CJC-1295 Ipamorelin Stack: Dosage, Reconstitution Calculator & Timing Protocol

CJC-1295 and ipamorelin research stack guide: dosing ratios, timing relative to meals, reconstitution for both peptides, and a pre-filled stack calculator walkthrough.

TL;DR

• CJC-1295 is a GHRH (growth hormone-releasing hormone) analog that amplifies the amplitude of GH pulses from the pituitary
• Ipamorelin is a selective GHRP (growth hormone-releasing peptide) that increases the frequency of GH pulses with minimal cortisol or prolactin stimulation
• Together, they act synergistically on two separate receptor systems, producing significantly greater GH output than either compound alone
• Typical research dose is 100 mcg of each peptide per injection, dosed before sleep or in the morning on an empty stomach
• Reconstitution Calculator → | Stack Calculator →

⚠️ Disclaimer: This article is written for educational and research purposes only. CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin are not FDA-approved for human use. All information is based on available preclinical and early-stage research. Nothing in this article constitutes medical advice. Consult a licensed healthcare professional before making any decisions regarding peptide compounds.

Among all the growth hormone secretagogue combinations studied in peptide research, the CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin pairing stands out as the most consistently referenced and widely investigated. The reason comes down to a clean pharmacological logic: these two compounds work on completely different receptor systems — GHRH receptors and ghrelin/GHS receptors, respectively — and their combined action produces a more physiologically complete GH pulse than either compound can generate on its own.

Understanding why this stack works so well requires a basic understanding of how the growth hormone axis is actually regulated. This guide walks through the physiology, the individual compounds, the synergy data, and the practical reconstitution and dosing math you'll need to design a well-structured research protocol.

CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin are the most widely researched GHRH/GHRP combination. The standard research ratio is CJC-1295 (without DAC): 100 mcg paired with Ipamorelin: 100–200 mcg, administered 3× daily before meals and at bedtime. Each peptide is reconstituted separately with bacteriostatic water.

→ Pre-fill the CJC-1295 reconstitution calculator: 2mg / 2mL / 100mcg → Pre-fill the Ipamorelin reconstitution calculator: 2mg / 2mL / 100mcg

The Growth Hormone Axis Explained

Growth hormone (GH) secretion from the anterior pituitary is not a continuous process — it occurs in discrete pulses, primarily during slow-wave sleep, with smaller pulses throughout the day. These pulses are regulated by a two-signal system originating in the hypothalamus:

1. GHRH (Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone) — released from the hypothalamus in a pulsatile pattern, GHRH travels to the anterior pituitary and binds to GHRH receptors on somatotroph cells, stimulating them to synthesize and release GH. GHRH primarily controls the amplitude of GH pulses — how much GH is released per pulse.

2. Ghrelin / GHS-R pathway — a separate hypothalamic and peripheral signal that acts through the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) on pituitary somatotrophs. This pathway primarily regulates the frequency of GH pulses — how often they occur. Ghrelin also sensitizes somatotrophs to GHRH stimulation, creating an important interaction between the two systems.

Simultaneously, somatostatin (growth hormone-inhibiting hormone) acts as the brake on GH secretion, providing negative feedback to prevent runaway output. The net GH pulse pattern is the result of the balance between GHRH/ghrelin stimulation and somatostatin inhibition.

GH secretagogue peptides designed for research work by mimicking and amplifying one or both of these stimulatory inputs. When compounds that target both pathways are combined, the synergistic effect on GH output is well-documented in the literature.

What Is CJC-1295?

CJC-1295 is a synthetic analog of GHRH, modified to extend its half-life far beyond the ~7 minutes of native GHRH. The native molecule degrades rapidly in plasma due to DPP-4 cleavage — the same enzyme that limits native GLP-1. CJC-1295 addresses this through two structural modifications: substitution of amino acids at positions vulnerable to enzymatic cleavage, and (in the DAC form) incorporation of a Drug Affinity Complex (DAC) that allows the peptide to bind covalently to circulating albumin.

This distinction creates two important variants that researchers need to be aware of:

• CJC-1295 with DAC — has a half-life of approximately 6–8 days, enabling once-weekly or twice-weekly dosing. This produces a sustained elevation of GH baseline levels rather than distinct pulses.
• CJC-1295 without DAC (also called Mod GRF 1-29) — has a half-life of approximately 30 minutes, producing a more physiological GH pulse when injected. This form is used for pulse-mimicking research protocols and is typically combined with Ipamorelin.

The non-DAC form is almost exclusively what researchers refer to when discussing the CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin stack, because the short half-life produces a discrete GH pulse that mirrors natural physiology rather than continuously elevated GH levels.

What Is Ipamorelin?

Ipamorelin is a synthetic pentapeptide (5 amino acids: Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2) that functions as a selective growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R) agonist. It was developed specifically to address a key limitation of earlier GHRPs (growth hormone-releasing peptides) like GHRP-2 and GHRP-6: non-selective stimulation of cortisol and prolactin release alongside GH.

What makes Ipamorelin stand out is its selectivity profile. At research-relevant doses, Ipamorelin stimulates GH release with minimal impact on cortisol, prolactin, or ACTH levels — a significant advantage for protocols where GH stimulation is the primary endpoint and corticosteroid elevation would confound results. This selectivity has been demonstrated in multiple animal and early human studies.

Ipamorelin has a relatively short half-life of approximately 2 hours, meaning its GH-stimulating effect is acute and pulse-like. This makes it ideal for pairing with CJC-1295 no-DAC, where both compounds trigger a coordinated, time-limited GH pulse. Typical research doses in the literature range from 100–300 mcg per injection.

Why They Work Better Together

The synergistic relationship between GHRH analogs and GHRP-class peptides has been studied extensively. The mechanism involves complementary receptor pathways that converge on the somatotroph cell to amplify GH release:

• CJC-1295 (GHRH analog) increases intracellular cAMP in somatotrophs via Gs-coupled GHRH receptor signaling, increasing the pool of releasable GH and the sensitivity of cells to releasing signals.
• Ipamorelin (GHRP) activates the GHS-R1a receptor on both hypothalamic and pituitary cells, increasing intracellular calcium and directly triggering exocytosis of GH-containing secretory granules. It also suppresses somatostatin release in the hypothalamus, reducing the inhibitory brake on GH output.

The result is a two-pronged amplification: more GH available in the somatotroph pool, and a stronger signal to release it. Research data comparing GH output across conditions consistently demonstrates significantly greater response from the combination than from either compound alone:

Note: Specific magnitude values depend on species, body weight, baseline GH status, and timing of measurement. This table reflects general directional findings from comparative research.

Typical Research Dosing Patterns

Research protocols using the CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin combination most commonly administer 100 mcg of each compound per injection. Some protocols extend this to 200 mcg of each for larger animal models or in research specifically targeting supraphysiological GH output.

Injection timing is a critical protocol design consideration. Because the goal is often to amplify natural GH pulses rather than replace them entirely:

• Pre-sleep dosing (30–60 minutes before sleep) takes advantage of the natural major GH pulse that occurs during the first slow-wave sleep cycle. Both peptides are administered together so their half-lives overlap during this high-output window.
• Morning fasting dosing (upon waking, before eating) takes advantage of the natural morning GH pulse and the sensitized state of somatotrophs after the overnight fast. Insulin levels are low, which reduces IGF-1 feedback inhibition and allows for more complete GH response.

Many research protocols use once-daily dosing (pre-sleep), while others use twice-daily (morning fasting + pre-sleep) for more sustained GH stimulation. Protocol duration in the research literature typically ranges from 8–16 weeks for studies examining body composition, recovery, or metabolic endpoints.

One practical note: carbohydrate and fat ingestion acutely blunt GH secretion by stimulating insulin release, which suppresses the GH axis. For consistent results, administrations should occur at least 2–3 hours after the last meal.

Reconstitution Math for Both Peptides

Both CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin are typically supplied as lyophilized powder in 2mg or 5mg vials. The following tables provide concentration and syringe unit reference data for common reconstitution scenarios.

CJC-1295 Reconstitution (2mg vial)

Ipamorelin Reconstitution (2mg vial)

For 5mg vials (either compound)

All unit values assume a standard U-100 insulin syringe (100 units = 1 mL).

The 2mg/2mL (1,000 mcg/mL) ratio is generally the most practical for 100 mcg doses, as it results in a 10-unit draw — a clearly legible marking on any standard insulin syringe. Avoid very low volumes (under 5 units) as they increase measurement error.

Use the Reconstitution Calculator → to verify your exact units for any vial size and dose combination.

Use the Stack Calculator → to plan multi-compound protocols including CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin combinations.

Timing & Injection Protocol

When combining CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin in a single research session, both compounds can be drawn into the same syringe (assuming they have been individually reconstituted and are in the same solvent). Draw each compound from its respective vial into the syringe sequentially, being careful to calculate the combined volume in units.

The standard injection technique for both compounds is subcutaneous, with the abdomen being the most common site due to the abundance of subcutaneous adipose tissue and ease of administration. Rotate injection sites within the abdominal region across administrations to minimize local tissue irritation.

Record injection time in your protocol log. Because GH pulse timing relative to sleep and fasting state can affect outcome measurements, consistent timing across sessions is important for data quality. If measuring serum GH as an endpoint, sample timing relative to injection is critical — GH peaks approximately 30–60 minutes post-injection in most animal models.

Conclusion

The CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin combination is well-founded in the basic physiology of GH axis regulation. By simultaneously targeting the GHRH receptor (via CJC-1295) and the ghrelin receptor (via Ipamorelin), this stack produces a synergistic GH pulse that is substantially greater than what either compound achieves alone. Ipamorelin's clean selectivity profile — minimal cortisol and prolactin stimulation — makes it an especially attractive GHRP for research where interpretive clarity is important.

From a practical standpoint, both compounds are straightforward to reconstitute and dose, and the 100 mcg/100 mcg standard dose gives researchers a good baseline from which to titrate based on specific study endpoints. Use the reconstitution calculator to verify your syringe volumes, and the stack calculator to plan multi-compound protocols and track vial consumption over the course of longer studies.

Frequently Asked Questions About CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin

Q: Why are CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin always stacked together? A: CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin target two completely different receptor systems in the growth hormone axis — CJC-1295 acts on GHRH receptors to amplify GH pulse amplitude, while Ipamorelin acts on ghrelin/GHS-R receptors to increase pulse frequency and suppress somatostatin (the GH inhibitor). When combined, these complementary mechanisms produce a synergistic GH response significantly greater than either compound alone, making the stack far more efficient than using either peptide independently.

Q: What is the difference between CJC-1295 with DAC and without DAC? A: CJC-1295 with DAC (Drug Affinity Complex) contains a modification that allows the peptide to bind covalently to circulating albumin, extending its half-life to approximately 6–8 days and enabling once or twice-weekly dosing. CJC-1295 without DAC (also called Mod GRF 1-29) has a half-life of only about 30 minutes, producing a discrete, pulse-like GH release that more closely mimics natural physiology. The no-DAC form is almost exclusively used in the CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin stack because the acute pulse better complements Ipamorelin's short half-life.

Q: What is the typical CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin research dose? A: Most research protocols use 100 mcg of each compound per injection, administered simultaneously. Some protocols escalate to 200 mcg of each for larger animal models or when targeting more substantial GH output. For a 2 mg vial reconstituted in 2 mL BAC water (1,000 mcg/mL), a 100 mcg dose corresponds to a 10-unit draw on a U-100 insulin syringe — a conveniently legible marking that minimizes measurement error.

Q: When is the best time to inject CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin? A: The two most commonly used timing windows in research protocols are pre-sleep (30–60 minutes before sleep) and morning fasting (upon waking before eating). Pre-sleep dosing takes advantage of the natural major GH pulse during the first slow-wave sleep cycle. Morning fasting dosing leverages low insulin levels and the sensitized somatotroph state after the overnight fast. Both compounds should be administered at least 2–3 hours after the last meal, as carbohydrates and fats acutely blunt GH secretion by stimulating insulin release.

Q: How long does CJC-1295 with DAC last? A: CJC-1295 with DAC has a half-life of approximately 6–8 days due to its covalent albumin-binding modification. This produces a sustained elevation of GH baseline rather than discrete pulses, and supports once or twice-weekly dosing. However, for this reason CJC-1295 with DAC is typically not paired with Ipamorelin in pulse-mimicking protocols — the no-DAC form is preferred for the classic stack because its 30-minute half-life produces an acute GH release that aligns with Ipamorelin's pulse timing.

This content is provided for educational and research informational purposes only. CJC-1295, Ipamorelin, and related peptides are not approved for human therapeutic use in most jurisdictions. This article does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. All research should be conducted in compliance with applicable institutional and regulatory guidelines.

Disclaimer: For educational and research purposes only. Nothing in this article constitutes medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendation. All compounds discussed are research chemicals or investigational compounds unless explicitly noted otherwise. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions. Researchers must comply with all applicable laws and regulations in their jurisdiction.

Frequently Asked Questions