Ipamorelin + CJC-1295 Stack: The Complete Dosing Guide

Why These Two Are Almost Always Stacked

Ipamorelin and CJC-1295 (no DAC) work through two completely different mechanisms — and that's exactly why they're combined.

• Ipamorelin is a GHRP (Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide). It mimics ghrelin, binding to the GHSR receptor to stimulate a GH pulse.
• CJC-1295 (no DAC) is a GHRH analog. It amplifies the GH pulse by acting on a different receptor — the GHRH receptor.

When you take them together, you get a synergistic spike in GH release — studies suggest the combined effect can be 2–10x greater than either peptide alone. It's the most well-documented synergistic stack in peptide research.

Mechanism: What Each Peptide Does

Ipamorelin

• Class: GHRP / Ghrelin mimetic
• Half-life: ~2 hours
• Effect: Short, sharp GH pulse within 15–30 minutes
• Advantage: Highly selective — minimal impact on cortisol or prolactin compared to other GHRPs like GHRP-6

CJC-1295 (no DAC)

• Class: GHRH analog (Modified GRF 1-29)
• Half-life: ~30 minutes
• Effect: Amplifies the size of the GH pulse triggered by Ipamorelin
• Advantage: Short half-life preserves pulsatile GH release — mimics natural patterns

Dosing Protocol

Standard Starting Doses

• Ipamorelin: 100–200 mcg per injection
• CJC-1295 (no DAC): 100–200 mcg per injection
• Frequency: 2–3x daily
• Timing: Administer both together at the same time

Timing Guidelines

Both peptides should be administered on an empty stomach — food (especially carbohydrates) blunts GH release.

Ideal injection windows:

• Upon waking — GH is naturally elevated after sleep; you're amplifying the morning pulse
• Pre-workout (45–60 min before) — enhanced recovery response
• Before bed — coincides with the largest natural GH pulse of the day

Of these three, the before-bed injection is the most important. If you're only doing one injection per day, make it this one.

Sample 8-Week Beginner Protocol

Cycle: 8 weeks on, 4 weeks off

Weeks 1–2: Use the conservative dose to assess tolerance. Weeks 3–8: Can increase to 200 mcg each if well-tolerated.

Weight-Based Dosing

If you prefer precision, the research-backed approach is weight-based:

• Ipamorelin: 1–2 mcg/kg per injection
• CJC-1295 (no DAC): 1–1.5 mcg/kg per injection

Use the Dosage Calculator to calculate your exact dose based on your weight.

Reconstituting Both Peptides

If you have both peptides as lyophilized powder, reconstitute them separately using bacteriostatic water. A standard approach:

• Add 2 mL of BAC water to each vial (for both 2mg and 5mg vials, adjust for desired concentration)
• Draw each peptide into the same syringe for co-administration (draw Ipamorelin first, then CJC-1295)
• See the Reconstitution Calculator for exact measurements

Expected Results Timeline

• Weeks 1–2: Improved sleep quality and deeper sleep. Occasional water retention.
• Weeks 3–4: Increased energy. Some users report mild hunger increase (from Ipamorelin's ghrelin activity).
• Weeks 5–8: Gradual improvements in body composition, recovery, and skin quality.
• After 8–12 weeks: More noticeable changes. GH optimization takes time — don't expect overnight transformation.

Why CJC-1295 (no DAC) and NOT CJC-1295 (with DAC)?

CJC-1295 with DAC has a 7-day half-life and provides continuous, non-pulsatile GH elevation. Many practitioners prefer the no-DAC version when stacking with Ipamorelin because:

• It preserves pulsatile GH patterns (more physiologically natural)
• It clears faster — better control over timing
• Combined with Ipamorelin, you get excellent results without the sustained bleed

The DAC version makes more sense for once-weekly protocols without a GHRP partner.

Disclaimer

This guide is for informational and research purposes only. Ipamorelin and CJC-1295 are not FDA-approved for human use. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any peptide protocol.