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GH-axis

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CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin

Also known as: CJC/Ipa, CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin, Mod GRF 1-29 / Ipamorelin

The most widely used GH-restoration protocol — GHRH amplification plus a clean GHRP pulse in one bedtime injection. The combination mimics natural GH physiology more closely than either alone.

Reviewed 2026-05-27

What it does

CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin pairs two complementary GH secretagogues in a fixed-ratio vial. CJC-1295 (no-DAC, i.e. Modified GRF 1-29) binds the GHRH receptor on the anterior pituitary and amplifies the natural GH pulse; Ipamorelin selectively activates the ghrelin/GHSR-1a receptor to trigger GH release without raising cortisol, prolactin, or aldosterone. Together they produce a synergistic GH pulse that resembles natural physiology more closely than either peptide alone or exogenous hGH.

Used for

Dose

Dose
250 mcg · 5 days/week (10 units of a 5/5 mg vial = 250 mcg of each)
When
Bedtime30–60 minutes before bed, fasted 2+ hours, pairs the injected pulse with the natural overnight GH window in slow-wave sleep; recent insulin blunts the ghrelin pathway.
How long
6 months on / 2 months off
Site
subcutaneous, before bed, fasted 2+ h
Food
fasted

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⚠ Caution

  • Active malignancy (theoretical concern via IGF-1; relative)
  • Uncontrolled diabetes or severe insulin resistance (GH is counter-regulatory to insulin; transient increases in insulin resistance)
  • Severe heart failure
  • Pituitary or hypothalamic disease — confirm with provider before use
  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding
  • Competitive athletes — GH secretagogues are WADA-banned
  • Hypersensitivity to GHRH analogs or to ipamorelin

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; target 30–80% rise from baseline, within age-adjusted range — do not chase supraphysiologicPrimary objective marker. IGFBP-3 as confirmatory.
Functional & psychometric
  • Tier 3 — Animal / in vitroSleep quality (PSQI), lean mass %, waist circumference· 12 weeksFunctional/composition tracking; lags the IGF-1 change.

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

Featured in protocols
  • Body CompositionPhase 2 — GH-axis layer for lean-mass sparing (CJC/Ipa)
  • Andropause SupportPhase 3 — GH-axis layer for body comp + recovery (+CJC/Ipa)
  • Postpartum RecoveryPhase 3 — GH-axis body comp recovery (+CJC/Ipa) — POST-WEANING + 3+ MONTHS
  • Menopause SupportPhase 3 — GH-axis body comp + cognitive layer (+CJC/Ipa)
  • Fertility PlanningPhase 2 — Specialist-guided adjuncts (kisspeptin for women / CJC-Ipa for men preparation)
  • Competition PrepPhase 1 — Off-season foundation (tissue repair + GH-axis)
Cycling

6 months on, 2 months off.

The 5-on / 2-off weekly schedule maintains receptor sensitivity.

Related peptides

What's in this blend

  • CJC-12955 mg/vial· 50%GHRH-receptor amplification of the natural GH pulse (no-DAC / Mod GRF 1-29)
  • Ipamorelin5 mg/vial· 50%selective ghrelin/GHSR-1a agonist — clean GH release
Co-injection & overlap

Redundant with

  • Ipamorelin The CJC-1295/Ipamorelin blend already contains a full Ipamorelin dose; adding standalone Ipamorelin doubles the GHRP load on ghrelin receptors without proportional GH benefit.; typically run one, not both.
Reconstitution & storage
VialBAC waterConcentrationShelf life
10 mg2 mL250 mcg / 250 mcg per 10 units (5/5 mg blend)1 month

Standard blend vial is 5 mg CJC-1295 + 5 mg Ipamorelin. Reconstitute a 5/5 mg vial with 2 mL BAC water for 250 mcg / 250 mcg per 10 units; the vial lasts ~1 month at 10 units, 5 days/week.

Storage. Lyophilized: refrigerate, long-term stable. Reconstituted: refrigerate 2–8 °C, use within ~1 month.

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Nasal delivery

Not suitable for nasal delivery. GH secretagogues require SQ injection for a reliable pituitary pulse; no validated nasal protocol.

Monitoring & questions

Reported side effects
  • Transient flushing
  • Vivid dreams
  • Tingling in the hands during the first 1–2 weeks
  • Injection-site irritation (more than Ipamorelin alone)
  • Water retention / mild fluid shifts
Biomarkers Juno tracks

Reference

How it works

Two mechanisms in one injection: CJC-1295 sets the GHRH-driven 'permission' for GH release while Ipamorelin pulls the ghrelin-pathway trigger. The result is a larger, cleaner endogenous GH pulse — and, downstream, raised IGF-1 — while preserving pulsatile secretion. Combination-specific RCT data is limited; the evidence base is the individual components' human PK/PD studies.

EvidenceTier 2 — Human observational

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.

GH/IGF-1 axis restoration (anti-aging, body composition)

Tier 2high confidence

Each component has human PK/PD evidence that it raises GH and IGF-1 (Teichman 2006 for CJC-1295; Raun 1998 / Gobburu 1999 for Ipamorelin). Evidence is for the GH/IGF-1 axis effect (small human studies), not for combination-specific long-term body-composition outcomes — those remain Tier 3.

Visible body-composition change (lean mass, fat loss)

Tier 3medium confidence

Body-composition shifts are downstream of the IGF-1 rise and typically lag 2–3 months. No combination RCT with composition endpoints; this specific outcome is Tier 3.

Sleep quality / recovery

Tier 3medium confidence

GH peaks in slow-wave sleep and users report improved sleep, but controlled human data for the combination on sleep endpoints is absent.

Citations (2)
  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, et al. · Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · 2006 · PMID 16352683
    Human evidence that CJC-1295 raises GH and IGF-1 — the Tier 2 anchor for the GH/IGF-1 axis indication.
    View source
  2. [2]
    Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue
    Raun K, Hansen BS, Johansen NL, et al. · European Journal of Endocrinology · 1998 · PMID 9849822
    Characterization of Ipamorelin's selective GH-releasing action — the second component anchor.
    View source