight to twelve weeks, followed by a return to baseline on stopping. Headaches and puffiness around the face and hands are the complaints that recur, usually attributed to water retention. Almost nobody reports measured IGF-1 values, so the size of any hormonal effect is guesswork in these accounts.
Where these reports come from
These are unverified personal accounts collected from public sources. They are not evidence of effectiveness or safety, they have not been independently checked, and they are not a recommendation to use anything described.
Possible side effects
- Facial flushing and warmth shortly after injection
- Headache
- Transient water retention
- Injection-site irritation
Safety notes
Contraindicated with any active malignancy or pituitary disorder. The DAC form produces sustained GH and IGF-1 elevation and carries different — and less forgiving — risk characteristics than the short-acting form. Do not treat them as interchangeable.
Stacking
Classically stacked with ipamorelin. Also appears alongside hexarelin or GHRP-2 in more aggressive protocols, though those add cortisol and prolactin effects.
Related compounds
Kisspeptin-10
KISS1-derived decapeptide — GnRH pathway activator
Growth & Performance
The peptide that controls the pulse generator behind the reproductive axis.
Tesamorelin
GHRH(1-44) analogue — Egrifta
Growth & Performance
The GHRH analogue with an approval and a narrow indication.
Sermorelin
GHRH(1-29) — growth hormone-releasing hormone fragment
Growth & Performance
The oldest GHRH fragment, still sold on a plausible mechanism and thin outcome data.