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GH-axis

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GHRH analog

CJC-1295

Also known as: CJC-1295 with DAC, CJC-1295 no-DAC, Modified GRF 1-29, Mod GRF 1-29, DAC, Modified Growth Hormone Releasing Factor 1-29

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

Reviewed 2026-04-30

What it does

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.

Used for

Dose

Starting
30 mcg · see notes
Common
140 mcg · see notes
Upper
250 mcg · see notes
When
BedtimeAligns with the natural GH pulse during early-night slow-wave sleep. CRITICAL: empty stomach — wait 3+ hours after the last meal. Food blunts the GH response sharply.
How long
6 months on / 2 months off
Site
subcutaneous
Food
fasted

Need exact volumes? Open the peptide calculator →

⚠ Caution

  • 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

Medications & conditions

  • CJC-1295 with corticosteroid — blunted GH responseUser is taking a corticosteroid. Chronic high-dose glucocorticoid use suppresses hypothalamic GHRH secretion and reduces pituitary sensitivity, meaningfully blunting the GH-releasing effect of CJC-1295. Benefit of the peptide may be substantially reduced until steroid dose is tapered.

Will it work for me?

Establish a baseline (2–3 readings over 1–2 weeks before starting), then track at consistent intervals.

Blood markers
  • Tier 1 — Human RCTIGF-1· by 8 weeks; stay within age-adjusted range — do not chase supraphysiologicTarget 30–80% rise from baseline within the age-adjusted reference range. IGFBP-3 as confirmatory.
Imaging
  • Tier 2 — Human observationalLean mass % via DEXA· 12 weeks+
Functional & psychometric
  • Tier 3 — Animal / in vitroSleep quality (PSQI)· 2–4 weeksLower PSQI = better sleep.

Often stacked with

  • IpamorelinCJC-1295 (GHRH analog) primes somatotroph GHRH receptors; Ipamorelin (ghrelin-receptor agonist) pulls the GH-release trigger — dual pathway produces a larger, cleaner GH pulse than either alone.
  • IGF-1 LR3CJC-1295 raises endogenous GH (upstream); IGF-1 LR3 provides direct downstream IGF-1R agonism with extended half-life — serial pathway amplification, but timing and monitoring requirements differ.

Your stack

Track this peptide in your protocol — dose, schedule, vials on hand, refill projection. Stays in your browser; no account needed.

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Use this peptide

Cycling

6 months on, 2 months off.

The 5-days-on/2-off weekly schedule maintains receptor sensitivity. DAC version dosed 1–2×/week; no-DAC dosed daily.

Related peptides

Part of these blends

Co-injection & overlap

Can share a syringe with: Ipamorelin

Inject separately (do not co-mix): IGF-1 LR3

Redundant with

  • Sermorelin Both are GHRH-receptor agonists driving the same pituitary somatotroph pathway; combining them does not produce additive GH secretion and doubles receptor-saturation and tachyphylaxis risk.; typically run one, not both.
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 →

Nasal delivery

Not suitable for nasal delivery. SQ only — protein structure and the need for systemic delivery to the pituitary make nasal absorption non-viable.

Monitoring & questions

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)
Biomarkers Juno tracks
FAQ (1)

Reference

How it works

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.

EvidenceTier 3 — Animal / in vitro

Tiers are per indication. The same molecule can be Tier 1 for one use and Tier 4 for another — the tier reflects published literature, not 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.

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.

Citations (1)
  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