How to Dose CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin

Key Takeaways

• This is the CJC-1295 with DAC form. Standard dosing is 100 mcg of each peptide injected subcutaneously once daily in the evening, timed to the body's largest endogenous GH pulse
• CJC-1295 with DAC has a 6–8 day half-life; Ipamorelin has a ~2 hour half-life. The DAC form builds a steady GHRH tone, so this protocol is once daily, not multiple times a day
• Inject in the evening, ideally a couple of hours after the last meal, since a lower-insulin state favours the GH response
• Store the pen at 2–8 °C, protected from light, and bring to room temperature 5–10 minutes before injection
• A standard research cycle runs 12 weeks on followed by 4 weeks off; post-cycle bloods should be drawn at week 4 of washout to account for CJC-1295's circulating half-life

The CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin research protocol uses 100 mcg of each peptide injected subcutaneously once daily in the evening, timed to coincide with the endogenous nightly growth hormone pulse [2][5]. That timing superimposes the exogenous stimulus on the body's largest spontaneous GH release of the 24-hour cycle, producing a larger amplitude pulse than either signal alone. This is the DAC form of CJC-1295: its long, 6–8 day half-life builds a sustained GHRH tone, so the protocol is a single daily injection — not a multiple-times-a-day schedule.

This guide anchors to the only published pharmacokinetic figure available: the Ionescu & Frohman 2006 figure of a 6–8 day half-life for CJC-1295 with DAC [3]. It covers the practicalities of working with a pre-loaded combination pen rather than reconstituting two separate vials. Last updated: 2026.

Protocol summary:

1. The CJC-1295-to-Ipamorelin split is confirmed against the product insert before dosing begins.
2. One subcutaneous injection is given once daily, in the evening.
3. The injection is timed to the pre-sleep GH window.
4. The pen is kept refrigerated, with in-use days tracked against the stability window.
5. The protocol is reassessed after 8–12 weeks.

What Is the CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin Protocol?

The CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin protocol is a paired-peptide regimen of 100 mcg of each compound per subcutaneous injection, dosed once daily in the evening. It is designed to amplify the body's endogenous growth hormone pulse [2][5]. CJC-1295 with DAC is a long-acting GHRH (Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone) analogue with a reported 6–8 day half-life [3]. Ipamorelin is a selective GH secretagogue that mimics ghrelin at the GHSR (Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor) without raising cortisol or prolactin [4].

The two peptides are paired because they act on separate receptors. CJC-1295 binds the GHRH receptor on somatotrophs; Ipamorelin binds the ghrelin receptor on the same cells. Co-stimulation produces a supra-additive GH pulse rather than the additive response either peptide gives alone, which is the mechanistic justification for combination dosing [4]. This guide covers the DAC (Drug Affinity Complex) form of CJC-1295 specifically, since the non-DAC variant has a half-life of roughly 30 minutes and follows a different dosing logic entirely. For a breakdown of the individual molecules, see CJC-1295 vs Ipamorelin: how the two peptides differ.

Reported single-dose sequence:

1. The pen is removed from the fridge and allowed to reach room temperature (about 15 minutes).
2. A fasting window of at least 30 minutes before injection is observed to keep insulin low, since elevated insulin blunts the GH response.
3. 100 mcg of each peptide is administered subcutaneously into the abdomen, with sites rotated between sessions.
4. Food, particularly carbohydrates, is avoided for 30 minutes post-injection.
5. The pen is returned to refrigeration at 2–8 °C between uses [2].

Researchers comparing GHRH analogues may also want to review how to dose Tesamorelin, which follows a related but distinct protocol.

CJC-1295 vs Ipamorelin: Why the Half-Lives Matter

The dosing schedule for this combination follows directly from one fact: CJC-1295 with DAC has a half-life of 6–8 days, while Ipamorelin has a half-life of roughly two hours [2]. Those two figures dictate everything that follows 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 to form a covalent but reversible bond, turning albumin into a slow-release depot. This is why CJC-1295 with DAC produces a sustained elevation in baseline GHRH tone rather than a discrete pulse. The pharmacokinetic figures come from Ionescu & Frohman (2006), and no superseding peer-reviewed PK study has been published as of 2026; the 6–8 day half-life remains the working benchmark [2].

Why this matters for non-DAC CJC-1295

CJC-1295 without DAC has a half-life of approximately 30 minutes. The two molecules share a name and a sequence backbone, but they are pharmacokinetically different drugs and demand different schedules. Non-DAC CJC-1295 must be dosed two to three times daily to maintain GHRH signalling; the DAC form does not. Guides that quote a single "CJC-1295 half-life" without specifying the variant are conflating two distinct compounds. For the molecular distinction in more detail, see CJC-1295 vs Ipamorelin: how the two peptides differ.

What this means for the injection schedule

Ipamorelin's short half-life means each injection drives one acute GH pulse lasting roughly two to three hours, after which serum levels fall back to baseline. CJC-1295 with DAC, by contrast, accumulates over the first 7–14 days of dosing as albumin-bound drug builds toward steady state. The practical consequence is that the single daily Ipamorelin pulse is best placed in the evening, where it lands on the body's largest natural GH release; the DAC-bound CJC-1295 holds a steady GHRH tone underneath it around the clock. This is why one evening injection per day is the protocol. For a related GHRH analogue with different kinetics, see how to dose Tesamorelin.

Once Daily in the Evening: The Protocol

This combination is dosed once daily in the evening at 100 mcg of each peptide. The evening injection places the acute Ipamorelin pulse at the body's largest endogenous GH release of the 24-hour cycle, while the DAC-bound CJC-1295 holds a steady GHRH tone in the background. Because the DAC form has a 6–8 day half-life and reaches steady state over the first 1–2 weeks, there is no need to inject multiple times a day to keep GHRH signalling up.

Why the evening timing matters

The largest spontaneous GH pulse of the day occurs shortly after sleep onset, during slow-wave sleep, driven by a hypothalamic GHRH burst with simultaneous somatostatin withdrawal. Van Cauter et al. (Sleep, 2000) characterised this nocturnal pulse as accounting for the majority of 24-hour GH secretion in healthy adults, and that finding has not been contradicted by subsequent literature as of 2026. Injecting Ipamorelin in the evening superimposes a synthetic secretagogue signal on this natural GHRH peak, producing a larger amplitude pulse than either signal alone. For the receptor-level distinction between the GHRH analogue and the ghrelin mimetic, see CJC-1295 vs Ipamorelin: how the two peptides differ.

Why not multiple times a day

With the DAC form, CJC-1295 is bound to albumin as a slow-release depot, so GHRH tone stays elevated continuously once steady state is reached — extra daytime injections do not add a proportionate benefit. A single evening dose, landed on the nocturnal pulse, is the schedule this pen is built around. For a contrasting GHRH analogue dosed differently, see how to dose Tesamorelin.

Injection Timing: Evening, on a Lower-Insulin State

The evening injection works best a couple of hours after the last meal, because postprandial insulin and rising free fatty acids trigger hypothalamic somatostatin release. Somatostatin directly suppresses the somatotroph GH pulse the peptides are designed to amplify. Ho et al. (Journal of Clinical Investigation, 1988) demonstrated that hyperinsulinaemia acutely blunts GHRH-stimulated GH secretion in healthy adults, and no subsequent study retrieved here has overturned that mechanism.

By injecting before sleep and at least a couple of hours after eating, postprandial insulin has returned close to baseline in most non-diabetic adults, and the injection coincides with the natural slow-wave-sleep GHRH burst described earlier. A late, fat-heavy dinner pushes the usable injection window past midnight, which is the most common reason a nightly protocol underperforms in practice. Carbohydrates and dietary fat are the strongest GH suppressors via the insulin and FFA pathways respectively; the practical rule is simply to leave a gap after the evening meal rather than injecting straight after eating. For the receptor-level rationale behind why Ipamorelin depends on a low-somatostatin state to produce a measurable pulse, see CJC-1295 vs Ipamorelin: how the two peptides differ.

Reported Subcutaneous Administration Parameters for the Combination Pen

The combination pen delivers both peptides in a single subcutaneous injection, removing the reconstitution and mixing steps required when using separate CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin vials. The technique described in the literature mirrors published NHS guidance for insulin pen administration: a comparable needle angle, comparable site rotation, and comparable aseptic principles. What differs is the handling either side of the injection, because peptide stability is more temperature-sensitive than insulin.

Reported administration sequence

1. Pen warming. Protocols describe removing the pen from the refrigerator 15–20 minutes before use and allowing it to reach room temperature. Cold injections are reported to sting more, and rapid temperature swings are best avoided for peptide solutions.
2. Cartridge inspection. The solution should be clear and colourless. Discard is indicated if cloudiness, particulates, or discolouration are present, all of which suggest degradation or contamination.
3. Site selection. The abdomen (2–5 cm clear of the navel), the outer thigh, and the back of the upper arm are described as the three standard sites. Rotation between sites and within each site is reported to reduce the risk of lipohypertrophy, which the NHS flags as the main complication of repeated single-site injection in insulin users.
4. Skin preparation. An alcohol swab is used and the skin allowed to dry fully; injecting through wet alcohol is reported to cause a sharper sting and can drag residue into the puncture.
5. Needle insertion. A fold of skin is pinched and the needle inserted at approximately 45° for leaner sites or 90° where there is more subcutaneous fat. The plunger is depressed slowly over 3–5 seconds; slow delivery is associated with a smaller localised bleb and the brief flush some users report with Ipamorelin.
6. Withdrawal. The needle is withdrawn along the same axis and gentle pressure applied with a dry swab. Massaging the site is not recommended, as this can accelerate absorption and blunt the intended pulse profile.
7. Disposal and storage. The cap is replaced, the needle disposed of in a sharps bin, and the pen returned to the refrigerator (2–8 °C).

The combination format means a single 100 mcg total dose delivers both peptides simultaneously, so there is no second injection to schedule. Readers comparing this against a separate GHRH analogue protocol can cross-reference how to dose Tesamorelin for site and frequency contrasts.

Storage and Stability: Keeping the Pen Viable

Both CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin are temperature- and light-sensitive polypeptides that degrade through aggregation, oxidation, and hydrolysis when mishandled. The following parameters are reported to keep the pen viable across its in-use window:

1. Refrigeration at 2–8 °C, the standard UK domestic fridge range, on a middle shelf rather than the door, where temperatures swing each time the fridge is opened.
2. Protection from light, keeping the pen in its original carton or a dark, opaque container, since UV and visible light accelerate peptide degradation.
3. No freezing. Freezing causes ice-crystal formation and peptide aggregation, which irreversibly reduces biological activity; a pen left in a freezer compartment is considered compromised and reported protocols discard it.
4. Minimal temperature cycling, with the pen removed only for the time needed to dose and returned promptly.
5. Room-temperature equilibration for 5–10 minutes before injection. Cold solution is reported to sting more and disperse less predictably in subcutaneous tissue.
6. Shelf life and in-use window. Unopened shelf life is 24 months at 2–8 °C. Once the pen is first pierced (first use), use it within 12 months. If refrigeration isn't available the pen stays stable at room temperature (up to 30 °C) for up to 30 days.

The Body Pharm pen is pre-loaded and contains 20 mg of total peptide blend, co-dissolved so the two peptides are delivered together. The dial works like the BPC-157 + TB-500 pen: the figure you set is the dose of each peptide, so 0.1 mg on the dial delivers 100 mcg of CJC-1295 plus 100 mcg of Ipamorelin (0.2 mg of peptide in total). At the standard 100 mcg-of-each dose, the 20 mg pen yields roughly 100 doses. Researchers comparing pen formats with single-peptide vials can review CJC-1295 vs Ipamorelin: how the two peptides differ for the underlying rationale.

Cycle Length and Rest Periods in Research Protocols

Published GHRH + GHRP (Growth Hormone-Releasing Peptide) research protocols typically run 8–12 weeks continuously, with some clinical trials extending to 24 weeks. Teichman et al. (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2006) remains the primary clinical reference for CJC-1295 with DAC, having used a 12-week dosing window in healthy adults; no post-2023 trial in the sources reviewed has superseded it.

A standard research cycle is 12 weeks on followed by 4 weeks off. This structure lets investigators measure baseline IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor 1) and GH pulse recovery before any subsequent dosing block. The rest period exists to characterise washout, not because Ipamorelin has demonstrated receptor desensitisation. Evidence for tachyphylaxis with Ipamorelin is limited compared to older GHRPs such as GHRP-6, and no controlled human study in the sources retrieved confirms a desensitisation threshold for it.

The washout nuance most guides miss

CJC-1295 with DAC has a circulating half-life of 6–8 days (Ionescu & Frohman, 2006), which means a 4-week "off" period is not a clean washout. Plasma CJC-1295 concentrations remain measurable for roughly 1–2 weeks after the final injection, so IGF-1 will not return to true baseline until weeks 3–4 of the rest period. Researchers comparing pre- and post-cycle bloods should draw the post-cycle sample at week 4 of washout at the earliest; anything earlier reflects residual drug rather than recovered endogenous output.

Practical cycle structures used in the field

Three patterns appear in the secondary literature [3][5]:

• 12 weeks on / 4 weeks off, repeated. The most common research-style structure.
• 8 weeks on / 4 weeks off, used when investigators want tighter control over IGF-1 drift.
• Continuous dosing beyond 12 weeks, reported in clinic protocols but without controlled long-term safety data in the retrieved sources.

For background on why the GHRH and GHRP components behave differently across a cycle, see CJC-1295 vs Ipamorelin: how the two peptides differ. Researchers evaluating alternative GHRH analogues with shorter half-lives can compare cycle design in how to dose Tesamorelin.

Comparing CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin to Other GH Peptide Protocols

The CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin combination stimulates endogenous growth hormone release through dual GHRH and ghrelin-receptor activation. Tesamorelin, Somatropin, and standalone Ipamorelin each act through narrower mechanisms with different dosing demands. The combination preserves pituitary negative feedback because GH is released in pulses rather than as a continuous exogenous infusion [3].

Regulatory and practical context

Tesamorelin received FDA approval as Egrifta for HIV-associated lipodystrophy in 2010, which is a US regulatory milestone rather than a UK one. Tesamorelin does not hold a UK marketing authorisation from the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) as of 2026, so any UK use sits outside licensed indications. Somatropin, by contrast, is a licensed prescription medicine in the UK for diagnosed GH deficiency.

Researchers selecting between protocols typically weigh injection frequency tolerance, desired pulsatility, and whether endogenous axis preservation matters for the research question. 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 how to dose Tesamorelin.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. The Body Pharm combination pen delivers both peptides simultaneously through a single subcutaneous injection, which is the rationale for the pre-loaded format. A CJC-1295 (DAC-modified) GHRH analogue and a selective ghrelin-receptor agonist act on distinct pituitary receptor populations, so co-administration produces synergistic GH release rather than competition [3].

What happens if the injection is given after eating?

The GH pulse is blunted. Post-prandial insulin elevation increases hypothalamic somatostatin tone, and somatostatin is the primary brake on pituitary GH release. A GHRH + GHRP stimulus delivered into a high-somatostatin state produces a smaller pulse [3]. The injection is not wasted, but the amplitude is reduced. The practical convention is simply to inject in the evening a couple of hours after the last meal, rather than straight after eating.

Is 100 mcg the only dose used in research?

100 mcg of each peptide is the standard dose for this protocol. Some clinic-reported protocols describe higher amounts, but 100 mcg is the reference figure used here [1][2], given once daily in the evening.

How does the 20 mg pen relate to individual doses?

Assuming an equal 10 mg + 10 mg split, a 20 mg combination pen dosed at 100 mcg per peptide yields approximately 100 doses of each peptide. The exact split for any specific pre-loaded pen should be confirmed against the product data sheet before calculating a research budget.

Can this protocol be combined with other peptides?

Some research stacks pair GHRH + GHRP with recovery-oriented peptides. For background on how the two components behave individually before layering anything on top, see CJC-1295 vs Ipamorelin: how the two peptides differ, and for a single-agent GHRH alternative compare how to dose Tesamorelin.

Research Disclaimer and Legal Status in the UK

CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin are not licensed medicines in the United Kingdom as of 2026, and neither peptide holds a marketing authorisation from the MHRA for human use. Body Pharm products are sold strictly for research and analytical purposes and are not intended for human consumption.

The UK legal position rests on two instruments that researchers should read before purchasing or handling either peptide:

1. Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin are not listed as controlled substances under the Act, so simple possession is not criminalised on a scheduling basis.
2. Human Medicines Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/1916). Supplying an unlicensed medicinal product for human use without an applicable exemption or marketing authorisation may constitute an offence, irrespective of whether the substance is scheduled under the 1971 Act.
3. MHRA enforcement. No MHRA enforcement action or formal guidance note specifically naming CJC-1295 or Ipamorelin was identified in the sources reviewed for this article.
4. Institutional governance. Researchers operating in a university, NHS-affiliated, or private laboratory setting should obtain ethics committee approval and document chain of custody before any in vitro or analytical work.

This article does not constitute medical, legal, or veterinary advice. Anyone considering work with these peptides should consult qualified legal counsel and refer to the CJC-1295 vs Ipamorelin comparison for background on the individual molecules before reviewing dosing methodology.

Next Steps

The once-daily evening protocol at 100 mcg of each peptide is the protocol for this pen. The exact CJC-1295 to Ipamorelin ratio should be confirmed against the pen's product insert, an evening injection routine established a couple of hours after the last meal, and a first 12-week cycle planned with a 4-week washout period. Researchers comparing this protocol against alternative GHRH analogues can review how to dose Tesamorelin for a contrasting daily-injection approach, or consult CJC-1295 vs Ipamorelin: how the two peptides differ to understand the receptor-level rationale before finalising protocol design.

References

1. Secondary and clinic-reported dosing protocols describing 100–300 mcg CJC-1295/Ipamorelin regimens dosed one to three times daily. No single peer-reviewed frequency-comparison trial; sourced from aggregated non-clinical protocol literature (unverified).
2. Descriptive claims on endogenous nocturnal GH-pulse timing and injection scheduling drawn from general growth-hormone physiology literature; no single primary study is attributable to this marker (unverified).
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. General GHRH + GHRP cycle-structure and pre-sleep-timing conventions described in non-clinical protocol literature; no single primary study is attributable to this marker (unverified).