CJC-1295: Benefits, Dosage, the Ipamorelin Stack, and How to Get It
Medically reviewed by the Rite Aid Health Team · Last updated June 16, 2026
CJC-1295 is a synthetic analog of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). It signals the pituitary to release more of the body's own growth hormone, which in turn raises IGF-1 — the downstream marker most people use to track whether it's working.
It comes in two forms: with DAC (Drug Affinity Complex), which extends its action for a sustained elevation of GH and IGF-1, and without DAC (often sold as Mod GRF 1-29), which is shorter-acting.
It is used for body composition, recovery, sleep, and anti-aging, and is almost always paired with ipamorelin. If you're comparing GH-axis peptides, start with our peptide therapy guide.
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What is CJC-1295?
CJC-1295 is a modified peptide based on the first 29 amino acids of growth-hormone-releasing hormone — the sequence that carries GHRH's biological activity.
The modifications make it more stable than natural GHRH, which is broken down in the body within minutes. By mimicking GHRH, CJC-1295 prompts the pituitary to secrete growth hormone in a natural, pulsatile pattern rather than flooding the body with synthetic GH.
DAC vs non-DAC (Mod GRF 1-29)
The single most important distinction with CJC-1295 is whether it carries DAC:
- CJC-1295 with DAC. DAC (Drug Affinity Complex) binds to albumin in the bloodstream, which dramatically extends the peptide's half-life. The result is a sustained elevation of GH and IGF-1 over several days from a single dose, dosed roughly once or twice weekly.
- CJC-1295 without DAC (Mod GRF 1-29). Without the DAC group, the peptide is short-acting — it clears within a few hours and produces a sharp, brief GH pulse. It is dosed more frequently, typically alongside a meal-timed protocol.
Which form a protocol uses changes the dosing schedule and how it's stacked, so it's worth confirming which one you're discussing with a provider.
Benefits and uses
What CJC-1295 is used for, with the honest framing that human clinical data on the body-composition outcomes is limited:
- Body composition. By raising GH and IGF-1, CJC-1295 is used to support lean mass and fat metabolism over a cycle.
- Recovery. Elevated GH supports soft-tissue repair, which is why it's used by people training hard.
- Sleep. Growth hormone is released in the deepest stages of sleep; users report improved sleep quality on GHRH-analog protocols.
- Anti-aging. GH and IGF-1 decline with age, and CJC-1295 is used to push them back toward youthful ranges.
Most clinical study of CJC-1295 has measured its effect on GH and IGF-1 levels rather than on long-term body-composition or anti-aging endpoints. The hormonal effect is well documented; the downstream outcomes rest more on user reports.
The ipamorelin pairing
CJC-1295 is almost always paired with ipamorelin. The two work through different mechanisms that combine for a stronger GH pulse.
CJC-1295 is a GHRH analog (it tells the pituitary to make GH), while ipamorelin is a growth-hormone secretagogue (it triggers the release of stored GH). Run together, they produce a synergistic pulse larger than either alone.
For a broader protocol, compare the stack with other muscle and performance peptides, and see sermorelin for the shorter-acting GHRH alternative.
How it works
CJC-1295 binds the GHRH receptor on the pituitary and stimulates the synthesis and release of growth hormone. The released GH acts on the liver and other tissues to produce IGF-1, the insulin-like growth factor that mediates most of GH's anabolic and repair effects.
Because the signal goes through the body's own pituitary, GH is released in pulses rather than as a constant synthetic level — the appeal over direct GH injection.
Dosage and administration
CJC-1295 is given by subcutaneous injection. Dosing depends entirely on the form: the DAC version is dosed roughly once or twice weekly because of its extended half-life, while the non-DAC version (Mod GRF 1-29) is dosed more frequently, often before bed or post-workout, to align with natural GH pulses.
It is commonly combined with ipamorelin in a single injection. These are not official dosing guidelines — there is no FDA-approved CJC-1295 product — and dosing should be set by the prescribing provider.
Reconstitution and drawing the right volume on an insulin syringe is where most errors happen. Use the peptide dosage calculator to convert your target dose into syringe units for your vial size.
Side effects and safety
Reported side effects are generally mild — injection-site reactions, flushing, headache, and water retention from elevated GH.
Because it raises GH and IGF-1, the relevant monitoring is for the effects of higher GH: blood sugar can rise, and IGF-1 should be kept within a sensible range rather than pushed indefinitely.
Long-term human safety data for CJC-1295 specifically is limited. Anyone using it should monitor IGF-1 and metabolic markers and work with a provider.
Legal status and how to get CJC-1295
CJC-1295 was not among the 12 peptides removed from the FDA's Section 503A Category 2 list in April 2026, and it is not on the agenda for the July 23–24, 2026 Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee meeting. Its compounding status is therefore more constrained than the reclassified peptides.
The cleanest legal route is a prescription evaluated by a licensed provider; products sold online "for research use only" are not manufactured or quality-controlled for human use, and buying them carries quality and legal risk.
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Blood work to track CJC-1295
CJC-1295 works by raising GH and IGF-1, so those are the direct readouts of whether it's doing anything:
- IGF-1 — the primary marker for any GH-releasing peptide. It should rise if CJC-1295 is working; it's also the number you use to avoid pushing GH too high.
- Human Growth Hormone — a direct GH measure that complements IGF-1.
Test before you start and again at 4–8 weeks.
Baseline tests before a peptide cycle
Check safety and response markers before starting. These tests help establish a baseline for liver, kidney, glucose, hormone, and recovery tracking.
FAQ
For body composition, recovery, sleep quality, and anti-aging, by raising the body's own growth hormone and IGF-1. The hormonal effect is well documented; the long-term body-composition outcomes rest more on user reports than on large human trials.
DAC (Drug Affinity Complex) binds albumin and extends the peptide's half-life, giving a sustained GH and IGF-1 elevation dosed once or twice weekly. The non-DAC form (Mod GRF 1-29) is short-acting, producing a brief GH pulse, and is dosed more frequently.
They work through different pathways — CJC-1295 is a GHRH analog that tells the pituitary to make GH, and ipamorelin is a secretagogue that triggers its release. Together they produce a larger, synergistic GH pulse than either alone.
By subcutaneous injection. The DAC form is dosed once or twice weekly; the non-DAC form more frequently, often before bed or post-workout. There is no FDA-approved product or official dosing — a prescribing provider should set it.
Generally mild — injection-site reactions, flushing, headache, water retention. Because it raises GH, blood sugar can rise and IGF-1 should be monitored. Long-term human safety data is limited.
IGF-1 is the readout. It should rise from baseline if the peptide is stimulating GH effectively. Test before starting and again at 4–8 weeks.