CJC-1295 (without DAC)
Short-Acting Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Analog
Synthetic analog of growth hormone releasing hormone whose short half-life leaves GH secretion pulsatile, in patterns resembling natural physiology. Where CJC-1295 with DAC elevates GH continuously, this version keeps the natural pulsatility.
Overview
Synthetic analog of growth hormone releasing hormone whose short half-life leaves GH secretion pulsatile, in patterns resembling natural physiology. Where CJC-1295 with DAC elevates GH continuously, this version keeps the natural pulsatility.
GHRH receptors on pituitary somatotroph cells are the binding target, and cAMP production plus physiological GH pulses follow. A half-life of only 30 minutes keeps release pulsatile instead of prolonging elevation.
Research indications
What the compound has been studied for, grouped by body system. Effect size is the reported magnitude where it was measured — not a recommendation.
Sleep architecture improves when the dose falls at bedtime.
GH elevation enhances recovery from training.
Aging individuals regain natural patterns of GH pulsatility.
IGF-1 rises as GH secretion is enhanced.
The pituitary axis is supported, natural function unsuppressed.
Elevated GH supports the maintenance of lean muscle mass.
Bone health is supported by GH-mediated pathways.
Skin quality improves by way of collagen synthesis.
- Class
- GHRH analog
- Research status
- Well studied
- Chain length
- 30 residues
- Molecular weight
- 3367.97 Da
- Half-life
- ~1.5 h
- Typical dose
- 100–300 µg per injection
- Frequency
- 2–3 times daily
- Cycle length
- 12–16 weeks
- Storage
- Lyophilized: 2-8°C refrigerated; Reconstituted: 2-8°C refrigerated, use within 30 days
Molecular data
- Type
- GHRH analog
- Molecular weight
- 3367.97 Da
- Chain length
- 30 residues
- Half-life
- 90 min
YADAIFTNSYRKVLAQLSARKLLQDILSRKLevels in single-dose multiples. A shape, not a pharmacokinetic prediction.
Dosing reference
Doses reported in the literature and by suppliers. These are a record of what has been used in research — reference, never instruction.
| Context | Route | Amount | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Aging/Wellness | SubQ | 100mcg | 2x daily (morning and bedtime) |
| Body Composition | SubQ | 100-150mcg | 3x daily (morning, post-workout, bedtime) |
| Maximum GH Release | SubQ | 200mcg | 2-3x daily with GHRP |
| Sleep Enhancement | SubQ | 100-200mcg | Once at bedtime |
Interactions
GH release complements across separate receptor pathways. A popular combination.
Combined, the GH pulse is amplified.
A potent combination: GH maximized over two pathways.
Combination is possible; excessive GH elevation is the thing to watch.
One variant or the other, according to the release kinetics wanted.
Two GHRH analogs; no additional benefit comes from combining them.
Mechanisms differ: ghrelin continuous, GHRH pulsatile.
What to expect
Safety
Mechanistic flags — properties of the pathway, not observed adverse events.
- At recommended doses, tolerance is generally good
- Temporary flushing or warmth in the face, 5–10 minutes after injection
- Extreme fatigue or lethargy
- Persistent joint pain or symptoms of carpal tunnel
- Marked water retention or edema
- Headaches or vision changes without explanation
- Signs of allergic reaction at injection sites
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Severe kidney disease
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Active cancer, given the growth-promoting effects
Quality checklist
What to confirm before trusting a batch of research material. A verification aid — not an endorsement of any supplier.
- Third-party Certificate of AnalysisIndependent lab · dated · lot-matched.
- HPLC purity ≥ 98%Reverse-phase trace included.
- Mass-spec confirms 3367.97 g/molMALDI-TOF or ESI-MS.
- Counterion stated (acetate ≫ TFA)TFA salts can confound bioassays.
- Endotoxin / sterility statementRelevant once reconstituted.
- Lyophilised · cold-chain shippedStored −20 °C, shipped on ice.
- Labelled “research use only”No therapeutic or dosing claims.
Recorded signals for this compound · 8
- ✓Certificates of analysis from the vendor (>98% purity)
- ✓Cold-chain shipping done properly, with ice packs/refrigeration
- ✓Vials vacuum-sealed, pressure seal integrity visible
- ✓Lyophilized powder, white or off-white
- !Expiration dates checked; stored properly, lyophilized peptides hold ~2 years
- ×Solutions sold pre-reconstituted — the peptide degrades rapidly
- ×Powder discolored; yellow or brown indicates degradation
- ×Solution cloudy once reconstituted
FAQ
How many injections a day does CJC-1295 (without DAC) take?
Without DAC, 2–3 injections daily are typical — morning, an optional post-workout, and bedtime — at 100–300µg per dose to hold GH elevation. A half-life between 30 minutes and 2 hours makes multiple daily injections necessary, where the DAC variant is weekly.
Which times of day suit CJC-1295 without DAC?
Optimal timing falls on waking, with an empty stomach, and before bed, plus an optional post-workout injection. A gap of 30+ minutes from food maximizes GH release. Bedtime dosing is particularly effective, amplifying the natural sleep-associated GH pulses.
Is natural GH pulsatility maintained by CJC-1295 without DAC, unlike the DAC version?
Yes. A 30-minute half-life lets the non-DAC version preserve natural pulsatile GH secretion patterns, while DAC holds elevation continuous. Closer to physiology, that pulsatility brings fewer side effects such as joint pain than continuous DAC stimulation does, which is why it is popular in anti-aging protocols.
Does stacking CJC-1295 with GHRP peptides improve results?
Yes. Pairing CJC-1295 without DAC with GHRP-6 or GHRP-2 makes a synergistic 'stack': GHRH and GHRP run on complementary pathways, and GH release is amplified significantly past what either peptide reaches alone. As an approach to maximizing growth hormone stimulation, this is the classic one.
References
- 1Human 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 AnalogJette L, Bhore R, Bhatt DL, et al. · Endocrinology · 2005
Identified CJC-1295 as a long-acting GHRH analog through albumin bioconjugation (DAC technology). Binds covalently to endogenous albumin, extending half-life from minutes to days.
Animal in vivo · inferredPubMed 15817669 ↗ - 2Prolonged 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 AdultsTeichman SL, Neale A, Lawrence B, Gagnon C, Castaigne JP, Bhore R · Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · 2006
Subcutaneous CJC-1295 produced sustained, dose-dependent increases in GH and IGF-1 in healthy adults. Half-life of ~8 days. Cumulative effect after multiple doses with well-preserved GH pulsatility.
Human RCTPubMed 16352683 ↗ - 3Pulsatile Secretion of Growth Hormone (GH) Persists During Continuous Stimulation by CJC-1295, a Long-Acting GH-Releasing Hormone AnalogIonescu M, Frohman LA · Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · 2006
Basal (trough) GH levels increased 7.5-fold. Mean GH levels increased 46% and IGF-1 levels increased 45%. Pulsatile GH secretion preserved despite continuous GHRH receptor stimulation.
Human pilotPubMed 17018654 ↗ - 4Once-daily administration of CJC-1295, a long-acting growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analog, normalizes growth in the GHRH knockout mouseAlba, M., et al. · American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism · 2006
Once-daily CJC-1295 maintained normal body composition and growth in GHRH knockout mice, demonstrating efficacy in restoring GH axis function in GH-deficient animal models.
Animal in vivoPubMed 16822960 ↗ - 5Activation of the GH/IGF-1 Axis by CJC-1295, a Long-Acting GHRH Analog, Results in Serum Protein Profile Changes in Normal Adult SubjectsTeichman SL, et al. · Growth Hormone & IGF Research · 2009
Long-acting GHRH stimulation via CJC-1295 produces measurable changes in serum protein profiles reflecting sustained GH/IGF-1 axis activation.
Review · inferredPubMed 19386527 ↗
A review of growth hormone-releasing hormone and its analogues covering metabolic disorders, regenerative medicine and oncology, setting out where GHRH agonists and antagonists may be applied across disease states.