CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin
Why is CJC-1295 always paired with ipamorelin, and how do you dose the two together?
Reviewed by the amino101 editorial team. .
Also searched as CJC Ipa, Mod GRF 1-29 and ipamorelin, CJC-1295 no DAC ipamorelin blend, GHRH GHRP stack.
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.
Ipamorelin is a pentapeptide that triggers growth hormone release through the ghrelin receptor without the cortisol, prolactin, or hunger spikes seen with older GHRPs. It is the most popular GHRP in the community, usually stacked with a GHRH analog.
CJC-1295 and ipamorelin are stacked because they raise growth hormone through two different receptors, and the combined pulse is several times larger than either alone. CJC-1295 without DAC, which is the same molecule as Mod GRF 1-29, is a GHRH analog that tells pituitary cells to make and release growth hormone. Ipamorelin is a GHRP that acts on the ghrelin receptor, which triggers release directly and also lowers somatostatin, the brake on the system. The synergy of GHRH plus GHRP is documented in human pilot studies going back to the 1990s. What is not documented is any outcome: no trial has run this pair for body composition, sleep, recovery or aging. Both are unapproved and WADA prohibited.
This is probably the most common growth hormone protocol outside of prescription growth hormone, and it is also the one most often bought wrong. The DAC version of CJC-1295 lasts for days and is a different protocol entirely; the page on CJC-1295 DAC vs no DAC sorts that out. This page covers the no DAC version: dosage, bedtime timing, the fasting window and what people report. It is educational; nobody here is prescribing anything.
Why people combine CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin
Mod GRF 1-29 binds the GHRH receptor and raises cyclic AMP in somatotrophs. Ipamorelin binds the ghrelin receptor, raises intracellular calcium, and in the hypothalamus increases GHRH output while reducing somatostatin. Human studies of GHRH plus GHRP combinations show a release that exceeds the sum of each alone. That synergy is the entire reason for the stack.
Older GHRPs come with baggage. GHRP-6 causes sharp hunger, hexarelin raises cortisol and prolactin. Ipamorelin at normal doses leaves cortisol, prolactin and appetite mostly alone, which is why it is the GHRP almost everyone pairs with a GHRH analog. The ipamorelin vs CJC-1295 page covers what each does on its own.
Mod GRF 1-29 clears in about 30 minutes and ipamorelin in about 2 hours. Each dose makes one discrete pulse and is gone before the next. That mimics the natural pattern rather than flattening it, which is what the DAC version and exogenous growth hormone do. Pulsatility is thought to matter for how tissues respond, though that is more theory than outcome data.
It does not replace growth hormone, and it cannot release more than a healthy pituitary can make. Someone with pituitary damage, or someone already on exogenous growth hormone, gets little from it. It also does nothing through a meal: the same dose taken fed releases far less. And with no outcome trial, the body composition expectation is borrowed from tesamorelin and sermorelin studies.
CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin dosage and protocol
What appears in research and community protocols for each compound in the stack. Not a prescription.
| Peptide | Dosage | Frequency | Timing and route |
|---|---|---|---|
| CJC-1295 (no DAC) | 100 mcg | once daily before bed, up to 3 times daily | subcutaneous, belly or thigh, on an empty stomach at least 2 hours after eating |
| Ipamorelin | 100 mcg | once daily before bed, up to 3 times daily | subcutaneous, same syringe as the CJC-1295, no food for 20 to 30 minutes after |
Community runs are 8 to 16 weeks with no loading or taper, then a break of a few weeks. There is no strong evidence that either receptor desensitizes with intermittent dosing, so the break is a convention. IGF-1 bloodwork at 4 to 6 weeks and again at the end is the practical way to see whether the stack is doing anything.
- •100 mcg of each is often called a saturation dose. Going to 200 mcg adds a little more release and more side effects; it does not double the pulse.
- •The three pulse protocol adds doses on waking and after training. Each must be fasted. Most people start with the single bedtime dose.
- •Carbohydrate and fat blunt the pulse. The window is 2 hours after the last meal and 20 to 30 minutes before the next.
- •Bedtime dosing lines up with the largest natural growth hormone pulse in the first hours of deep sleep.
Work out syringe units for any of these in the dosage calculator.
Can you mix CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin in one syringe?
This is one of the few stacks where sharing a syringe is standard. Both are reconstituted with bacteriostatic water, both are injected at the same moment, and the compound pages describe drawing 100 mcg of each into one syringe. Vendors sell pre-mixed CJC-1295 and ipamorelin blends, commonly 5 mg of each in one vial, and because the doses are usually equal the fixed ratio is not a problem. There is no copper or pH issue, though no formal stability study of the mixture exists either; the reconstitution calculator handles the volume math when both go in one vial.
What to expect, week by week
- Week 1 to 2
Flushing, warmth and a brief head rush right after the injection, which fades within minutes. Deeper sleep and vivid dreams within the first few nights are the most consistent report.
- Week 2 to 4
Early side effects settle. Mild water retention or tingling in the hands can appear at higher doses. Recovery between training sessions starts to feel quicker.
- Week 4 to 8
IGF-1 is measurably higher on bloodwork. Skin may look better hydrated. This is when to check that IGF-1 is within the reference range for your age.
- Week 8 to 16
Gradual and modest body composition change if diet and training are in place. Nothing dramatic, and nothing a trial has measured for this pair.
Side effects and cautions
- ▲Flushing, warmth and a short head rush right after injection
- ▲Headache or lightheadedness, mostly in the first week
- ▲Water retention and puffy hands or feet at higher doses
- ▲Tingling or numbness in the fingers, which can progress to carpal tunnel symptoms if the dose is not lowered
- ▲Mild appetite increase from ipamorelin in some people
- ▲Injection site redness or itching
- ▲Drowsiness after daytime doses in the three pulse protocol
- ■Active cancer or a history of hormone sensitive tumors. Raising growth hormone and IGF-1 is the wrong direction, and both compound pages list this as a stop.
- ■Diabetes, prediabetes or anyone on insulin. Growth hormone opposes insulin and fasting glucose can shift; it needs monitoring and a clinician aware of the stack.
- ■Anyone on exogenous growth hormone or the DAC version of CJC-1295. The pituitary is already suppressed or already stimulated, so the no DAC stack adds side effects, not release.
- ■Tested athletes. Both are WADA prohibited.
This stack makes sense for someone who wants to raise their own growth hormone output rather than inject growth hormone, who can commit to fasted bedtime dosing, and who is willing to check IGF-1 and fasting glucose on bloodwork. The synergy is real pharmacology, the side effect profile at 100 mcg of each is mild, and the two share a syringe without fuss. What it is not is a proven body composition or anti-aging treatment; no outcome trial exists for this pair, and the expectations are borrowed from tesamorelin and sermorelin data. Running a single compound makes sense in two cases: ipamorelin alone for someone who only cares about sleep and wants the simplest possible protocol, and tesamorelin instead of Mod GRF 1-29 for someone whose main goal is visceral fat, since tesamorelin has the trial data. Anyone with a cancer history, diabetes or a drug tested sport has good reason to leave it alone. Educational only.
CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin: frequently asked
Should you take CJC-1295 and ipamorelin at the same time?
Yes, that is the point. The GHRH analog and the GHRP hit different receptors and the synergy only happens when both are active together. They are injected at the same moment, usually from the same syringe, on an empty stomach.
What is the CJC-1295 and ipamorelin dosage?
Reported protocols use 100 mcg of each, once before bed. Three pulse protocols repeat 100 mcg of each on waking and after training. Some people use 200 mcg of the CJC-1295 for a larger single pulse. The peptide dosage chart lists both, and the insulin syringe units chart covers drawing 100 mcg from a typical vial.
Does it matter if I eat before CJC-1295 and ipamorelin?
A lot. Insulin and free fatty acids after a meal suppress the growth hormone pulse, so the same dose taken fed releases far less. The usual window is at least 2 hours after the last meal and 20 to 30 minutes before any food. Timing matters more than dose.
Is CJC-1295 with DAC better for stacking with ipamorelin?
It is a different protocol. The DAC version lasts for days and keeps growth hormone elevated continuously, so it is dosed once or twice a week with ipamorelin layered on top for pulses. The no DAC version gives one pulse per dose and keeps the natural pattern. Most people who want pulsatile release use no DAC; see CJC-1295 DAC vs no DAC.
How long does it take CJC-1295 and ipamorelin to work?
Deeper sleep shows up within a week or two. IGF-1 rises on bloodwork by about 4 weeks. Body composition and recovery changes take 2 to 3 months of consistent fasted dosing, and they are gradual.
Can you run ipamorelin without CJC-1295?
Yes, usually at 200 to 300 mcg before bed. It produces a modest pulse on its own that many people find underwhelming. The GHRH analog is what turns it into a meaningful release. Sermorelin is the other common partner; see ipamorelin vs sermorelin.
Related reading
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One is a GHRP, one is a GHRH analog. Why are they compared, and why are they usually combined?
An approved GHRH analog with fat loss trials versus the community's favorite GHRP.
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Dosage
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Sources
- Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue. European Journal of Endocrinology, 1998
- 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. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2006