What These Peptides Do
CJC-1295 is a modified version of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). It tells your pituitary gland to release GH. The modified version (with DAC) has a half-life of 6-8 days (Teichman, JCEM 2006). The version without DAC (also called Mod GRF 1-29) has a half-life under 30 minutes (native GHRH 1-29 kinetics, Frohman, J Clin Invest 1986), which is why it gets dosed daily.
Ipamorelin mimics ghrelin and binds to ghrelin receptors in the pituitary. It triggers GH release through a separate pathway from CJC-1295. Unlike other ghrelin mimetics (GHRP-2, GHRP-6), Ipamorelin causes minimal appetite increase and doesn't raise cortisol or prolactin in dog/pig studies (Raun, Eur J Endocrinol 1998).
Why They're Used Together
CJC-1295 hits the GHRH pathway. Ipamorelin hits the ghrelin pathway. Activating both at once produces a larger, more sustained GH pulse than either peptide alone. You also get a smoother elevation instead of the sharp spike-and-crash you see with a single GHRP.
Dosing Protocols
Beginner
- CJC-1295: 100mcg once daily
- Ipamorelin: 100mcg once daily
- Frequency: 1 injection per day
- Duration: 8-12 weeks, then 4-8 weeks off
Twice Daily
- CJC-1295: 100mcg twice daily
- Ipamorelin: 100mcg twice daily
- Frequency: 2 injections per day, 8-12 hours apart
- Duration: 8-12 weeks, then 4-8 weeks off
High-Frequency
- CJC-1295: 200mcg once daily
- Ipamorelin: 100mcg 2-3 times daily
- Duration: 6-8 weeks, then 6-8 weeks off
100mcg of each peptide is the standard. Going above 200mcg tends to increase side effects without a proportional bump in GH output.
When to Inject
Morning (fasted): 30-60 minutes before breakfast. Empty stomach matters here. Food, especially carbs and fats, blunts the GH response. This timing catches your natural morning cortisol peak and tends to produce the strongest pulse.
Before bed: 30-60 minutes before sleep. GH naturally spikes during deep sleep, so this dose stacks on top of that. Many users report better sleep quality with evening dosing.
Twice daily: Morning fasted and early evening (before dinner). Space them 8-12 hours apart.
Pick one schedule and stick with it. Consistency matters more than which window you choose.
How to Inject
Both peptides go subcutaneously into fatty tissue (abdomen, thigh, upper arm). You can draw both into the same syringe:
- Reconstitute each vial with 1-2ml of bacteriostatic water
- Draw your CJC-1295 dose into the syringe
- Draw your Ipamorelin dose into the same syringe
- Inject subcutaneously
- Rotate injection sites
What You'll Actually Notice
Weeks 1-2: Better sleep quality is usually the first thing. Some water retention is common. Appetite increase is minimal with Ipamorelin (unlike GHRP-2 or GHRP-6, which cause real hunger).
Weeks 4-6: Body composition changes start showing, especially if you're training. Less body fat, more lean mass. Recovery between sessions improves.
Weeks 6-12: Cumulative effects. Connective tissue health improves. Skin quality gets better. If you're combining with resistance training, this is where the results add up.
For dedicated tissue repair, BPC-157 is more targeted. CJC-1295/Ipamorelin supports connective tissue indirectly through GH and IGF-1 production, but it's not a substitute for injury-specific peptides.
Side Effects
Common (first 2-3 weeks, usually temporary)
- Water retention: Especially in the first 2-3 weeks. Subsides.
- Tingling or numbness: Transient paresthesia, more likely at higher doses.
- Fatigue: Your body adjusting to higher GH levels.
- Mild appetite increase: Minimal with Ipamorelin compared to GHRP-2/GHRP-6.
Less Common
- Headaches (typically week one only)
- Joint pain (usually means the dose is too high)
- Changes in insulin sensitivity
GH elevation affects blood sugar. If you have any insulin sensitivity concerns, monitor your glucose during the cycle.
Alternatives
CJC-1295 + GHRP-2 or GHRP-6: These GHRPs hit harder on appetite. GHRP-6 in particular makes you ravenous. Ipamorelin is the cleanest option if you don't want the hunger.
CJC-1295 + Sermorelin: Sermorelin is another GHRH analog with a shorter half-life. It requires more frequent dosing but may carry less receptor desensitization risk on longer protocols.
Adding AOD-9604: AOD-9604 is a GH fragment that targets fat metabolism specifically. You can stack it with CJC-1295/Ipamorelin for added fat loss without further increasing GH levels.
Cycling
Cycle to keep your receptors sensitive:
- On-cycle: 8-12 weeks
- Off-cycle: 4-8 weeks
- Per year: 2-3 cycles max
If you ran a high-dose protocol, extend the off-cycle to 12 weeks.
Quick Reference
100mcg of each peptide, 1-2 times daily, on an empty stomach. Morning or evening, your call. Run it 8-12 weeks, take 4-8 weeks off. The most common side effects (water retention, appetite, tingling) are mild and usually fade after the first few weeks.
For tissue repair, add BPC-157. For fat loss, add AOD-9604. CJC-1295/Ipamorelin works well as a base that you build on.
References
- Raun K et al. "Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue." Eur J Endocrinol, 1998. PubMed
- Teichman SL et al. "Prolonged stimulation of growth hormone and IGF-I secretion by CJC-1295." J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2006. PubMed
- Gobburu JV et al. "Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of ipamorelin in human volunteers." Pharm Res, 1999. PubMed
Disclaimer: These peptides are not FDA-approved for therapeutic use. Consult a healthcare provider before starting any peptide protocol.