NOT FDA-APPROVED

CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin

The most-talked-about growth hormone "stack" in research-peptide circles. Two peptides that, together, push the body's own GH release higher than either does alone, without the bluntness of synthetic GH.

The 30-second read

CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin are two separate peptides that work on different parts of the same biological switch. CJC-1295 (the "No DAC" version) tells the pituitary gland to release growth hormone. Ipamorelin amplifies the same signal through a second pathway. Pharmacokinetic studies report that combining them produces a 2 to 3 times greater spike in GH than either alone. Neither peptide is FDA-approved. The pulsatile-GH effect is real and well-characterized; the downstream claims about better sleep, body composition, and recovery are mostly anecdotal. An older long-acting version (CJC-1295 with DAC) had clinical development discontinued after adverse events in Phase 2, worth knowing.

Why this peptide is on people's radar

Adults watch growth hormone slowly decline as they age, and they notice the downstream effects: lighter sleep, slower recovery, a body composition that drifts toward more fat and less lean mass. Direct GH replacement, synthetic somatropin, is FDA-approved for specific medical indications, but it's blunt: a sustained, non-physiologic elevation that overrides the body's natural pulses, with side effects to match. The CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin idea is to nudge the body's own GH machinery instead, getting back to something that looks more like the pulsatile pattern of a younger system.

That mechanistic story is what made the combination the most-discussed GH-related stack in research-peptide and longevity-clinic circles. It's also what made it popular with people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s who aren't trying to bodybuild, they're trying to sleep better, feel more recovered, and keep age-related changes at bay. Sleep-tracker culture amplified that further: when Whoop and Oura turned deep sleep into a measurable goal, peptides that promote nocturnal GH pulses entered the conversation naturally.

Worth flagging early: an earlier version of this same compound, CJC-1295 with DAC (a longer-acting design), had its Phase 2 clinical development halted following adverse events. The combination most people discuss today uses the "No DAC" version of CJC-1295, with a shorter half-life that more closely resembles natural pulse patterns.

What people are usually trying to do with it

Most people exploring this combination are after one of these:

  • Get deeper, more restorative sleep, especially the slow-wave sleep that GH pulses through
  • Recover faster from training and physical work
  • Hold onto lean body composition as they age
  • Improve skin and connective-tissue health
  • Get the benefits associated with higher GH without the bluntness of direct GH injections
  • Feel like they have more in the tank, more often

What the science actually shows

The pharmacokinetic story is well-characterized. The downstream-outcome story is much thinner. Plain-English summary:

Synergistic GH release

Combining a GHRH analog like CJC-1295 (No DAC) with a GH secretagogue like Ipamorelin produces a 2 to 3 times larger GH spike than either alone, well-replicated in pharmacokinetic studies.12

Pulsatile, more "natural" pattern

Unlike injected synthetic GH, this combination produces a brief pulse rather than sustained elevation, more similar to the body's own GH rhythm.3

IGF-1 elevation

The downstream marker most often cited as a proxy for GH activity. Studies of GHRH-secretagogue combinations report measurable increases in IGF-1 over weeks of use.4

Selectivity advantage of Ipamorelin

Ipamorelin elevates GH without significantly raising cortisol or prolactin, a meaningful difference from older GH secretagogues like GHRP-6 or GHRP-2.5

What hasn't been demonstrated

That GH elevation translates reliably into better sleep, better body composition, faster recovery, or "anti-aging" effects in healthy adults. Those claims are mostly anecdotal. The withdrawal of CJC-1295 with DAC after Phase 2 adverse events is also part of the honest backdrop.

The honest read

What's solid:

The pharmacokinetic effect, that this combination meaningfully raises GH and IGF-1 in a pulsatile pattern, is well-established in research literature. Ipamorelin's selectivity advantage over earlier GH secretagogues is real. The mechanism is coherent.

What's still unproven:

Whether the GH elevation reliably produces the outcomes people are after, better sleep, more lean mass, better recovery, slower aging, at the doses commonly used. Most of those claims rest on anecdote, small uncontrolled studies, or extrapolation from synthetic-GH research (which has a different pharmacological profile). Long-term safety in healthy adults using nightly GH-stimulating peptides is also not characterized.

What's hyped beyond the evidence:

Bold claims about anti-aging, fat loss, dramatic body recomposition, or "feeling 25 again." The CJC-1295 with DAC experience is also worth keeping in mind, a closely related compound was halted in Phase 2 for safety. That doesn't damn the No-DAC version, but it does mean "GH-modulating peptide" is not a free lunch.

Things to know if you're looking into it

  • How it's used in research: typically a small subcutaneous injection at night before bed (to align with natural GH pulse timing), often combined with a fasting window to avoid blunting the GH spike with food.
  • Two peptides, two pathways: CJC-1295 (No DAC) is a GHRH analog. Ipamorelin is a ghrelin-receptor agonist. They engage different parts of the same GH-release switch, which is why combining them produces a bigger effect than either alone.
  • "DAC" matters: a longer-acting version, CJC-1295 with DAC, had its Phase 2 clinical development discontinued after adverse events. The peptide most people discuss today is the "No DAC" (short half-life) version, which behaves more like a natural pulse.
  • Athlete bans: CJC-1295, Ipamorelin, and related GH secretagogues are on the World Anti-Doping Agency banned list and most professional and collegiate sports prohibited-substance lists. Competitive athletes will test positive.
  • Regulatory status: neither peptide is FDA-approved. Both appeared on the FDA's September 2023 Category 2 list, which means they cannot legally be compounded by U.S. licensed pharmacies under standard pathways.
  • Safety considerations: avoid in people with active cancer (theoretical concerns about GH/IGF-1 effects on tumor biology), and use cautiously in people with diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, sleep apnea, or carpal tunnel syndrome.
  • Specific dosing protocols, mechanism, half-life, and full reference list: all in the "Want to go deeper?" section below.

Reconstitution & dose calculator

1:1 CJC-1295 (No DAC) + Ipamorelin blend. Both peptides are not FDA-approved and on the FDA Category 2 list (Sept 2023). The dose math below uses combined peptide mass — a 200 mcg dose means 100 mcg of CJC-1295 plus 100 mcg of Ipamorelin. The longer-acting CJC-1295 with DAC had its Phase 2 development halted after adverse events — this calculator covers only the No-DAC version. WADA and most pro/collegiate sports lists ban both peptides. This is an educational reference, not dosing guidance.
Suggested start
200 mcg/inj
100 mcg of each peptide
Common range
200–400 mcg/inj
100–200 mcg of each peptide
Max dose
600 mcg/inj
300 mcg of each — receptor saturation point
Cycle
8–12 wks on
Then 4–8 weeks off
mL
Defaults to a 5 mg/mL combined dilution — standard 200 mcg dose lands at 4 units, 400 mcg at 8 units. If you'd rather work at larger draw volumes, reconstitute with 4 mL water (2.5 mg/mL) and the units roughly double.
mcg
Subcutaneous injection. Standard timing: bedtime, on an empty stomach (GH release is suppressed by elevated insulin/glucose, and natural pulses concentrate in slow-wave sleep). The dose is combined — 200 mcg = 100 mcg CJC + 100 mcg Ipa.
Concentration
5.0 mg/mL
Per dose
0.04 mL
4 units on insulin syringe
Doses per vial
~50
~50 days (~7.1 weeks) of daily dosing

When to stay put vs. adjust

Stay put at 200 mcg combined before bed when sleep quality is improving (deeper sleep, more vivid dreams are commonly reported as the GH pulse takes hold), when there's no morning grogginess or water retention, and when you're not yet at the cycle's end. The bedtime + empty-stomach combination matters because endogenous GH pulses concentrate in slow-wave sleep, and elevated insulin or glucose suppresses GH release — this is well-supported by GH physiology, not just community wisdom.

Consider adding a second daily dose (morning, fasted) rather than increasing the per-injection amount, if you want a stronger GH signal. Two 200 mcg pulses produce more total GH exposure than one 400 mcg pulse because the receptors saturate — pulse frequency moves the needle, single-dose magnitude doesn't, past about 300 mcg of Ipamorelin (the saturating component).

Watch for water retention, joint discomfort, mild carpal-tunnel-style tingling, or elevated fasting glucose. These are downstream of GH/IGF-1 elevation and tend to scale with cumulative dose. Drop the per-injection amount or frequency by one step if any appear; they usually resolve within a week.

Don't go above 600 mcg combined per dose. The pulsatile-system saturation logic holds — more peptide doesn't produce more GH past the receptor ceiling, it just produces more peptide in circulation. The "more is better" reflex from titratable drugs doesn't apply here.

Cycle off at the 8–12 week mark for 4–8 weeks. Continuous chronic GH-axis stimulation hasn't been characterized in healthy adults. The off-cycle gives the system time to reset baseline sensitivity.

The honest read. The synergy data — that this combination produces a 2–3× greater GH pulse than either peptide alone — is well-replicated in pharmacokinetic studies. That part is real. Whether the larger GH pulse reliably translates into better sleep, body composition, recovery, or "anti-aging" effects in healthy adults is much less established. Most downstream-outcome claims rest on anecdote and on extrapolation from synthetic-GH research, which has different pharmacology. Worth keeping in mind: the closely related CJC-1295 with DAC had its Phase 2 development halted after adverse events. That doesn't damn the No-DAC version, but it does mean "GH-modulating peptide" is not a free lunch.

For educational and research purposes only. This is not medical advice. Both CJC-1295 (No DAC) and Ipamorelin are not FDA-approved, are on the FDA Category 2 list (Sept 2023), and are on WADA and most pro/collegiate sports prohibited-substance lists. Avoid in active malignancy; use cautiously with diabetes, sleep apnea, or carpal tunnel syndrome. Consult a licensed healthcare provider before any health decision.

What people often ask

Why combine two peptides instead of just using one?

They activate different parts of the GH-release pathway. CJC-1295 acts at the GHRH receptor; Ipamorelin acts at the ghrelin (GHS-R) receptor. Together they produce a 2 to 3 times bigger GH spike than either alone, in pharmacokinetic studies.

Is this safer than synthetic GH (HGH)?

"Safer" is the wrong frame. The two are different. Synthetic GH produces a sustained, non-physiologic elevation. CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin produces a brief pulse that more closely resembles the body's natural pattern. Whether that translates into a better long-term safety profile in humans hasn't been characterized in proper trials.

What's the difference between CJC-1295 with DAC and without?

The DAC (Drug Affinity Complex) version was designed for a much longer half-life, producing sustained GH elevation. Its Phase 2 clinical development was halted following adverse events. The "No DAC" version has a much shorter half-life (~30 minutes) and produces brief pulses rather than sustained elevation, that's the form people typically combine with Ipamorelin.

Can it really help me sleep better?

Some people report that, but the rigorous human evidence isn't there yet. The mechanism (timing the GH pulse to align with slow-wave sleep) is plausible. The downstream sleep-quality outcome hasn't been demonstrated in proper randomized trials of this combination.

Will I lose fat or gain muscle?

Possibly modest changes over months, possibly nothing. The GH-elevation studies are clear; the body-composition outcomes from these peptides specifically are mostly anecdotal in healthy adults.

Why empty stomach and bedtime?

Eating, especially carbohydrates and fats, can blunt the GH response to a secretagogue. And the body's natural GH pulses are largest during early slow-wave sleep, so timing the dose at night is supposed to amplify, rather than disrupt, the natural rhythm.

Who shouldn't use it?

People with active cancer, given theoretical concerns about GH/IGF-1 effects on tumor biology. People with diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance, since GH can raise blood glucose. People with severe sleep apnea or untreated carpal tunnel. Anyone competing in tested sports, these compounds are on the WADA banned list.

FDA and regulatory status

Status as of May 5, 2026: Neither CJC-1295 nor Ipamorelin is FDA-approved for any medical indication. Both appeared on the FDA's September 2023 Category 2 list, making them ineligible for compounding by licensed pharmacies under standard 503A and 503B pathways. The April 2026 FDA advisory-committee review of seven compounded peptides did not include CJC-1295 or Ipamorelin in scope. Status updates land here when they happen.

Want to go deeper? Mechanism, half-life, dosing protocols, the CJC-1295 with DAC history, side-effect profile, and full reference list. Click to expand.

Background and the two peptides

CJC-1295 (No DAC) / Modified GRF 1-29 is a 29-amino-acid GHRH analog with four amino-acid substitutions designed to resist degradation by dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV), giving it a longer half-life than native GHRH (~30 minutes vs. minutes). It binds GHRH receptors on pituitary somatotrophs, triggering pulsatile GH release.

Ipamorelin is a synthetic pentapeptide that selectively activates the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R), the same receptor activated by ghrelin. Unlike older GH secretagogues (GHRP-6, GHRP-2), it does not significantly raise cortisol or prolactin at standard doses.

The combination engages two complementary pathways. Stimulating GHRH and GHS-R receptors simultaneously produces a synergistic pulse of GH that exceeds either pathway alone, 2 to 3 times higher in published pharmacokinetic studies.

CJC-1295 with DAC, historical context. A longer-acting variant designed to provide sustained GH elevation through a Drug Affinity Complex was under clinical development by ConjuChem Biotechnologies. Phase 2 development was discontinued following adverse events. The "No DAC" version is the form most discussed in current research-peptide contexts.

Mechanism of action

GHRH pathway (CJC-1295)

Binding to the GHRH receptor on pituitary somatotrophs activates Gs-coupled signaling, increasing intracellular cAMP and triggering GH synthesis and release. The DPP-IV-resistant substitutions in CJC-1295 extend its biological activity vs. native GHRH.

GHS-R / ghrelin pathway (Ipamorelin)

Ipamorelin acts as a ghrelin-receptor agonist on pituitary somatotrophs. It potentiates GH release via Gq-coupled signaling, producing additive, and at the right doses, synergistic, effects with GHRH.

Net effect

Pulsatile GH release that mimics the body's natural pulse pattern more closely than direct GH replacement, with the pulses themselves being 2 to 3 times higher than either peptide produces alone.

Commonly studied dosing protocols

These are not recommendations. Safe and effective doses in healthy adults have not been formally established. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider.

Subcutaneous (research range)

Reported research-community ranges: CJC-1295 (No DAC) at 100 mcg per dose and Ipamorelin at 100 to 300 mcg per dose, combined and given once nightly before bed, on an empty stomach.

Timing

Bedtime dosing is the typical pattern, intended to align with the body's natural slow-wave-sleep GH pulse. Empty-stomach administration is suggested because food (especially carbs and fat) can blunt the GH response.

Duration

Research-community discussion typically frames cycles in the 8 to 12 week range, with some practitioners preferring continuous use and others cycling to potentially preserve receptor sensitivity. Long-term receptor-level effects in healthy adults have not been characterized.

Half-life and pharmacokinetic timing

CJC-1295 (No DAC) has a plasma half-life of approximately 30 minutes, much longer than native GHRH (~7 minutes), but short enough to produce a discrete pulse rather than sustained elevation. Ipamorelin's half-life is approximately 2 hours. Combined, the GH-pulse window after dosing is on the order of 1 to 2 hours.

The historical DAC version was designed for a half-life of 6 to 8 days. Its sustained-elevation pharmacology was implicated in the adverse-event profile that halted Phase 2 development.

Side effects and safety profile

Reported in research and community settings:

  • Mild flushing or warmth shortly after injection (common, transient)
  • Injection-site redness or tenderness (common, mild)
  • Lightheadedness (less common)
  • Mild fluid retention or transient hand/foot swelling (uncommon)
  • Increased appetite (Ipamorelin's ghrelin-pathway activation has a smaller effect on appetite than other GHRPs, but isn't zero)
  • Numbness or tingling, particularly in hands (uncommon, may suggest carpal tunnel-type effects from elevated GH/IGF-1)

Theoretical and known concerns: theoretical effects on tumor biology via GH/IGF-1 pathways (avoid in active malignancy); blood-glucose elevation in people with diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance; potential to worsen sleep apnea; carpal tunnel exacerbation in susceptible individuals. Long-term safety in healthy adults using nightly GH secretagogues has not been characterized.

References

  1. Teichman SL, Neale A, Lawrence B, et al. (2006). "Prolonged stimulation of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I secretion by CJC-1295." J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 91(3), 799–805. PubMed
  2. Ionescu M, Frohman LA. (2006). "Pulsatile secretion of growth hormone (GH) persists during continuous stimulation by CJC-1295, a long-acting GH-releasing hormone analog." J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 91(12), 4792–4797. PubMed
  3. Raun K, Hansen BS, Johansen NL, et al. (1998). "Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue." Eur J Endocrinol, 139(5), 552–561. PubMed
  4. Sigalos JT, Pastuszak AW. (2018). "The safety and efficacy of growth hormone secretagogues." Sex Med Rev, 6(1), 45–53. PubMed
  5. Johansen PB, Nowak J, Skjaerbaek C, et al. (1999). "Ipamorelin, a new growth-hormone-releasing peptide, induces longitudinal bone growth in rats." Growth Horm IGF Res, 9(2), 106–113. PubMed
  6. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2023). "Pharmacy Compounding Guidance. FDA Category 2 List." FDA.gov
For educational and research purposes only. This is not medical advice. Neither CJC-1295 nor Ipamorelin is FDA-approved; both are on the FDA's Category 2 list as of September 2023. Consult a licensed healthcare provider before considering any peptide. PeptideLibraryHub is independent and does not sell peptides or accept money from anyone who does. Information current as of May 2026.