CJC-1295 (no DAC)
Also known as Mod GRF 1-29, Modified GRF 1-29, CJC-1295 without DAC, Tetrasubstituted GRF 1-29
CJC-1295 without DAC, better known as Mod GRF 1-29, is a short-acting analog of growth hormone releasing hormone. People use it to prompt a natural-looking pulse of growth hormone, almost always paired with a GHRP like ipamorelin.
Reviewed by the amino101 editorial team. , first published .
Quick start
What people commonly do. Not a prescription.- Typical dose
- 100 to 200 mcg
- How often
- 1 to 3 times daily
- Where
- Subcutaneous, belly or thigh
- Timing
- Empty stomach, at least 2 hours after eating, most often right before bed; no food for 20 to 30 minutes after
- Effects timeline
- deeper sleep 1 to 2 weeks, IGF-1 rise on bloodwork by 4 weeks, body composition 8 to 12 weeks
- Storage
- Lyophilized in freezer or fridge away from light; reconstituted in fridge 2 to 8 C, use within 4 weeks
- Cycle length
- 8 to 16 weeks
- Break between
- a few weeks, guided by IGF-1 bloodwork
Overview
Mod GRF 1-29 is a 29 amino acid fragment of human growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) with four amino acid substitutions that make it resist enzymatic breakdown. The name CJC-1295 originally belonged to a drug candidate from ConjuChem that included a drug affinity complex (DAC) to extend its half-life for days. The version sold without that complex is the same core sequence with no DAC attached, so its action is short and closely mimics a natural GHRH pulse. Most vendors label it CJC-1295 no DAC, while the research community usually calls it Mod GRF 1-29.
The substitutions (D-Ala at position 2, Gln at 8, Ala at 15, and Leu at 27) were designed to block cleavage by DPP-IV and other peptidases while preserving strong binding at the GHRH receptor. The result is a compound that produces a larger and more reliable growth hormone release than native GHRH or sermorelin, but still clears within about half an hour. That short window is exactly why people prefer it over the DAC version when the goal is to keep growth hormone pulsatile rather than continuously elevated.
Direct human trial data on Mod GRF 1-29 as a standalone product is thin. Most of what we know comes from older studies on tetrasubstituted GRF analogs and from the general GHRH literature, plus the pharmacology of the DAC version, which was tested in healthy adults. The consistent picture is that GHRH analogs raise growth hormone and IGF-1 in a dose dependent way, and that combining a GHRH analog with a GHRP produces a synergistic release larger than either alone. Long term outcome studies on body composition with this specific compound do not exist.
How it works
Mod GRF 1-29 binds the GHRH receptor on somatotroph cells in the anterior pituitary, raising cyclic AMP and triggering synthesis and release of growth hormone. It only amplifies a pulse the pituitary is already capable of producing, which is why it works far better when somatostatin tone is low, such as in a fasted state or during the early hours of sleep. Because it does not touch the ghrelin receptor, it does not increase hunger or cortisol on its own. When taken alongside a GHRP, the two pathways combine to yield a growth hormone spike that is typically several times larger than either agent alone.
Where the research stands
Growth hormone and IGF-1 supportModerate evidence
- Pulsatile growth hormone release. Human pilot data on tetrasubstituted GRF analogs and the DAC version show reliable dose dependent GH release from the same core sequence.
- IGF-1 increase. GHRH receptor agonists raise IGF-1 in healthy adults in human RCTs, though this specific product has not been trialed alone.
- Synergy with a GHRP. Human pilot studies show GHRH plus GHRP releases more growth hormone than the sum of each alone.
Sleep qualityEmerging
- Slow wave sleep. GHRH given to humans in small lab studies increased slow wave sleep; bedtime dosing of Mod GRF 1-29 leans on that finding plus community reports.
Body compositionEmerging
- Fat loss and lean mass. No outcome trials exist for this compound; the expectation is borrowed from tesamorelin and sermorelin RCTs that used the same receptor.
Recovery and connective tissueWeak or mixed
- Training recovery. Anecdotal only; growth hormone raises collagen turnover in human studies but nothing links Mod GRF 1-29 to faster recovery directly.
- in vitroTetrasubstituted GRF 1-29 analogs resist DPP-IV degradation and retain full potency at the GHRH receptor in laboratory assays.
- human pilotGHRH analogs combined with a GHRP produce a synergistic growth hormone release in humans that exceeds the sum of each alone.
- human RCTGHRH receptor agonists increase pulsatile growth hormone and downstream IGF-1 in healthy adults in a dose dependent manner.
- human pilotShort-acting GHRH analogs preserve the normal pulsatile pattern of growth hormone secretion rather than flattening it.
Rodent and in vitro mean no human data for that finding. Human pilot means small, often uncontrolled. Human RCT means randomized and controlled. Clinical means an approved drug with regulatory data.
Levels over time
Modeled from the half-life. Illustrative, not measured.A half-life of 30 min against dosing every 24 h means each dose has cleared before the next. Nothing stacks; you start from zero every time, and the tissue effect is what carries over.
The short half-life is the whole point: each dose triggers one discrete growth hormone pulse, which is why it is dosed one to three times a day at moments when somatostatin is low rather than continuously.
CJC-1295 (no DAC) dosage and protocols
Most community protocols run 8 to 16 weeks straight with no loading or taper, then pause for a few weeks. There is no strong evidence the GHRH receptor desensitizes, so the break is a convention and IGF-1 bloodwork is the practical check.
| Goal | Dose | Frequency | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard nightly pulse | 100 mcg | once daily before bed | Subcutaneous, paired with 100 mcg ipamorelin |
| Three pulse protocol | 100 mcg | 3 times daily, on waking, after training, before bed | Subcutaneous |
| Larger single pulse | 200 mcg | once daily before bed | Subcutaneous |
| Sleep focus | 100 mcg | once daily, 15 minutes before sleep | Subcutaneous, with a GHRP |
Inject on an empty stomach at least 2 hours after the last meal and wait 20 to 30 minutes before eating, since carbohydrate and fat blunt the pulse. Bedtime is preferred because it lines up with the largest natural growth hormone pulse; when stacked with a GHRP the two are usually drawn into the same syringe.
100 mcg is often called a saturation dose; going higher adds little extra release
Dose calculator
U-100 insulin syringeUnits are a volume on the syringe, not an amount of peptide. Concentration changes every time you change the water volume. The standalone calculator explains the math.
| Vial | Suggested water | Concentration | Low dose draw |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 mg | 2 mL | 2.5 mg/mL | 4 units |
| 10 mg | 3 mL | 3.333 mg/mL | 3 units |
How to reconstitute CJC-1295 (no DAC)
- 1
Wash your hands and wipe the work surface. Swab both vial stoppers with alcohol and let them dry.
- 2
Pick the water volume with the calculator above and write it on the vial. The concentration means nothing without it.
- 3
Draw the bacteriostatic water into a mixing syringe.
- 4
Insert at an angle and let the water run down the inside wall. Never squirt it straight onto the powder.
- 5
Swirl gently or leave it to dissolve. Do not shake.
- 6
Label with the date and water volume. Store in the fridge at 2 to 8 C and use within about 4 weeks.
- 7
Unmixed vials keep for months in the fridge and longer in the freezer, sealed and out of light.
- Full walkthrough with syringe reading and site rotation: reconstitution guide.
- ✓White, fluffy cake
Lyophilized powder should look like a small white puck or fluffy cake at the bottom of the vial. That is a proper freeze-dry.
- ✓Clear after mixing
Once dissolved the solution should be water-clear with nothing floating in it.
- !Slight clumping
Small clumps that dissolve with gentle swirling are fine. Shipping compacts powder.
- ✕Collapsed or melted
Powder stuck to the sides, glassy, or shrunken means it got hot in transit. Contact the vendor.
- ✕Cloudy or particles
Persistent cloudiness or visible particles after mixing means degraded or contaminated product. Do not use it.
- Week 1 to 2
Flushing and a brief head rush after doses, deeper sleep and vivid dreams within the first few nights.
- Week 2 to 4
Mild water retention or tingling in the hands at higher doses, appetite unchanged, sleep benefit stabilizes.
- Week 4 to 8
IGF-1 measurably higher on bloodwork, recovery between sessions feels quicker, skin may look better hydrated.
- Week 8 to 16
Gradual and modest changes in body composition if diet and training are in place; nothing dramatic.
Interactions and stacking
Ipamorelinsynergistic
Different receptor, and the combined pulse is several times larger than either alone without adding cortisol or hunger.
CJC-1295 (DAC)caution
Same receptor; the DAC version already keeps it stimulated all week, so adding the short version mostly adds side effects.
Tesamorelincompatible
Both are GHRH analogs on the same receptor, so people alternate them rather than combine them; stacking adds little.
HGHcaution
Exogenous growth hormone suppresses the pituitary through feedback, which leaves little for a secretagogue to release.
IGF-1 LR3caution
Stacking raises total IGF-1 exposure and compounds the glucose and tumor growth concerns.
Insulin and diabetes medicationscaution
Growth hormone opposes insulin, so glucose control can shift in either direction; monitor fasting glucose.
Corticosteroidscaution
Glucocorticoids raise somatostatin tone and blunt the growth hormone response to GHRH.
Food, especially carbohydrateavoid
Insulin and free fatty acids after a meal suppress the pulse; the same dose taken fed releases far less.
Safety
- ▲Flushing, warmth, and a short head rush right after injection
- ▲Water retention and puffy hands or feet at higher doses
- ▲Tingling or numbness in the fingers
- ▲Headache or lightheadedness
- ▲Injection site redness or itching
- ▲Mild joint aches when stacked aggressively
- ▲Flushing, warmth, and a brief head rush shortly after injection are common and usually fade within minutes.
- ▲Taking it with food or a sugary drink blunts the growth hormone response, so timing matters more than dose.
- ▲Water retention, tingling in the hands, and mild joint aches can appear if doses are pushed high or stacked aggressively.
- ▲Anyone with an active cancer or a history of hormone sensitive tumors should avoid raising IGF-1.
- ▲It is frequently confused with the DAC version; make sure the vial you buy matches the protocol you plan to run.
- ■Persistent numbness, tingling, or carpal tunnel symptoms that do not ease when the dose is lowered
- ■Fasting glucose or HbA1c climbing on bloodwork
- ■IGF-1 above the reference range for your age
- ■A new lump, growth, or any cancer diagnosis
- ■Severe headaches or vision changes
Community poll
Self-reported by visitors. Not clinical evidence.CJC-1295 (no DAC): frequently asked
Is CJC-1295 no DAC the same thing as Mod GRF 1-29?
Yes. They are the same 29 amino acid sequence with the same four substitutions. Mod GRF 1-29 is the more accurate name because CJC-1295 technically refers to the version with the drug affinity complex attached.
Why do people always pair it with ipamorelin?
GHRH analogs and GHRPs act on two different receptors, and together they produce a growth hormone pulse much larger than either alone. Ipamorelin is the usual partner because it adds the synergy without raising cortisol, prolactin, or hunger.
How long before bed should I take it?
Most protocols inject right before sleep on an empty stomach, since the biggest natural growth hormone pulse happens in the first hours of deep sleep. Eating within 30 minutes on either side of the shot reduces the response.
Does it need to be cycled?
There is no strong evidence of receptor desensitization with GHRH analogs, but most community protocols run 8-16 weeks and then pause for a few weeks. Bloodwork on IGF-1 is the practical way to see whether it is still doing anything.
References
- Prolonged stimulation of growth hormone and IGF-1 secretion by CJC-1295, a long-acting GHRH analog, in healthy adults. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2006
- Pulsatile secretion of growth hormone persists during continuous stimulation by CJC-1295. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2006
- Synergistic effects of GHRH and GHRPs on growth hormone secretion in humans. Endocrine Reviews, 1997