CJC-1295 Dosage Guide
Written by Alejandro Reyes
Founder & Lead Researcher
Reviewed by Peptide Nerds Editorial · Updated April 2026
Dosage overview
| Typical dose | No DAC (mod GRF 1-29): 100-300 mcg per injection. With DAC: 300-1000 mcg per injection. |
| Frequency | No DAC: 1-3 times daily. With DAC: 1-2 times per week. |
| Cycle length | 12-16 weeks on, 4-6 weeks off |
Dosing notes
The no-DAC version (mod GRF 1-29) is more widely used in clinical and community protocols due to its pulsatile GH release pattern. Research protocols typically administered 100 mcg subcutaneously before bedtime on an empty stomach, aligning with the natural nocturnal GH pulse. Clinical studies used doses of 30-90 mcg/kg for the DAC version (PMID: 16352683). Fasting for at least 2 hours before injection is considered important for optimal GH response, as food intake — particularly carbohydrates and fats — can blunt GH secretion. Most protocols avoid eating for 30-60 minutes after injection. The 5-days-on, 2-days-off weekly schedule is commonly discussed to reduce potential receptor desensitization, though clinical evidence specifically supporting this cycling pattern for CJC-1295 is limited. Some protocols alternate CJC-1295/ipamorelin cycles with MK-677 during off periods to maintain IGF-1 levels while allowing GHRH receptor recovery. Reconstitution: add bacteriostatic water (not sterile water) to the lyophilized powder. Direct the water stream against the vial wall, not directly onto the powder. Gently swirl — never shake. Refrigerate immediately after reconstitution (36-46F). Reconstituted solution typically remains stable for 14-28 days refrigerated. Never freeze reconstituted peptide. Discard if solution appears cloudy or contains visible particles.
Important safety information
Dosage ranges listed above are based on available research data and reported protocols. Individual dosing should be determined by a qualified healthcare provider based on your specific health profile, goals, and response to treatment.
- Start at the lowest effective dose and titrate up gradually
- Monitor for side effects, especially during dose increases
- Do not exceed researched dose ranges without medical supervision
- This is a research compound — human dosing guidelines are not FDA-established
Interactive protocol guide
Step-by-step: your dosing schedule with exact syringe units, what supplies to buy, how to mix, and how to inject.
CJC-1295 Protocol Overview
Goal
GH optimization
Duration
12 weeks
Route
subcutaneous
Important before you start:
- Must be taken on an empty stomach. Food blunts the GH pulse.
- May cause flushing or warmth immediately after injection. This is normal and temporary.
- The DAC (drug affinity complex) variant has a longer half-life. Confirm which version you have.
Your dosing schedule
Based on a 2 mg vial mixed with 2 mL bacteriostatic water (1.00 mg/mL concentration). Using a U-30 insulin syringe.
Draw to here
3 units
on 30-unit syringe
1-12: 100 mcg
| When | Dose | Syringe units | Frequency | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-12 | 100 mcg | 3 units | Once daily | Inject at bedtime on an empty stomach. Often stacked with Ipamorelin. |
1-12: 100 mcg
Inject at bedtime on an empty stomach. Often stacked with Ipamorelin.
What you need for a 12-week CJC-1295 protocol
CJC-1295 vials (2 mg each)
Quantity: 5
Bacteriostatic water (30 mL vial)
Quantity: 1
Insulin syringes (U-30, 29ga)
Quantity: 84+ (one per injection, never reuse)
Alcohol prep pads
Quantity: 168+ (one for vial, one for skin)
Sharps container
Quantity: 1
Quantities based on 12-week protocol using 2 mg vials reconstituted with 2 mL BAC water each.
How to mix your CJC-1295
Your concentration:
2 mg peptide + 2 mL water = 1.00 mg/mL (1000 mcg/mL)
- 1
Wash your hands
Wash with soap and water for 30 seconds. Dry completely.
- 2
Clean the vial tops
Wipe the rubber stopper on your CJC-1295 vial AND your bacteriostatic water vial with an alcohol swab. Let air dry for 10 seconds.
- 3
Draw 2 mL of bacteriostatic water
Using an insulin syringe, draw 2 mL (60 units on a U-30 syringe) of bacteriostatic water.
- 4
Inject water into the CJC-1295 vial
Hold the peptide vial at a 45-degree angle. Point the needle at the WALL of the vial, NOT directly onto the powder. Push the plunger slowly over 10-15 seconds. Let the water run down the inside wall.
- 5
Swirl gently to dissolve
Swirl the vial in a slow circular motion for 30-60 seconds. NEVER shake. If not fully dissolved, let it sit for 2-5 minutes and swirl again.
- 6
Refrigerate immediately
Store reconstituted peptide at 36-46 degrees F (2-8 degrees C). Good for 4-6 weeks refrigerated. Label the vial with the date you mixed it.
Common mistakes that ruin your peptide:
- Shaking the vial (breaks peptide bonds, reduces potency 30-50%)
- Spraying water directly on the powder (damages the peptide)
- Using sterile water instead of bacteriostatic water (no preservative, short shelf life)
- Leaving mixed peptide at room temperature (loses 10-20% potency per day)
How to inject CJC-1295
Timing: Bedtime, at least 2 hours after last meal
- 1Choose your injection site and rotate each time (at least 1 inch from the last site).
- 2Wipe the injection site with an alcohol prep pad. Let air dry completely.
- 3Draw your dose (check the dosing schedule above for exact syringe units).
- 4Pinch a fold of skin at the injection site.
- 5Insert the needle at a 45-90 degree angle into the pinched skin fold.
- 6Push the plunger slowly and steadily.
- 7Release the skin fold, then withdraw the needle.
- 8Do NOT rub the injection site. Light pressure with a cotton ball is fine if there is any blood.
- 9Dispose of the syringe immediately in your sharps container. Never recap or reuse.
Site rotation tip
Divide your preferred injection area into a mental grid. Move to a new spot each injection. For Abdomen and Thigh injections, alternate between sides (left/right) each time.
Research references
- 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 — Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (2006) [PubMed]
- Pulsatile secretion of growth hormone (GH) persists during continuous stimulation by CJC-1295, a long-acting GH-releasing hormone analog — Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (2006) [PubMed]
- Activation of the GH/IGF-1 axis by CJC-1295, a long-acting GHRH analog, results in serum protein profile changes in normal adult subjects — Growth Hormone & IGF Research (2009) [PubMed]
- 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 (2005) [PubMed]
- Once-daily administration of CJC-1295, a long-acting growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analog, normalizes growth in the GHRH knockout mouse — American Journal of Physiology — Endocrinology and Metabolism (2006) [PubMed]
- Growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone-(1-29) twice daily reverses the decreased GH and insulin-like growth factor-I levels in old men — Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (1992) [PubMed]
- Endocrine and metabolic effects of long-term administration of [Nle27]growth hormone-releasing hormone-(1-29)-NH2 in age-advanced men and women — Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (1997) [PubMed]
- The growth hormone releasing hormone analogue, tesamorelin, decreases muscle fat and increases muscle area in adults with HIV — Journal of Frailty and Aging (2019) [PubMed]
- Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue — European Journal of Endocrinology (1998) [PubMed]
- The safety and efficacy of growth hormone secretagogues — Sexual Medicine Reviews (2018) [PubMed]
- Beyond the androgen receptor: the role of growth hormone secretagogues in the modern management of body composition in hypogonadal males — Translational Andrology and Urology (2020) [PubMed]
- Sleep-promoting effects of growth hormone-releasing hormone in normal men — American Journal of Physiology (1993) [PubMed]
- Advances in the detection of growth hormone releasing hormone synthetic analogs — Drug Testing and Analysis (2021) [PubMed]
- Chemical modification of Class II G-protein coupled receptor ligands: frontiers in the development of peptide analogs as neuroendocrine pharmacological therapies — Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2010) [PubMed]
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