Ipamorelin vs CJC-1295
The two halves of the most popular GH stack. What does each one do, and which CJC-1295 are you actually buying?
Reviewed by the amino101 editorial team. , first published .
Ipamorelin and CJC-1295 are compared constantly and chosen between rarely, because they are the two halves of the most common growth hormone secretagogue stack. Ipamorelin is a GHRP acting on the ghrelin receptor. CJC-1295 is a GHRH analog acting on the GHRH receptor. Almost all of the CJC-1295 sold today is the version without DAC, properly called Mod GRF 1-29, which clears in about 30 minutes and gives one pulse per injection. The DAC version lasts about a week and behaves completely differently; that distinction has its own page at CJC-1295 DAC vs no DAC, and this comparison uses the no DAC version throughout. Neither compound is approved anywhere. Ipamorelin reached phase 2 before being dropped. Mod GRF 1-29 has never been through a formal trial on its own; its evidence is borrowed from the general GHRH literature and from the DAC version's human studies. Both are prohibited by WADA. This is an educational comparison.
| Ipamorelin | CJC-1295 (no DAC) | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical dosage | 100 to 300 mcg | 100 to 200 mcg |
| Frequency | 1 to 3 times daily | 1 to 3 times daily |
| Route | Subcutaneous | Subcutaneous |
| Half-life | about 2 hours in plasma | roughly 30 minutes in plasma |
| Cycle | 8 to 16 weeks | 8 to 16 weeks |
| Research level | Well researched | Limited research |
| Human trials | Randomized trials | Small pilots |
| Status | Investigational, not FDA approved (Phase 2 trials completed, not pursued) | Investigational, not FDA approved |
| Effects timeline | deeper sleep 1 to 2 weeks, IGF-1 rise on bloodwork by 4 weeks, recovery and body composition 2 to 3 months | deeper sleep 1 to 2 weeks, IGF-1 rise on bloodwork by 4 weeks, body composition 8 to 12 weeks |
Key differences
Ipamorelin vs CJC-1295 (no DAC) dosage
Dosage patterns reported in research and community protocols, by goal. Taken from each compound page. Not a prescription.
| Goal | Dosage | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Solo nightly dose | 200 to 300 mcg | once daily before bed |
| Stacked with a GHRH analog | 100 mcg | once daily before bed, with 100 mcg Mod GRF 1-29 |
| Three pulse protocol | 100 mcg | 3 times daily, on waking, after training, before bed |
| Recovery focus | 100 to 200 mcg | twice daily, after training and before bed |
| Goal | Dosage | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Standard nightly pulse | 100 mcg | once daily before bed |
| Three pulse protocol | 100 mcg | 3 times daily, on waking, after training, before bed |
| Larger single pulse | 200 mcg | once daily before bed |
| Sleep focus | 100 mcg | once daily, 15 minutes before sleep |
Convert any of these to syringe units in the dosage calculator.
Side effects compared
- ▲Headache, flushing, or lightheadedness shortly after a dose
- ▲Water retention and puffy hands at higher doses
- ▲Tingling in the fingers when stacked heavily
- ▲Mild appetite increase in some people
- ▲Injection site redness or itching
- ▲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
Which should you choose?
Ipamorelin is the one to buy first or alone. It produces a usable GH pulse by itself at 200 to 300 mcg nightly, does not raise cortisol, prolactin or hunger, and has phase 2 human safety data. It is also the more forgiving compound on timing because its half-life is longer. If you are only going to run one secretagogue, this is it.
CJC-1295 no DAC makes sense only as the partner in a stack. On its own it gives a small pulse; with ipamorelin it roughly multiplies the output. Pick it over sermorelin for the same role because the four amino acid substitutions make it far more stable. Make sure the vial says no DAC; if it says DAC, you are holding a weekly drug with a different protocol, explained at CJC-1295 DAC vs no DAC.
If you are only buying one, buy ipamorelin. It works on its own at 200 to 300 mcg before bed, its 2 hour half-life gives a reliable pulse, and it has actual human trial data. Mod GRF 1-29 alone gives a modest pulse that most people find underwhelming, because a GHRH signal without a GHRP leaves somatostatin, the brake on GH release, fully engaged. The real answer is that these two are not alternatives. Injected together, 100 mcg of each before bed on an empty stomach, they produce a pulse several times larger than either alone, and that pairing is the standard secretagogue protocol outside of prescription growth hormone. The full protocol, including fasting windows and cycle lengths, is in the CJC-1295 and ipamorelin stack. Before buying, check the vial for the word DAC. The two CJC-1295 versions look identical and are dosed tenfold apart.
Stacking: The standard pairing: 100 mcg of each, same syringe, before bed on an empty stomach, 8 to 16 weeks then a few weeks off. Many vendors sell them pre-blended.
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 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 vs CJC-1295: frequently asked
Can you take ipamorelin and CJC-1295 together?
Yes, and that is how they are almost always used. They act on different receptors and the combined pulse is several times larger than either alone. The common protocol is 100 mcg of each in one syringe before bed on an empty stomach. The CJC-1295 and ipamorelin stack covers the details.
Which is better alone, ipamorelin or CJC-1295?
Ipamorelin. It gives a meaningful pulse by itself at 200 to 300 mcg and has human data. Mod GRF 1-29 alone produces a modest pulse because nothing is suppressing somatostatin, and few people run it solo.
Is CJC-1295 the same as CJC-1295 no DAC?
Usually, in practice. Most product sold under the bare name CJC-1295 is the no DAC version, Mod GRF 1-29, but some is the DAC version, which has a week long half-life and a weekly dosing protocol. The label must say which. The difference is explained at CJC-1295 DAC vs no DAC.
How many units of ipamorelin and CJC-1295 do you inject?
That depends entirely on how much water you add to each vial. A 5 mg vial reconstituted with 2 mL gives 2.5 mg per mL, so 100 mcg is 0.04 mL, which is 4 units on a U-100 insulin syringe. Work it out from your own vial using the insulin syringe units chart or the calculator.
What are the side effects of ipamorelin and CJC-1295?
Mostly the same: flushing, a brief head rush, headache or lightheadedness right after a dose, and water retention or tingling in the fingers if doses are pushed or stacked aggressively. Neither raises cortisol. Anyone with an active or prior hormone sensitive cancer should avoid raising IGF-1 with either.
Do you need to cycle ipamorelin and CJC-1295?
Community protocols run 8 to 16 weeks and then take a few weeks off, mostly as a convention paired with IGF-1 bloodwork. There is no strong evidence that either receptor desensitizes with intermittent dosing, so the break is cautious rather than required.
Related reading
Pulsatile growth hormone release
Visceral fat loss with growth hormone support
Weight loss while limiting muscle loss
Growth hormone release with appetite support
Same name, very different behavior. Which one do you actually want?
One is a GHRP, one is a GHRH analog. Why are they compared, and why are they usually combined?
Sources
- Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue. European Journal of Endocrinology, 1998
- Prolonged stimulation of growth hormone and IGF-1 secretion by CJC-1295, a long-acting analog of GHRH, in healthy adults. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2006