Last Updated February 15, 2024

 February 15, 2024

Researchers interested in learning how to calculate the correct CJC-1295 dosage for their next experiment have come to the right place. 

Calculating CJC-1295 dosage is far from straightforward, particularly since the peptide is sold in various versions, including:

  • CJC-1295 No DAC
  • CJC-1295 DAC
  • CJC-1295/Ipamorelin blend 

As such, this guide is extensive. Below, we answer questions like: 

  • What are the potential benefits of CJC-1295? 
  • How is CJC-1295 DAC dosed differently from CJC no DAC? 
  • What are some potential safety concerns linked to CJC-1295? 

Our expert team also includes a CJC-1295 dosage calculator and provides a recommendation on where researchers can buy high-purity CJC-1295 online.

Buy CJC-1295 from our top-rated vendor...

Disclaimer: Peptides.org contains information about products that are intended for laboratory and research use only, unless otherwise explicitly stated. This information, including any referenced scientific or clinical research, is made available for educational purposes only. Likewise, any published information relative to the dosing and administration of reference materials is made available strictly for reference and shall not be construed to encourage the self-administration or any human use of said reference materials. Peptides.org makes every effort to ensure that any information it shares complies with national and international standards for clinical trial information and is committed to the timely disclosure of the design and results of all interventional clinical studies for innovative treatments publicly available or that may be made available. However, research is not considered conclusive. Peptides.org makes no claims that any products referenced can cure, treat or prevent any conditions, including any conditions referenced on its website or in print materials.


What is CJC-1295?

CJC-1295 is a peptide that stimulates the pituitary gland to release more Human Growth Hormone (HGH). It’s essentially a modified version (or “analogue”) of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) that helps increase the amount of GH in the body. Its most well-known iteration, CJC-1295 DAC, was developed by the Canadian biotech company ConjuChem Technologies in the mid-2000s [1].

CJC-1295 DAC was developed to address the main limitation of injectable GH; namely, its short half-life of around seven minutes. DAC, which stands for “Drug Affinity Complex”, is an acetate that helps the CJC-1295 peptide last longer in the body. Studies have shown that CJC-1295 DAC has a half-life of between five and eight days [2].

The other common iteration of CJC-1295 is actually a peptide blend called CJC-1295 ipamorelin. Ipamorelin is a substance known as a “secretagogue,” which means that it increases the specificity of CJC-1295. Researchers are actively investigating whether CJC-1295 ipamorelin has a stronger impact on the secretion of GH and a lower impact on cortisol and prolactin than CJC-1295 DAC and whether it has a stronger effect on fat loss. 

Next, let’s look at the main effects of CJC-1295 observed in past studies.


cjc-1295 dosage calculator


CJC-1295 Benefits and Uses

Researchers interested in the benefits and uses of CJC-1295 will note that CJC-1295 iterations are currently only available as research materials, meaning that their only permitted uses are in vitro testing and laboratory experimentation.

Given CJC-1295’s status as a research chemical, any claims about this peptide's purported benefits have not been confirmed by human clinical trials and any statements online have not been evaluated by the FDA.

In fact, many of CJC-1295’s purported benefits are based on animal studies. For example, an oft-cited study that attributed a “4-fold increase” in GH levels to CJC-1295 was conducted on rats [3]. This indicates that CJC-1295 research is still in its infancy and further investigation is warranted. 

So, what are the research-backed benefits of CJC-1295?

Increases levels of Growth Hormone (GH) and Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1)

Past studies have shown that CJC-1295 stimulates the pituitary gland to release both GH and IGF-1. A 2006 double-blind placebo-controlled study found that a single injection of CJC-1295 DAC can  [2]:

  • Increase plasma growth hormone concentration 2-10 fold for six days
  • Increase plasma IGF-1 concentration 1.5-4 fold for 9-12 days

Based on this evidence, CJC-1295 clearly has a significant impact on GH and IGF-1 levels when administered to test subjects.

Long half-Life than GH

The second proven benefit of CJC-1295 is that it has a much longer half-life than GH and other analogues of GH. The aforementioned 2006 study estimated that CJC-1295 DAC has a half-life of 5.8-8.1 days [2]. As this study was based on data from two separate randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, it provides researchers with a clear picture of CJC-1295’s duration in the human body.

Enhanced athletic performance

There is strong research interest in the application of CJC-1295 for improved athletic performance [4]. This is because GH is an anabolic hormone that plays an important role in muscle growth, and CJC-1295 has a proven ability to increase levels of GH in test subjects. 

CJC-1295 is banned by WADA [5], which strongly indicates that CJC-1295 may enhance athletic performance. To date, there are no scientific studies that support this claim suggesting that further research in this area may be warranted. 

Now that we’ve looked at the main research-backed benefits of CJC-1295, let’s look at some of its documented side effects.


CJC-1295 Side Effects

The 2006 study by Teichman et al found that CJC-1295 DAC was generally well-tolerated and produced only mild, temporary side effects when administered to test subjects [2].

At doses of up to 30 micrograms per kilogram (μg/kg), researchers noted that CJC-1295 DAC caused the following side effects:

  • Mild injection site reactions
  • Itching
  • Headaches
  • Pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Hypertension
  • Induration

The study’s authors noted that around 70 percent of the test subjects who received CJC-1295 DAC experienced one or more of these side effects and that the severity of the reactions increased with doses over 30 μg/kg.


CJC-1295 DAC Dosage Calculator

As CJC-1295 is a research chemical, there is currently no clinical trial data to support dosing guidelines. While many researchers are interested in exploring how CJC-1295 may stimulate the pituitary gland to secrete more endogenous growth hormone, to date there has been no research into its use for these ends [6]. 

By examining published research on CJC-1295, researchers may note how CJC-1295 has been dosed in past studies and trials.

How do researchers administer CJC-1295 DAC?

CJC-1295 DAC peptide comes as a liquid suspension and is administered via subcutaneous injection. Common side effects like pain and injection site reactions can be minimized by following the correct injection procedure [7].

What dose of CJC-1295 DAC should researchers administer?

As CJC-1295 has yet to undergo human clinical trials, there is limited published research into dosing protocol. The 2006 study by Teichman et al involved administering CJC-1295 DAC to test subjects in weekly or biweekly dosages of between 30 μg/kg and 60 μg/kg [2]. For an 80 kg test subject, this would give a weekly dosage range of between 2,400-4,800 μg (2.4 – 4.8 mg).

The study’s authors noted that increases in GH and IGF-I levels produced by CJC-1295 DAC were “dose-dependent,” meaning that in the context of that particular study, higher doses of CJC-1295 produced greater rises in GH and IGF-1 levels than lower doses.

These findings suggest that doses of CJC-1295 DAC and CJC-1295 Ipamorelin should be limited to 2,000 μg per week, regardless of an individual test subject’s body weight. The 2,000 μg may be divided into twice-daily 200 μg injections, or once-daily 400 μg injections, five days per week, with two days off to aid the recovery of the anterior pituitary receptors.

When should CJC-1295 DAC be administered?

The study by Teichman et al. involved the nighttime administration of CJC-1295 at least two hours after dinner [2]. The likely rationale for this decision is that animal studies have found dietary glucose (the sugar in food and drinks) can suppress GH levels in rats [8], and GH levels in humans are known to peak in the late evening, just before bedtime.

When an evening dosing schedule isn’t possible, test subjects may take CJC-1295 early in the morning on an empty stomach. This is thought to prevent dietary glucose from interfering with GH levels [2].

How often should CJC-1295 DAC be administered?

In terms of published research, we know that CJC-1295 can be taken weekly or biweekly and still increase levels of GH and IGF-1 [2]. However, according to statements from functional medicine experts Lindgren [9], test subjects are commonly advised to take CJC-1295 Ipamorelin five nights per week. 

For test subjects on a 2,000 μg/week dosing schedule, this would equate to five 400 μg injections per week or twice-daily 200 μg doses.  

How long should CJC-1295 DAC be administered?

According to Lindgren, it takes 3-6 months to see an upregulation, or increase, in the overall amount of GH isolates being produced by the pituitary gland. At this point, test subjects can either be administered lower doses of the CJC-1295 peptide, or the research can be discontinued. This is supported by Teichman et al’s findings that after multiple CJC-1295 DAC doses, “mean IGF-I levels remained above baseline for up to 28 days” [2].

CJC-1295 DAC Dosage Chart

Weight (lb) Weekly Dosage (μg) Daily Dosage (5 days/week) (μg) Twice Daily Dosage (5 days/week) (μg)
100-150 1360-2040 272 – 408 136 – 204
151-200 2040-2720 408 – 544 204 – 272
201-250 2720-3400 544 – 680 272 – 340

CJC-1295 No DAC Dosage Calculator

Similar to its counterpart, CJC-1295 without the drug affinity complex (CJC-1295 no DAC) is a research chemical available only as a reference material. There are no clinical trials or publications related to dosing CJC-1295 no DAC in humans.

Note that CJC-1295 no DAC is essentially the tetrasubstituted version of the smallest GHRH-analog – GRF (1-29), aka sermorelin. This is why CJC-1295 no DAC is also known as tetrasubstituted GRF (1-29), modified GRF (1-29) or simply mod GRF (1-29) [10].

The modifications of CJC-1295 no DAC were aimed primarily at increasing the half-life of sermorelin, while the effects and dosage remain similar [11, 12].

Since CJC-1295 no DAC is a modified version of sermorelin, and despite the tetra substitution having similar molecular weight, researchers may consider the data on dosage of sermorelin and other modified versions of GRF (1-29) as a reference.

How do researchers administer CJC-1295 No DAC?

CJC-1295 no DAC peptide is available as a lyophilized powder that must be reconstituted and the solution can be administered via subcutaneous injection. Researchers should follow safety recommendations to minimize injection site reactions [7].

What dose of CJC-1295 No DAC should researchers administer?

As mentioned, CJC-1295 no DAC has not been researched in humans and there is no information on potential dosing.

However, researchers may consider the dosing used in trials with sermorelin due to the similarities with CJC-1295 no DAC. The modifications in the latter work primarily to increase the half-life of the peptide from 5-10 mins for sermorelin, to around 30 mins [13, 14].

The majority of research conducted in adults with sermorelin and other modified versions of GRF (1-29) report dosages from 500μg to 2000μg (0.5-2mg) daily and report favorable safety profiles [15, 16, 17].

One of the trials involving a modified version of GRF(1-29) that has similar modifications to CJC-1295 reported a dose of 10 μg/kg. For a 175lb (80kg) test subject, this would give a daily dosage of 800μg (0.8mg) [17].

When should CJC-1295 No DAC be administered?

The majority of studies on sermorelin and its modified versions report administering the peptide in the evening to prevent the potential suppression of food on the circadian GH secretion [8]. Therefore, CJC-1295 no DAC may be best administered right before bed.

How often should CJC-1295 No DAC be administered?

Majority of studies report that sermorelin and similar analogs are administered once per day [15, 16, 17]. Therefore, once-daily administration should also be suitable for CJC-1295 no DAC.

Due to the short half-life of CJC-1295 no DAC, it may also be administered twice or thrice daily. The daytime administration should be early in the morning on an empty stomach to prevent the suppressive effects of food intake and insulin release on GH secretion.

How long should CJC-1295 No DAC be administered?

Due to the lack of human studies with CJC-1295 no DAC, it is difficult to estimate how long the peptide should be administered or cycled.

The available research on other modified versions of GRF(1-29) report that the analog led to an increase in GH levels within 2 hours of administration, and the effects were consistent after daily administration for 16 weeks [17].

Researchers should note that none of these analogs, including sermorelin, has been tested for longer than 16 weeks.

CJC-1295 No DAC Dosage Chart

The dosage breakdown below is based on the 10μg/kg used by Khoram et al. for up to 16 weeks [17].

Weight (lb) Daily Dosage (μg) Twice Daily Dosage (μg) Three Times Daily Dosage (mcg)
100-150 454-680 227-340 151-227
151-200 681-908 340-454 227-303
201-250 909-1134 454-567 303-378

CJC-1295/Ipamorelin Dosage Calculator

Researchers are yet to study the potential combined effect of CJC-1295 no DAC and the ghrelin-mimetic ipamorelin. As a result, there are no clinical trials to suggest a potential dosing regime for CJC-1295/ipamorelin.

Researchers will have to refer to the available data from studies that have tested either ipamorelin or GHRH-analogs similar to CJC-1295 no DAC independently.

How do researchers administer CJC-1295/Ipamorelin?

Both CJC-1295 no DAC and ipamorelin are peptides available as lyophilized powders that must be reconstituted before use.

Further, both peptides are typically administered subcutaneously, and they can be mixed and administered simultaneously as there is no risk of chemical reactions between the two.

This is why CJC-1295/ipamorelin is also available as a blend for research purposes.

What dose of CJC-1295/Ipamorelin should researchers administer?

As mentioned, CJC-1295 no DAC has not been researched in humans, so researchers may refer to the dosage of other GRF(1-29) analogs with similar modifications.

According to those trials, CJC-1295 no DAC can be dosed daily at doses of 10μg/kg [17].

On the other hand, ipamorelin has been tested in a short-term clinical trial (one week) at doses of 30μg/kg split into two daily intakes [18]. The study reported that tolerance at this dose was similar to placebo.

However, researchers who plan on dosing the peptide for longer periods may consider lower doses, such as 10μg/kg, because currently the peptide has not been studied clinically for more than 7 days.

Ultimately, researchers may want to consider administering a CJC-1295/ipamorelin blend with a 1:1 ratio in a total dose of 20μg/kg.

When should CJC-1295/Ipamorelin be administered?

As previously mentioned, the most appropriate dosing of CJC-1295 no DAC is on an empty stomach, such as right before bed or early in the morning.

Similarly, food may also interfere with the effects of ipamorelin on GH synthesis. Therefore, CJC-1295/ipamorelin is best dosed on an empty stomach, right before bed or early in the morning.

How often should CJC-1295/Ipamorelin be administered?

As mentioned CJC-1295 no DAC can be dosed once to three times a day. On the other hand, the research on ipamorelin reports only twice-daily dosing [17]. Therefore, the CJC-1295/ipamorelin may be best dosed twice a day.

How long should CJC-1295/Ipamorelin be administered?

The lack of clinical trials on CJC-1295 no DAC and ipamorelin means that there is no officially approved dosage or time frame for administering CJC-1295/ipamorelin.

Therefore, researchers should pay special attention when dosing the blend in research settings and remain vigilant for potential side effects.

Nevertheless, studies report that administering GRF(1-29) with similar modification to CJC-1295 no DAC may be safe and well tolerated for periods of 16 weeks [17]. Researchers are yet to conduct long-term trials with ipamorelin.

CJC-1295/Ipamorelin Dosage Chart

The dosage breakdown below is based on a 20μg/kg for a 1:1 blend of CJC-1295/ipamorelin.

Weight (lb) Daily Dosage (μg) Twice Daily Dosage (μg) Three Times Daily Dosage (mcg)
100-150 908 – 1360 454 – 680 303-378
151-200 1362 – 1816 680 – 908 454 – 606
201-250 1818 – 2268 908 – 1134 606 – 756

cjc-1295 dosage calculator


Where to Buy CJC-1295 Online? | 2024 Edition

Researchers interested in buying CJC-1295 DAC, CJC-1295 no DAC, and CJC-1295 Ipamorelin blends online may order from a number of vendors claiming to offer these peptides.

However, because CJC-1295 is not a tightly regulated product, researchers may find significant differences in terms of quality, prices, and delivery times between various vendors.

To assist researchers, our team has evaluated the leading peptide vendors, and we endorse the two following companies:

Limitless Life

Limitless Life is one of our go-to peptide vendors based on their quality control procedures and excellent service.

Below are some of the distinguishing factors that differentiate Limitless Life from other peptide vendors:

  • Methodical Quality Assurance Practices: Limitless Life is dedicated to quality assurance for each of their products, as evidenced by their strict third-party testing policies.
  • Distinguished Within Peptide Research Community: Limitless Life differentiates itself from other peptide vendors thanks to the company’s outstanding commitment to product quality, customer satisfaction, and safety.
  • Excellent Service: Limitless Life’s service team is never more than a few hours away from being able to answer questions and concerns, since they’re available 7 days per week.
  • Recognized for Business Practices: As the only peptide company that has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau, Limitless Life has distinguished itself from its many competitors.

Limitless Life stocks CJC-1295 No DAC and a CJC-1295 Ipamorelin blend, which is quite popular with researchers.

Buy research peptides from Limitless Life, a top-rated vendor...


Xcel Peptides

Xcel Peptides stocks premium peptides at reasonable prices.

Our team consistently orders from them for the following reasons:

  • Lab-Tested Peptides: Xcel Peptides tests every batch of CJC-1295 at an independent lab before listing it for sale. Researchers can check the lab report for each batch before placing an order.
  • Low Prices: This vendor offers some of the best pricing and price breaks in the industry, including a 10% discount for researchers who sign up for their email list.
  • Great Service: Xcel Peptides has one of the fastest support and service teams in the industry. Researchers will get a prompt response to all queries here.

Xcel Peptides, like the vendor above, stocks CJC-1295 No DAC and a CJC-1295 Ipamorelin blend for researchers looking to study.

Buy research peptides from Xcel Peptides today...


Bacteriostatic Water and CJC-1295

Before handling CJC-1295 and other research peptides, researchers need to be equipped with the tools to correctly prepare and store them.

Required items like sterile vials, bacteriostatic water, and more are key to safe and effective peptide research.

The task of securing all the necessary materials can be a challenge, involving searching for products from multiple retailers. However, it is required.


CJC-1295 Dosage | Verdict

So, what does the data say about CJC-1295 dosage?

Well, as CJC-1295 remains a research chemical, there is limited data from human clinical research to tell much about the appropriate dosage. Researchers interested in experimenting with CJC-1295 can consult the published trial data when deciding how to dose this peptide in future studies. 

Hopefully, this guide has given researchers a useful starting point for calculating CJC-1295 in future studies.

Those interested in pursuing CJC-1295 research may consider contacting our preferred vendor.


References

  1. Albumin_Bioconjugates_Activate_the_GRF_Receptor_on_the_Anterior_Pituitary_in_ Rats_Identification_of_CJC-1295_as_a_Long_Lasting_GRF_Analog. (2021). Retrieved 26 February 2021, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228484039_hGRF1-29-.
  2. Sam L. Teichman, Ann Neale, Betty Lawrence, Catherine Gagnon, Jean-Paul Castaigne, Lawrence A. Frohman, 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, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 91, Issue 3, 1 March 2006, Pages 799–805, https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2005-1536
  3. Lucie Jetté, Roger Léger, Karen Thibaudeau, Corinne Benquet, Martin Robitaille, Isabelle Pellerin, Véronique Paradis, Pieter van Wyk, Khan Pham, Dominique P. Bridon, Human Growth Hormone-Releasing Factor (hGRF)1–29-Albumin Bioconjugates Activate the GRF Receptor on the Anterior Pituitary in Rats: Identification of CJC-1295 as a Long-Lasting GRF Analog, Endocrinology, Volume 146, Issue 7, 1 July 2005, Pages 3052–3058, https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2004-1286
  4. Henninge J, Pepaj M, Hullstein I, Hemmersbach P. Identification of CJC-1295, a growth-hormone-releasing peptide, in an unknown pharmaceutical preparation. Drug Test Anal. 2010 Nov-Dec;2(11-12):647-50. doi: 10.1002/dta.233. Epub 2010 Dec 10. PMID: 21204297.
  5. What is Prohibited. World Anti-Doping Agency. (2021). Retrieved 26 February 2021, from https://www.wada-ama.org/en/content/what-is-prohibited/prohibited-at-all-times/peptide-hormones-growth-factors-related-substances-and-mimetics.
  6. Macintyre JG. Growth hormone and athletes. Sports Med. 1987 Mar-Apr;4(2):129-42. doi: 10.2165/00007256-198704020-00004. PMID: 3299611.
  7. Usach I, Martinez R, Festini T, Peris JE. Subcutaneous Injection of Drugs: Literature Review of Factors Influencing Pain Sensation at the Injection Site. Adv Ther. 2019 Nov;36(11):2986-2996. doi: 10.1007/s12325-019-01101-6. Epub 2019 Oct 5. PMID: 31587143; PMCID: PMC6822791.
  8. Hage M, Kamenický P, Chanson P. Growth Hormone Response to Oral Glucose Load: From Normal to Pathological Conditions. Neuroendocrinology. 2019;108(3):244-255. doi: 10.1159/000497214. Epub 2019 Jan 25. PMID: 30685760.
  9. Morris, C. J., Aeschbach, D., & Scheer, F. A. (2012). Circadian system, sleep and endocrinology. Molecular and cellular endocrinology, 349(1), 91–104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mce.2011.09.003
  10. Jetté, L., Léger, R., Thibaudeau, K., Benquet, C., Robitaille, M., Pellerin, I., Paradis, V., van Wyk, P., Pham, K., & Bridon, D. P. (2005). Human growth hormone-releasing factor (hGRF)1-29-albumin bioconjugates activate the GRF receptor on the anterior pituitary in rats: identification of CJC-1295 as a long-lasting GRF analog. Endocrinology, 146(7), 3052–3058. https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2004-1286
  11. Soule, S., King, J. A., & Millar, R. P. (1994). Incorporation of D-Ala2 in growth hormone-releasing hormone-(1-29)-NH2 increases the half-life and decreases metabolic clearance in normal men. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 79(4), 1208–1211. https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.79.4.7962295
  12. Coy, D. H., Murphy, W. A., Lance, V. A., & Heiman, M. L. (1986). Strategies in the design of synthetic agonists and antagonists of growth hormone releasing factor. Peptides, 7 Suppl 1, 49–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/0196-9781(86)90163-4
  13. Frohman, L. A., Downs, T. R., Williams, T. C., Heimer, E. P., Pan, Y. C., & Felix, A. M. (1986). Rapid enzymatic degradation of growth hormone-releasing hormone by plasma in vitro and in vivo to a biologically inactive product cleaved at the NH2 terminus. The Journal of clinical investigation, 78(4), 906–913. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI112679
  14. Izdebski, J., Witkowska, E., Kunce, D., Orłowska, A., Baranowska, B., Radzikowska, M., & Smoluch, M. (2002). New potent hGH-RH analogues with increased resistance to enzymatic degradation. Journal of peptide science : an official publication of the European Peptide Society, 8(7), 289–296. https://doi.org/10.1002/psc.409
  15. Corpas, E., Harman, S. M., Piñeyro, M. A., Roberson, R., & Blackman, M. R. (1992). Growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone-(1-29) twice daily reverses the decreased GH and insulin-like growth factor-I levels in old men. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 75(2), 530–535. https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.75.2.1379256
  16. Vittone, J., Blackman, M. R., Busby-Whitehead, J., Tsiao, C., Stewart, K. J., Tobin, J., Stevens, T., Bellantoni, M. F., Rogers, M. A., Baumann, G., Roth, J., Harman, S. M., & Spencer, R. G. (1997). Effects of single nightly injections of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH 1-29) in healthy elderly men. Metabolism: clinical and experimental, 46(1), 89–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0026-0495(97)90174-8
  17. Khorram, O., Laughlin, G. A., & Yen, S. S. (1997). Endocrine and metabolic effects of long-term administration of [Nle27]growth hormone-releasing hormone-(1-29)-NH2 in age-advanced men and women. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 82(5), 1472–1479. https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.82.5.3943
  18. Beck, D. E., Sweeney, W. B., McCarter, M. D., & Ipamorelin 201 Study Group (2014). Prospective, randomized, controlled, proof-of-concept study of the Ghrelin mimetic ipamorelin for the management of postoperative ileus in bowel resection patients. International journal of colorectal disease, 29(12), 1527–1534. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-014-2030-8

Scientifically Fact Checked by:

David Warmflash, M.D.

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