CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin

Key benefits

What to expect

Based on community reports and published research. Individual results vary significantly.

Vendor ratings are based on community feedback and are not endorsements. Always verify third-party certificates of analysis (CoA) and check your local regulations before purchasing.

Dosing protocols

Dosing information is sourced from published research and community protocols. This is not a recommendation. Consult a healthcare professional.

Overview

CJC-1295 is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) that stimulates the pituitary gland to release growth hormone. Ipamorelin is a selective growth hormone secretagogue that mimics ghrelin's action at the GH secretagogue receptor. When combined, they create a synergistic effect: CJC-1295 amplifies and extends GH release pulses, while Ipamorelin initiates them. This stack has become the most popular growth hormone secretagogue combination because it stimulates natural pulsatile GH release (preserving the body's rhythm) rather than providing exogenous GH directly.

How it works

CJC-1295 binds to GHRH receptors on pituitary somatotroph cells, stimulating growth hormone synthesis and release. The DAC (Drug Affinity Complex) version binds to albumin, extending its half-life to 6–8 days. Ipamorelin acts on ghrelin/GHS receptors on the same cells, triggering a GH pulse. Together, they amplify both the amplitude and duration of GH pulses. Importantly, this stack preserves negative feedback - when GH and IGF-1 levels rise sufficiently, somatostatin naturally suppresses further release, preventing excessive GH elevation.

Side effects

Research history

Why this stack over HGH?

Exogenous human growth hormone (HGH) provides a constant supraphysiological level that suppresses your body's natural GH production. The CJC-1295/Ipamorelin stack instead amplifies your own GH pulses, preserving the natural pulsatile pattern. This is significant because GH released in pulses has different metabolic effects than continuous elevation. Pulsatile GH favours fat metabolism, while constant GH elevation is more associated with water retention and insulin resistance. The stack is also significantly cheaper than pharmaceutical HGH and carries lower risk of side effects.

Timing matters

The largest natural GH pulse occurs within the first 90 minutes of deep sleep. Injecting CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin 30 minutes before bed amplifies this natural peak. Taking it fasted is also important - carbohydrates and insulin blunt GH release. Avoid eating for 2 hours before and 30 minutes after injection for optimal results. Some users split dosing to twice daily (morning fasted + before bed) for enhanced effects.

CJC-1295 with DAC vs without DAC

CJC-1295 comes in two forms: with DAC (Drug Affinity Complex) and without DAC (also called Mod GRF 1-29). The DAC version has a much longer half-life (6–8 days vs 30 minutes) due to albumin binding. Without DAC requires more frequent dosing (2–3x daily) but provides sharper, more defined GH pulses. With DAC provides a more sustained elevation. Most practitioners prefer the non-DAC version (Mod GRF 1-29) when stacking with Ipamorelin because it better preserves natural pulse patterns.

Recommended products

Hand-picked for this compound. Ships via Amazon 🇺🇸

References

1. [1]Teichman SL, et al. "Prolonged stimulation of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I secretion by CJC-1295." Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2006.
2. [2]Raun K, et al. "Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue." European Journal of Endocrinology, 1998.
3. [3]Sinha DK, et al. "Beyond the androgen receptor: the role of growth hormone secretagogues." European Urology Focus, 2020.

Frequently asked questions

Related peptides