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All peptides
GHRH analog

CJC-1295

Also known as: CJC-1295 with DAC, CJC-1295 no-DAC, Modified GRF 1-29

Tier 3 — Animal / in vitroReviewed 2026-04-30

Long-acting GHRH analog often paired with a GHRP. Strong PK data in humans; outcome data is limited.

Ask about CJC-1295

Answers are grounded in the literature ingested for this peptide. Every clinical claim cites a source. Out-of-scope questions (pediatric dosing, pregnancy, oncology, personal medical advice) will be refused. Beta — verify everything important with your clinician.

Examples: “What dose was used in the SURMOUNT-1 trial?” · “Are there any cardiovascular outcome data?”

Overview

CJC-1295 is a synthetic analog of GHRH (1-29). The 'with DAC' version includes a Drug Affinity Complex linker that binds serum albumin, extending half-life to several days. The 'no DAC' version (also called Modified GRF 1-29 or MOD-GRF) lacks that linker and has a half-life of ~30 minutes — closer to native GHRH and the standard pairing for self-experimenters who want pulsatile release with a GHRP like ipamorelin. Human pharmacokinetic data exist; outcome data on body composition or healthspan is much thinner.

Mechanism

Binds the GHRH receptor on pituitary somatotrophs to trigger endogenous GH release. The DAC linker extends serum residence by binding to albumin, producing sustained GHRH-receptor exposure rather than the pulsatile native pattern.

Evidence by indication

We classify each indication separately. The same peptide can be Tier 1 for one use and Tier 4 for another. Tiers reflect the published literature, not the strength of community framing.

Sustained GH/IGF-1 elevation in healthy adults

Tier 2medium confidence

Teichman et al. (2006) demonstrated dose-dependent IGF-1 elevation lasting up to two weeks per dose. This is pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evidence, not outcome evidence.

Teichman SL et al. 2006

Body composition (fat loss / lean mass gain)

Tier 3high confidence

No published human RCTs evaluate body composition outcomes with CJC-1295. Outcome claims rest on indirect inference from GH/IGF-1 PD.

No primary citations are anchored to this indication — the tier reflects the absence of usable literature, not a missing reference.

Sleep architecture

Tier 3medium confidence

Some preclinical work suggests GHRH analogs increase slow-wave sleep duration. Direct CJC-1295 sleep RCTs in humans are not published.

No primary citations are anchored to this indication — the tier reflects the absence of usable literature, not a missing reference.

Studied dose ranges

The ranges below come from published trial protocols where available, and from documented self-experimenter consensus where the literature does not include human dose-finding work. The notes flag which is which.

30–250 mcgsee notes · subcutaneous

With DAC: 30–250 mcg once or twice weekly was used in the Teichman PK study. No-DAC protocols typically run 100 mcg before bed (often combined with 100–200 mcg ipamorelin). These are extrapolations from PK and self-experimenter consensus, not outcome-trial doses.

Contraindications

  • Active malignancy (relative)
  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding
  • Pituitary or hypothalamic disease — confirm with provider before use
  • Severe insulin resistance or uncontrolled diabetes
  • Hypersensitivity to GHRH analogs

Reported side effects

  • Injection site flushing (more common with DAC version due to sustained exposure)
  • Headache
  • Transient nausea
  • Fluid retention with chronic high-dose use
  • Reduced insulin sensitivity at higher cumulative doses
  • Numbness or tingling (likely IGF-1 elevation effect)

Reconstitution & storage

Reconstitute lyophilized powder with bacteriostatic water. A common preparation: 2 mg vial in 2 mL BAC water = 1 mg/mL, putting a 100 mcg dose at 10 units on a U-100 syringe. Use the calculator to verify your specific vial.

Storage. Lyophilized: refrigerate 2–8 °C. Reconstituted: refrigerate 2–8 °C, use within 30 days. Do not freeze. Light protection extends stability.

Open the peptide calculator → to compute exact draw volumes for your specific vial and BAC water choice.

Editorial note

Distinguish DAC from no-DAC clearly — they are functionally different drugs with different dosing schedules. Do not let popular framing collapse them.

Citations

  1. [1]
    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
    Teichman SL, Neale A, Lawrence B, Gagnon C, Castaigne JP, Frohman LA · Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · 2006 · PMID 16638915
    Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characterization in healthy adults.
    View source