How to dose CJC-1295 + ipamorelin

CJC-1295 + ipamorelin dosing: the essentials

• The standard dosing is around 100 mcg of each peptide, injected subcutaneously once a day, in the evening, so as to coincide with the largest endogenous GH pulse that the body produces
• The pen carries CJC-1295 with DAC, which has a half-life of 6–8 days; ipamorelin has a half-life of ~2 hours. It is the DAC form that sets the shape of the protocol: a single injection a day
• The dose dial marks the dose in milligrams, and the figure dialled is the dose of each peptide: dialling 0.1 mg delivers 0.1 mg (100 mcg) of CJC-1295 plus 0.1 mg (100 mcg) of ipamorelin, which is to say 0.2 mg of blend per injection
• The pen holds 20 mg of total blend, co-dissolved in equal parts, so at 0.1 mg dialled it yields 100 doses
• Store the pen at 2–8 °C, protected from light, and bring it to room temperature before injecting
• A standard research cycle lasts 12 weeks followed by a 4-week break; the post-cycle blood work should be drawn in week 4 of the washout, in order to take account of the circulating half-life of CJC-1295

A standard research protocol for CJC-1295 + ipamorelin uses a dose of around 100 mcg of each peptide, injected subcutaneously once a day, in the evening, to coincide with the nocturnal endogenous pulse of growth hormone [1][5]. That timing lays the exogenous stimulus on top of the largest spontaneous release of GH in the whole 24-hour cycle and generates a pulse of greater amplitude than either of the two signals would produce on its own. The CJC-1295 in this pen carries DAC, so a single administration each day maintains GHRH tone across the whole of the interval between doses [1][5].

This guide takes as its starting point the only published pharmacokinetic anchor that is available: the 6–8-day half-life of CJC-1295 with DAC estimated by Teichman et al. in 2006 [2]. It deals with the practical aspects of working with a pre-filled combination pen, one which delivers the two peptides together in a single injection. Last updated: 2026.

Protocol summary:

1. The dose dial is set to the dose in milligrams, and that figure is the dose of each of the two peptides.
2. The regimen consists of a single injection a day, in the evening.
3. That injection is placed in the GH window that precedes sleep.
4. The pen is kept refrigerated at 2–8 °C, protected from light.
5. The protocol is reassessed after 8–12 weeks.

What the CJC-1295 + ipamorelin protocol is

The CJC-1295 + ipamorelin protocol is a two-peptide regimen of around 100 mcg of each compound per subcutaneous injection, given once a day in the evening. It is designed to reinforce the body's own endogenous pulse of growth hormone [1][5]. CJC-1295 with DAC is a long-acting analogue of GHRH (growth hormone-releasing hormone) with a reported half-life of 6–8 days [2]. Ipamorelin is a selective GH secretagogue that mimics ghrelin at the GHSR (growth hormone secretagogue receptor) without raising either cortisol or prolactin [4].

The two peptides are combined because each of them acts on a different receptor. CJC-1295 binds to the GHRH receptor on the somatotrophs; ipamorelin binds to the ghrelin receptor on those same cells. Co-stimulation generates a supra-additive GH pulse rather than the additive response that each peptide would give on its own, and that is the mechanistic rationale for the combined dosing [6]. This guide deals specifically with the DAC (drug affinity complex) form of CJC-1295, which is the one that the pen carries, since the variant without DAC has a half-life of only around 30 minutes, and it follows an entirely different dosing logic. For a breakdown of each molecule, see CJC-1295 vs ipamorelin: how the two peptides differ.

Reported sequence for a single dose:

1. The pen is taken out of the refrigerator and brought to room temperature.
2. The dose dial is turned to the protocol dose.
3. Around 100 mcg of each peptide is given subcutaneously in the abdomen, changing the injection site between sessions.
4. The injection is placed in the evening, before sleep.
5. The pen is returned to the refrigerator between uses, at 2–8 °C [1].

Anyone who is comparing GHRH analogues may also want to review tesamorelin dosing, which follows a related but separate protocol.

CJC-1295 versus ipamorelin: why the half-lives matter

The dosing plan for this combination follows directly from one single fact: CJC-1295 with DAC has a half-life of 6–8 days [2], whereas ipamorelin has a half-life of around two hours [7]. Those two figures determine everything else that there is in the protocol.

The drug affinity complex is a maleimide group attached to the GHRH(1-29) peptide. It reacts with a free cysteine residue on circulating albumin and forms a covalent but reversible bond, which in effect turns the albumin into a slow-release depot. That is why CJC-1295 with DAC produces a sustained elevation of basal GHRH tone rather than a discrete pulse. The pharmacokinetic figures come from Teichman et al. (2006) and, as of 2026, there is no peer-reviewed pharmacokinetic study that has been published to replace them; the 6–8-day half-life remains the working reference [2].

Why this matters with CJC-1295 without DAC

CJC-1295 without DAC has a half-life of around 30 minutes. The two molecules share a name and a sequence backbone, but they are pharmacokinetically distinct active substances, and they demand different dosing schedules. CJC-1295 without DAC has to be given several times a day in order to maintain GHRH signalling; the DAC form, the one in this pen, does not. Guides that talk about a single "CJC-1295 half-life" without specifying which variant they mean are conflating two different compounds. For the detail of the molecular distinction, see CJC-1295 vs ipamorelin: how the two peptides differ.

What this means for the injection plan

The short half-life of ipamorelin means that each injection triggers an acute pulse of GH lasting around two to three hours, after which the serum values return to baseline. CJC-1295 with DAC, by contrast, accumulates over the first 7–14 days of dosing, while the active substance that is bound to albumin reaches steady state. The practical consequence of this is that the injection goes where the acute ipamorelin pulse contributes the most, which is to say on top of the nocturnal GH surge, while the DAC component sustains the background. For a related GHRH analogue that has different kinetics, see tesamorelin dosing.

Why a single injection a day

The protocol is one injection a day, in the evening, because that places the exogenous pulse on top of the largest endogenous GH release of the 24-hour cycle, and because CJC-1295 with DAC maintains GHRH tone between doses all by itself. Some researchers are concerned that a single injection a day will not generate a sufficient cumulative elevation of GH; however, in healthy adults the nocturnal pulse accounts for the majority of 24-hour GH secretion, so a single well-placed injection usually outperforms several doses that are poorly placed.

Why the nocturnal pulse matters

The largest spontaneous pulse of GH of the entire day occurs shortly after a person falls asleep, during deep sleep, driven by a hypothalamic surge of GHRH together with a simultaneous withdrawal of somatostatin. Van Cauter et al. (JAMA, 2000) showed, from 24-hour GH profiles in healthy men, that the amount of GH secreted is associated with slow-wave sleep [5], and that finding has not been refuted by any of the subsequent literature as of 2026. Injecting ipamorelin before going to sleep lays a synthetic secretagogue signal on top of that natural peak in GHRH and generates a pulse of greater amplitude than either of the two signals on its own. For the receptor-level distinction between the GHRH analogue and the ghrelin mimetic, see CJC-1295 vs ipamorelin: how the two peptides differ.

What the DAC component contributes

DAC is what makes it possible to do without repeated administrations over the course of the same day. With a half-life of 6–8 days, the albumin-bound CJC-1295 sustains GHRH tone across the whole interval between injections, so the frequency is set by the convenience of the protocol and not by the pharmacokinetics [1][2]. No clinical trial registered after 2020 has formalised a comparison of frequencies for this combination. For a contrasting GHRH analogue, see tesamorelin dosing.

Injection timing: the evening window

In the protocols described, CJC-1295 + ipamorelin is given in the evening, before sleep, so that the stimulus coincides with the natural surge of GHRH that comes with deep sleep. The amplitude of the pulse depends on the level of somatostatin tone at the moment of injection, and that tone is lower in the evening window than at any other point in the 24-hour cycle.

The injection goes in just before going to sleep. Delaying it until late into the night shifts the stimulus out of the first phase of deep sleep, which is the most frequent reason why an evening protocol delivers less than expected in practice.

Reported parameters for subcutaneous administration with the combination pen

The combination pen delivers both of the peptides in a single subcutaneous injection: it comes pre-filled, the dose dial marks the dose in milligrams, and there is nothing to prepare or to mix before injecting. The technique described in the literature matches the published guidance for the use of insulin pens: comparable needle angle, site rotation and aseptic principles. What does change is the handling before and after the injection, because the stability of the peptide is more sensitive to temperature than the stability of insulin is.

Reported administration sequence

1. Bring the pen to room temperature. The protocols describe taking the pen out of the refrigerator before use and letting it reach room temperature. According to reports, cold injections sting more, and with peptide solutions it is better to avoid any sudden changes in temperature.
2. Inspect the cartridge. The solution should be clear and colourless. Cloudiness, particles or discolouration mean that it should be discarded, since all of those point to degradation or contamination.
3. Choose the site. The three standard sites described are the abdomen (2–5 cm from the navel), the outer thigh and the back of the upper arm. According to reports, alternating between sites and within each site reduces the risk of lipohypertrophy, the main complication of repeated injections at the same site among people who use insulin.
4. Prepare the skin. An alcohol wipe is used and the skin is left to dry completely; according to reports, injecting while the alcohol is still wet produces a sharper sting and can carry residue into the puncture.
5. Insert the needle. A skin fold is lifted and the needle is inserted at around 45° at thinner sites, or at 90° where there is more subcutaneous fat. The plunger is pressed slowly, over 3–5 seconds; a slow administration is associated with a smaller local weal and with the brief flush that some users describe with ipamorelin.
6. Withdrawal. The needle is withdrawn along the same axis and gentle pressure is applied with a dry swab. Massaging the site is not recommended, since doing so can accelerate absorption and flatten the pulse profile that is being sought.
7. Disposal and storage. The cap is replaced, the needle is discarded in a sharps container and the pen is returned to the refrigerator (2–8 °C).

The combination format means that a single injection delivers both peptides at the same time, so there is no second injection to schedule. Anyone comparing this with the protocol for a separate GHRH analogue can consult tesamorelin dosing to see the differences in site and in frequency.

Storage and stability: keeping the pen usable

Both CJC-1295 and ipamorelin are polypeptides that are sensitive both to temperature and to light, and they degrade through aggregation, oxidation and hydrolysis if they are handled badly. According to reports, the following parameters are what keep the pen usable:

1. Refrigeration at 2–8 °C, the usual range of a domestic refrigerator, on a middle shelf and not in the door, where the temperature swings every time the door is opened.
2. Protection from light, keeping the pen in its original packaging or in a dark, opaque container, since both ultraviolet and visible light accelerate the degradation of the peptide.
3. Do not freeze. Freezing causes ice crystals to form and the peptide to aggregate, which irreversibly reduces its biological activity; a pen that has been in the freezer is considered to be compromised, and the protocols described discard it.
4. Shelf life. Unopened, 24 months. Once the cartridge has been pierced for the first time, the pen is used up within 12 months.
5. Without a refrigerator, the pen remains stable at room temperature for a maximum of 30 days, without going above 30 °C.
6. Bringing it to room temperature before injecting. According to reports, a cold solution stings more and distributes itself less predictably in the subcutaneous tissue.

The Body Pharm pen contains 20 mg of total peptide blend, co-dissolved in equal parts, and it delivers around 100 mcg of each peptide per injection. The figure that you dial is the dose of each individual peptide: at 0.1 mg dialled, 0.1 mg of CJC-1295 and 0.1 mg of ipamorelin come out, 0.2 mg of blend per injection, and the 20 mg cartridge therefore yields 100 doses. Anyone who wants the underlying rationale for the combination format can read CJC-1295 vs ipamorelin: how the two peptides differ.

Cycle length and rest phases in research protocols

The published research protocols with GHRH + GHRP (growth hormone-releasing peptide) usually run for 8–12 weeks on a continuous basis, and some clinical studies went on for as long as 24 weeks. Teichman et al. (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2006) remains the principal clinical reference for CJC-1295 with DAC, with trials of 28 and 49 days in healthy adults [2]; no study published after 2023 among the sources reviewed has replaced it.

A standard research cycle consists of 12 weeks of use, followed by a break of 4 weeks. That structure lets the researchers measure the baseline IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1) and the recovery of the GH pulse before another block of dosing begins. The rest phase is there to characterise the washout, and not because ipamorelin has shown any receptor desensitisation. The evidence of tachyphylaxis with ipamorelin is limited in comparison with older GHRPs such as GHRP-6, and no controlled human study among the sources located confirms a desensitisation threshold for it.

The washout nuance that most guides overlook

CJC-1295 with DAC has a circulating half-life of 6–8 days (Teichman et al., 2006) [2], which means that a 4-week "break" is not a clean washout at all. The plasma concentrations of CJC-1295 remain measurable for 1–2 weeks after the last injection has been given, so IGF-1 does not return to its true baseline until week 3 or 4 of the rest phase. Anyone comparing blood work from before and after the cycle should draw the post-cycle sample no earlier than week 4 of the washout; anything earlier reflects residual active substance and not recovered endogenous production.

Cycle structures used in practice

Three different patterns appear in the secondary literature [1]:

• 12 weeks on / 4 off, repeated. The most common structure used in research.
• 8 weeks on / 4 off, used when researchers want tighter control over the drift in IGF-1.
• Continuous dosing beyond 12 weeks, described in clinic protocols, but with no controlled long-term safety data to be found in the sources located.

For the context on why the GHRH and GHRP components behave differently over the course of a cycle, see CJC-1295 vs ipamorelin: how the two peptides differ. Anyone evaluating alternative GHRH analogues with shorter half-lives can compare the cycle design in tesamorelin dosing.

CJC-1295 + ipamorelin versus other GH peptide protocols

The CJC-1295 + ipamorelin combination stimulates the endogenous release of growth hormone through the dual activation of the GHRH receptor and the ghrelin receptor. Tesamorelin, somatropin and ipamorelin on its own each act through narrower mechanisms, and each has its own dosing requirements. The combination preserves the negative feedback of the pituitary, because GH is released in pulses rather than as a continuous exogenous infusion [3].

Regulatory and practical context

Tesamorelin obtained FDA approval in 2010, as Egrifta, for HIV-associated lipodystrophy, which was a regulatory milestone in the United States. Somatropin, by contrast, is a prescription-only medicine for cases of diagnosed GH deficiency.

Anyone choosing between protocols usually weighs up their tolerance of the injection frequency, the degree of pulsatility they want, and whether preserving the endogenous axis is relevant to the research question at hand. For the mechanistic split between the two peptides in the combination, see CJC-1295 vs ipamorelin: how the two peptides differ. For a daily-injection GHRH alternative with a 26-minute half-life, see tesamorelin dosing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can CJC-1295 and ipamorelin be injected at the same time?

Yes. Body Pharm's combination pen delivers both peptides together in a single subcutaneous injection, which is the whole point of the pre-filled format in the first place. A CJC-1295 GHRH analogue (DAC-modified) and a selective ghrelin receptor agonist act on distinct populations of pituitary receptors, so giving them together generates a synergistic release of GH rather than competition [6].

Why a single injection rather than several a day?

Because the pen carries CJC-1295 with DAC. Its 6–8-day half-life maintains GHRH tone between injections, so splitting the dose up across the day adds no coverage at all: it only adds needle sticks [2]. The variant without DAC, with its 30-minute half-life, is the one that follows a different logic.

Is 100 mcg of each peptide the reference dose?

Yes, that is the starting point that this protocol works from. No peer-reviewed dose-response curve that validates any higher doses of ipamorelin was identified in the sources that were reviewed, so the higher regimens that circulate are described in practice but have not been validated [1].

How does the 20 mg pen relate to the individual doses?

The pen contains 20 mg of total peptide blend, co-dissolved in equal parts, and the dose dial works in exactly the same way as the one on the BPC-157 + TB-500 pen: the figure dialled is the dose of each peptide, not the sum of the two. Dialling 0.1 mg delivers 0.1 mg (100 mcg) of CJC-1295 and 0.1 mg (100 mcg) of ipamorelin, that is, 0.2 mg of blend per injection. At that dose, the cartridge's 20 mg yields 100 doses, which is the figure to use when a research budget is being calculated.

Can this protocol be combined with other peptides?

Some research combinations pair GHRH + GHRP with recovery-oriented peptides. To find out how the two components behave on their own before layering anything else on top of them, see CJC-1295 vs ipamorelin: how the two peptides differ and, for a single-agent GHRH alternative, compare it with tesamorelin dosing.

Research notice and legal status

As of 2026, CJC-1295 and ipamorelin are not authorised as medicines, and neither of the two peptides holds an authorisation for use in humans. Body Pharm products are sold exclusively for research and analytical purposes, and they are not intended for human consumption.

Before acquiring or handling either of the two peptides, researchers should bear the following in mind:

1. Applicable regulations. It is advisable to review the national regulations currently in force on medicines and on research substances before any acquisition and handling.
2. Institutional governance. Researchers in university laboratories, in laboratories attached to clinical centres or in private laboratories should obtain an ethics opinion and document the chain of custody before carrying out any in vitro or analytical work.

This article does not constitute medical advice, legal advice or veterinary advice. Anyone considering working with these peptides should seek qualified legal advice and read the CJC-1295 vs ipamorelin comparison for the context of each molecule before reviewing the dosing methodology.

Next steps

The evening protocol of around 100 mcg of each peptide, given once a day, is the starting point of this guide. Dialling 0.1 mg on the dose dial delivers those 100 mcg of each, and the 20 mg cartridge yields 100 doses at that figure. It is advisable to plan a first cycle of 12 weeks, followed by a 4-week washout phase. Anyone comparing this protocol with alternative GHRH analogues can review tesamorelin dosing to see a contrasting daily-injection approach, or consult CJC-1295 vs ipamorelin: how the two peptides differ to understand the receptor-level rationale before fixing the design of the protocol.

Sources

1. Body Pharm dosing protocol for the CJC-1295 + ipamorelin pen (supplier specification, reviewed in October 2026). Supplier research protocol, not a peer-reviewed study.
2. Teichman SL, et al. 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. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16352683
3. Ionescu M, Frohman LA. Pulsatile secretion of growth hormone (GH) persists during continuous stimulation by CJC-1295, a long-acting GH-releasing hormone analog. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17018654
4. Raun K, et al. Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue. Eur J Endocrinol. 1998. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9849822
5. Van Cauter E, et al. Age-related changes in slow wave sleep and REM sleep and relationship with growth hormone and cortisol levels in healthy men. JAMA. 2000. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10938176
6. Bowers CY, et al. Growth hormone (GH)-releasing peptide stimulates GH release in normal men and acts synergistically with GH-releasing hormone. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1990. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2108187
7. Gobburu JV, et al. Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of ipamorelin, a growth hormone releasing peptide, in human volunteers. Pharm Res. 1999. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10496658