Is CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin approved or legal?

No. Neither CJC-1295 nor Ipamorelin is FDA-approved for human therapeutic use, and the blend is not an approved drug. These peptides are sold for research use only and are not quality-assured for human consumption. Legality varies by jurisdiction; possession, sale, and use are restricted in many places. This is not medical or legal advice.

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

The DAC (Drug Affinity Complex) version binds serum albumin and has a half-life of about 5.8-8.1 days, supporting infrequent dosing. The no-DAC version, Modified GRF (1-29), has a half-life of roughly 30 minutes and produces a short, more physiologic GH pulse. The no-DAC form is the one most commonly paired with Ipamorelin in community use, while human trial data largely come from the DAC version.

What dosing and half-life are reported?

Community sources (anecdotal, not medical advice) commonly describe 100 mcg of each peptide subcutaneously, once to multiple times daily, often fasted or before bed, in 8-12 week cycles. Half-life depends on the form: CJC-1295 with DAC ~5.8-8.1 days, CJC-1295 no-DAC ~30 minutes, and Ipamorelin ~2 hours. No clinical dosing is established for the blend.

Why combine CJC-1295 with Ipamorelin?

They act on different pituitary pathways: CJC-1295 mimics GHRH while Ipamorelin activates the ghrelin (GHS-R1a) receptor and suppresses somatostatin. Stimulating both can produce a larger, synergistic GH pulse than either alone. This rationale is mechanistically well supported, but outcome data for the specific combination in humans are limited.

What are the main side effects?

Commonly reported effects include injection-site reactions, transient flushing, mild water retention, joint aches, tingling or numbness in the hands, increased appetite, headache, and drowsiness. Theoretical concerns include reduced insulin sensitivity and caution with any condition where elevated GH/IGF-1 could be harmful, such as active cancer. Consult a qualified clinician.

Hormonal

CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin

Also known as: CJC/Ipa, CJC-1295 Ipamorelin stack, CJC-1295/Ipamorelin

A research blend pairing a GHRH analog (CJC-1295) with a selective ghrelin-receptor agonist (Ipamorelin) to stimulate pulsatile growth hormone release.

Last updated July 11, 2026

Buy CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin

What's in this blend

CJC-1295 — 5mg (details)
Ipamorelin — 5mg (details)

Overview

CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin is one of the most commonly discussed growth-hormone (GH) secretagogue combinations. It pairs CJC-1295, a synthetic analog of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), with Ipamorelin, a selective agonist of the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a). The rationale is that the two compounds act on distinct, complementary pituitary pathways, so combining them can produce a larger and more physiologic GH pulse than either alone. Importantly, "CJC-1295" refers to two different molecules in practice. The original peptide studied in humans (the DAC, or Drug Affinity Complex, version) binds serum albumin and has a multi-day half-life. The version most often paired with Ipamorelin in community use is CJC-1295 without DAC, also called Modified GRF (1-29), which has a half-life of roughly 30 minutes. Human trial data exist almost entirely for the DAC version of CJC-1295 and, separately, for early Ipamorelin pharmacology; controlled human trials of the specific combined blend are lacking. Direct human evidence for the stack as marketed is limited and largely extrapolated from single-compound studies plus anecdotal community reports. These products are sold for research use only and are not approved by the FDA for human therapeutic use outside of GH-deficiency contexts that use approved drugs. Claims around body composition, recovery, and anti-aging should be read as preliminary and evidence-graded rather than established outcomes.

How it works

The blend works through two complementary GH-release pathways at the anterior pituitary. CJC-1295 is a GHRH analog: it binds the GHRH receptor on somatotroph cells, activating adenylyl cyclase and raising intracellular cyclic AMP, which promotes GH synthesis and secretion. Ipamorelin is a pentapeptide ghrelin-receptor (GHS-R1a) agonist that mimics ghrelin to trigger GH release and also suppresses somatostatin tone. Because GHRH-receptor and ghrelin-receptor signaling are distinct, co-stimulation can produce a synergistic GH pulse larger than either agent alone. Both increase GH in a pulsatile, largely physiologic pattern that, with the no-DAC version, tends to preserve feedback regulation. Ipamorelin was characterized as highly selective, releasing GH with minimal effect on cortisol, ACTH, or prolactin in preclinical work.

Researched effects

Preclinical Increases pulsatile growth hormone secretion at the pituitary
Clinical Raises circulating IGF-1, the downstream mediator of many GH effects (shown for CJC-1295 with DAC in healthy adults)
Preclinical Ipamorelin stimulates GH selectively with minimal cortisol, ACTH, or prolactin elevation
Anecdotal Improved sleep quality and recovery
Anecdotal Supports lean body composition, reduced fat, and faster soft-tissue recovery
Anecdotal Improved skin quality and general well-being

Evidence levels: Clinical (human trials) · Preclinical (animal/lab) · Anecdotal (community-reported).

Dosing reference

For research reference only — not a recommendation.

Clinical / studied dosing

No established clinical dosing exists for the marketed CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin blend. In the single published human pharmacokinetic study, CJC-1295 with DAC was given subcutaneously at 30-60 mcg/kg and produced 2- to 10-fold rises in GH for 6+ days and 1.5- to 3-fold rises in IGF-1 for 9-11 days, with an estimated half-life of 5.8-8.1 days. Ipamorelin human data are limited to early pharmacology; there is no approved therapeutic dose for either compound in this combination.

Community-reported dosing (anecdotal)

Anecdotal and research-reference-only (NOT medical advice). Community reports (e.g. r/Peptides and peptide-forum guides) for the no-DAC / Mod GRF (1-29) version most often describe 100 mcg of each peptide injected subcutaneously together, once daily, sometimes split into two or three daily doses 8-12 hours apart. Users typically time injections fasted (morning) or before bed to align with natural GH pulses and avoid food/fat near dosing. Commonly described cycles run 8-12 weeks on with 4-8 weeks off. Many community sources state doses above ~200 mcg per peptide tend to raise side effects without proportional benefit. These figures are unverified user reports, not validated protocols.

Half-life: CJC-1295 with DAC ~5.8-8.1 days; CJC-1295 without DAC (Mod GRF 1-29) ~30 minutes; Ipamorelin ~2 hours
Routes: subcutaneous

Safety & side effects

Human safety data for the specific blend are limited. In the CJC-1295-with-DAC trial the peptide was generally well tolerated; commonly reported effects across GH secretagogues and community use include injection-site reactions, transient flushing, mild water/fluid retention, joint aches, tingling or numbness in the hands (consistent with GH-driven fluid shifts), increased appetite (more associated with ghrelin-receptor agonists like Ipamorelin), headache, and drowsiness. Theoretical concerns include effects on insulin sensitivity and blood glucose with sustained GH elevation, and the general caution that chronically elevated GH/IGF-1 could be relevant to growth of existing tumors. These products are research-use-only, not quality-assured pharmaceuticals, and source purity varies. Not for use in pregnancy or with active malignancy. This is not medical advice.

Research summary

The evidence base is uneven. The strongest human data are for CJC-1295 with DAC: Teichman et al. (2006, JCEM) showed single subcutaneous doses produced dose-dependent, multi-day increases in GH and IGF-1 in healthy adults with reasonable tolerability, and a follow-up analysis documented GH/IGF-1 axis activation. Ipamorelin's foundational evidence is preclinical: Raun et al. (1998) characterized it as the first selective GH secretagogue, releasing GH without meaningful cortisol or prolactin elevation. Critically, the most popular community form pairs Ipamorelin with the no-DAC (Mod GRF 1-29) version of CJC-1295, which has very different pharmacokinetics (minutes vs days) and almost no dedicated human trial data. There are no published randomized controlled trials of the combined blend for body composition, recovery, anti-aging, or sleep endpoints. Consequently, the mechanistic case (dual-pathway, synergistic GH release) is well supported in principle, the surrogate marker of IGF-1 elevation is supported for one component in humans, but clinical outcome claims remain largely anecdotal. Users and researchers should treat marketing claims with skepticism, recognize the research-use-only status, and consult qualified medical professionals before any human use.

FAQ

Is CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin approved or legal?: No. Neither CJC-1295 nor Ipamorelin is FDA-approved for human therapeutic use, and the blend is not an approved drug. These peptides are sold for research use only and are not quality-assured for human consumption. Legality varies by jurisdiction; possession, sale, and use are restricted in many places. This is not medical or legal advice.
What is the difference between CJC-1295 with and without DAC?: The DAC (Drug Affinity Complex) version binds serum albumin and has a half-life of about 5.8-8.1 days, supporting infrequent dosing. The no-DAC version, Modified GRF (1-29), has a half-life of roughly 30 minutes and produces a short, more physiologic GH pulse. The no-DAC form is the one most commonly paired with Ipamorelin in community use, while human trial data largely come from the DAC version.
What dosing and half-life are reported?: Community sources (anecdotal, not medical advice) commonly describe 100 mcg of each peptide subcutaneously, once to multiple times daily, often fasted or before bed, in 8-12 week cycles. Half-life depends on the form: CJC-1295 with DAC ~5.8-8.1 days, CJC-1295 no-DAC ~30 minutes, and Ipamorelin ~2 hours. No clinical dosing is established for the blend.
Why combine CJC-1295 with Ipamorelin?: They act on different pituitary pathways: CJC-1295 mimics GHRH while Ipamorelin activates the ghrelin (GHS-R1a) receptor and suppresses somatostatin. Stimulating both can produce a larger, synergistic GH pulse than either alone. This rationale is mechanistically well supported, but outcome data for the specific combination in humans are limited.
What are the main side effects?: Commonly reported effects include injection-site reactions, transient flushing, mild water retention, joint aches, tingling or numbness in the hands, increased appetite, headache, and drowsiness. Theoretical concerns include reduced insulin sensitivity and caution with any condition where elevated GH/IGF-1 could be harmful, such as active cancer. Consult a qualified clinician.

References

All content is for research and educational use only and is not medical advice. Products are sold for laboratory research only and are not for human consumption.