In plain English
CJC-1295 is a lab-made version of the hormone your brain uses to tell the pituitary gland to release growth hormone. Instead of adding growth hormone directly, it encourages your body to make more of its own. It is almost always paired with ipamorelin.
What it's used for
- Raising natural growth hormone and IGF-1 levels
- Body composition: more lean muscle, less fat
- Recovery from training
- Deeper sleep and general anti-aging support
Benefits
In human studies, CJC-1295 with DAC raised growth hormone 2 to 10 times and IGF-1 1.5 to 3 times, with effects lasting about a week after a single dose. Growth hormone itself is known to support:
- Lean muscle and lower body fat
- Recovery from training and injury
- Skin, bone and connective tissue health
- Sleep quality
Users report better sleep, faster recovery and gradual changes in body composition over several months.
How it works
In simple terms: CJC-1295 presses the “release growth hormone” button in your brain.
It is a modified version of the first 29 amino acids of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), changed so it resists breakdown. It binds GHRH receptors on the pituitary gland, which then releases growth hormone in pulses; the liver responds by making IGF-1. The DAC version adds a chemical link that attaches to albumin in the blood, stretching its life to about a week. The no-DAC version (Mod GRF 1-29) lasts about 30 minutes, giving a short pulse closer to the body’s natural rhythm.
Development history
- Early 2000s: Developed by the Canadian company ConjuChem using its Drug Affinity Complex (DAC) technology.
- 2006: Human studies show a single dose raises growth hormone and IGF-1 for about a week.
- Later: Development as a medicine stopped, but both versions became widely used in anti-aging and fitness circles, usually with ipamorelin.
Typical protocols
These ranges are what users commonly report.
| Version | Dose | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Without DAC (Mod GRF 1-29) | 100 mcg | 1–3 times daily | Usually injected with ipamorelin, often before bed on an empty stomach |
| With DAC | 1–2 mg | Once weekly (some split into two doses) | Gives a steady rise rather than pulses |
Users typically avoid food for about 2 hours before and 30 minutes after injecting, since eating, especially carbohydrates and fat, blunts the growth hormone pulse.
Cycling
Commonly run for 8–12 weeks, followed by a break of several weeks. Many users follow a 5-days-on, 2-days-off pattern with the no-DAC version.
Administration options
Subcutaneous injection, usually in the belly.
Reconstitution and dosing calculator
CJC-1295 typically comes in 2 mg or 5 mg vials and is commonly mixed with 2 mL of bacteriostatic water.
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Side effects and safety
- Most common: flushing or warmth in the face shortly after injection, mild headache, and injection-site redness.
- Other reported effects: water retention, tingling or numbness in the hands, tiredness, and increased hunger.
- Raising growth hormone can affect blood sugar; people with diabetes should be cautious.
- People with active cancer are usually advised to avoid growth hormone-raising peptides.
- Prohibited in competitive sport (WADA).
Common stacks
- Ipamorelin: the classic pairing. CJC-1295 raises the size of the growth hormone pulse while ipamorelin triggers it, and together they produce more than either alone.
- Tesamorelin or sermorelin are alternatives to CJC-1295 in the same role.
Storage
Powder: refrigerate, dry and away from light.
After mixing: refrigerate at 2–8 °C, protect from light, and use within about 4 weeks.
Compare with
- Sermorelin: the original, shorter-acting GHRH peptide.
- Tesamorelin: a stabilized GHRH peptide with strong data for belly fat.
- Ipamorelin: works through a different receptor (ghrelin) and pairs well with CJC-1295.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use CJC-1295 with or without DAC?
Without DAC gives short pulses that mimic natural release and is dosed daily. With DAC lasts about a week and is dosed weekly. Many users prefer the no-DAC version paired with ipamorelin.
Why take it on an empty stomach?
Food, especially carbohydrates and fat, reduces the growth hormone pulse.
When do people take it?
Most inject before bed to line up with the body’s natural nighttime growth hormone release.
How long until results?
Users report better sleep within weeks; body composition changes take a few months.
References
- Teichman SL, et al. Prolonged stimulation of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I secretion by CJC-1295, a long-acting analog of GH-releasing hormone, in healthy adults. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006;91(3):799-805.