CJC-1295

Typical Range

Dosing for CJC-1295 depends heavily on which version is in the vial — the DAC (albumin-binding) and no-DAC (Modified GRF 1-29) forms are pharmacologically distinct and follow very different protocols. With DAC — Published and clinician-discussed protocols typically land in the 1–2 mg weekly range, most commonly administered as a single 2 mg dose every 7–10 days or split into two 1 mg doses per week. The original ConjuChem Phase I/II work used single doses of 30–250 mcg/kg, which corresponds to roughly 2–20 mg in an adult — well above typical protocol doses. When stacked with a GHRP, the DAC dose is often kept at the lower end (1 mg weekly) while the GHRP is pulsed more frequently. No-DAC (Mod GRF 1-29) — Commonly discussed protocols run 100 mcg per dose, administered 1–3 times daily, for total daily exposures of 100–300 mcg. Many clinicians match the dose to the GHRP it is paired with (typically ipamorelin 100–300 mcg), keeping the two peptides at roughly equimolar ratios. Total daily doses above ~300 mcg rarely produce proportionally greater GH response because pulse amplitude from a single injection is limited by somatotroph capacity rather than GHRH-receptor availability. Weekly totals (300–2,100 mcg) sit well below typical DAC weekly totals, but the pulsatile delivery profile is the intended difference, not the cumulative exposure.

Frequency

The two versions operate on entirely different dosing cadences because of their half-lives. With DAC (~6–8 day half-life via albumin binding) — Once-weekly or twice-weekly dosing covers the full pharmacodynamic window; more frequent injection produces accumulation without proportional benefit. The defining rationale for stacking CJC-1295 DAC with a GHRP like ipamorelin is that the GHRH analog keeps somatotrophs primed and amplifies pulse amplitude continuously, while the GHRP (which acts on the ghrelin/GHS-R1a receptor via a distinct signaling pathway) initiates the pulses themselves. No-DAC (clears within minutes) — Each injection produces one discrete GH pulse and then clears. Typical 2–3x/day dosing (morning, afternoon, bedtime) mimics natural GH pulsatility and is the key point of difference from the DAC form's continuous signaling. When stacked with ipamorelin, both peptides are typically drawn into the same syringe and injected together at each dosing window. The GHRH + GHRP dual-pathway synergy argument applies to both versions, but the no-DAC form is generally preferred when the goal is to preserve discrete pulses rather than produce sustained receptor occupancy.

Timing Considerations

Cycle Length

Protocols for both versions commonly run 8–12 weeks on, followed by a 4+ week break. For the DAC form, the pulsatile-preservation argument — that CJC-1295 DAC maintains physiological GH pulsing and feedback better than exogenous rhGH — leads some clinicians to use it continuously, but there are no long-duration human trials validating indefinite use, and pituitary desensitization is a theoretical concern with any prolonged secretagogue exposure. The no-DAC form's discrete-pulse profile arguably weakens the desensitization argument further (no sustained receptor occupancy), but the absence of long-duration human data applies equally, and cycling remains the common convention.

Protocol Notes

Both versions are supplied as lyophilized powder reconstituted in bacteriostatic water, but the practical injection math and timing rules differ. With DAC — Typically sold in 2 mg or 5 mg vials. A 2 mg vial reconstituted in 1 mL yields 2,000 mcg/mL; a weekly 2 mg dose is 1 mL (or 100 units on an insulin syringe), or roughly half a syringe at 500 mcg/mL dilution. Subcutaneous injection into the abdominal fat pad is standard. Because the DAC version has a multi-day half-life, injection timing relative to meals or time of day matters much less than it does for short-acting GHRH or GHRP agents. If stacked with ipamorelin or another GHRP, the GHRP should be dosed on an empty stomach (30+ minutes before or after eating) because circulating amino acids and insulin blunt GH response — this timing rule applies to the GHRP component, not to CJC-1295 DAC itself. No-DAC — Typically sold in 2 mg or 5 mg vials. A 5 mg vial in 2 mL yields 2,500 mcg/mL; 100 mcg is approximately 0.04 mL or 4 units on an insulin syringe. Because of the short half-life and the intent to produce discrete pulses that align with natural GH rhythm, injection timing matters much more than for the DAC form. Most protocols call for injection on an empty stomach (≥30 min before eating or 2+ hours after a meal) because elevated insulin and circulating amino acids blunt GH response. Common dosing windows are bedtime (aligning with the natural nocturnal GH pulse), early morning, and pre-workout — never immediately post-meal or post-carbohydrate intake. When stacked with ipamorelin, both peptides are typically drawn into the same syringe at each dosing window.

Onset

Sleep-depth and subjective recovery signals are the first reported changes, typically within 1–2 weeks of initiating weekly dosing. IGF-1 elevation is measurable in serum within days of a single dose and sustained for 7–11 days, per the ConjuChem Phase I data. Subjective body-composition shifts — modestly lower fat mass, improved skin quality, better recovery — are generally not noticeable until 4–8 weeks of consistent use.

Peak Effect

GH pulse amplitude shifts are evident from the first dose, and serum IGF-1 is elevated within days. Where it settles on sustained weekly dosing is genuinely unknown: the published ConjuChem trials were ascending-dose studies lasting 28 and 49 days, so nobody has measured a steady-state plateau in a trial, and the 4–6 week figures quoted in protocol discussions are inference from the single-dose curves. Subjective benefits are most commonly reported to plateau around the 3-month mark. Whether continued use beyond that point delivers additional benefit or simply maintains the plateau is not established from published data.

After Discontinuation

Because CJC-1295 DAC does not suppress endogenous GHRH production — it augments the signal rather than replacing it — endogenous pulsatile GH secretion returns to baseline over 2–3 weeks as the bound peptide clears albumin recycling. There is no post-cycle therapy requirement equivalent to what anabolic-androgenic steroids require. Any accumulated body-composition or sleep benefits wane over weeks to a few months as IGF-1 returns to pre-treatment levels.

Bloodwork & Labs

• •IGF-1 (serum) — the practical response marker
• •IGFBP-3 — optional, but useful for interpreting IGF-1 bioavailability when results are ambiguous
• •Fasting glucose and HbA1c — GHRH analogs can nudge both upward
• •Lipid panel

Functional & Performance Tests

• •DEXA scan for lean mass and visceral fat
• •Waist circumference
• •Grip strength (dynamometer)
• •Overnight sleep quality via wearable

When to Test

Baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks.

Interpretation & Notes

Expect IGF-1 to move, but be careful about the numbers circulating for how much. The published human trials measured single and ascending doses, not months of weekly dosing: a 1.5–3-fold IGF-1 rise sustained 9–11 days after one dose in the Phase 1 study (PMID 16352683) and a roughly 45% rise in the pulsatility study (PMID 17018654). The longest ConjuChem trial ran 49 days, so any specific claim about where IGF-1 plateaus at week 8 or beyond is extrapolation rather than data. No-DAC CJC-1295 (modified GRF 1-29) peaks lower and off-cycles faster because of its much shorter half-life. Watch fasting glucose carefully — a rise above 15 mg/dL from baseline warrants dose reduction, and an HbA1c climbing past 5.7 is the point to stop and reassess. If IGF-1 does not move at all after 8 weeks at typical doses, suspect a low-potency or degraded batch rather than a non-responder — reconstitution quality and cold-chain handling are common failure modes in the grey market. Panels available direct-to-consumer via LabCorp, Quest, Marek Health, and Ulta Lab Tests.

United States

CJC-1295 is not FDA-approved for any medical indication, it is not on the 503A Bulks List, and as of FDA's 14 May 2026 nominations list it appears in no 503A category at all. It was previously in 503A Category 2 (bulk drug substances that may present significant safety risks), where FDA cited immunogenicity risk for certain routes, complexities around peptide-related impurities and API characterization, and serious adverse events including increased heart rate and a systemic vasodilatory reaction. Its nominators later withdrew their nominations and FDA moved it to the 'nominated but withdrawn' table, where it still sits alongside sixteen other peptides. The decisive event is one the compounding conversation usually skips. Removal from Category 2 is not authorization to compound, and CJC-1295 did not simply go unreviewed — it was reviewed and rejected. FDA referred five CJC-1295 bulk drug substances to the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee, which met on 4 December 2024 and voted against adding every one of them to the 503A Bulks List: CJC-1295 (free base) 0 for and 13 against, CJC-1295 acetate 1–12, CJC-1295 DAC (free base) 0–13, CJC-1295 DAC acetate 0–13, and CJC-1295 DAC trifluoroacetate 0–13. FDA's summary minutes record that the committee 'unanimously agreed that CJC-1295 (free base) should not be included on the 503A Bulks List' and that 'one member commented on the lack of evidence for effectiveness.' That proceeding is also the one place FDA did distinguish the two forms — its current published lists name 'CJC-1295' without separating DAC from no-DAC, but the PCAC voted on three DAC forms and two non-DAC forms by name. It is widely sold in the research-chemical market labeled 'not for human consumption,' which is not an authorized channel for human use.

International

The European Medicines Agency and UK MHRA have not authorized CJC-1295 as a medicine. Australia's TGA classifies GHRH analogs and GH secretagogues as Schedule 4 prescription-only substances and has pursued enforcement against unapproved sales. Canadian regulatory treatment mirrors the US in categorizing it as an unapproved investigational agent.

Sports & Competition

CJC-1295 is explicitly prohibited under WADA's S2.2.4 (growth hormone releasing factors), which names CJC-1295 and CJC-1293 among the GHRH analogues — prohibited at all times, both in and out of competition. Multiple athletes have tested positive for CJC-1295 via LC-MS/MS assays developed specifically for its detection. Athletes subject to WADA, USADA, UKAD, or equivalent bodies must avoid it.