Ipamorelin and CJC-1295
Also known as: Ipamorelin · CJC-1295 · CJC-1295 DAC · GHRP-Ipamorelin · Ipa-CJC stack
The most commonly stacked GH-axis pair in current peptide community use. Ipamorelin is a selective ghrelin-receptor agonist that triggers GH release without the appetite or cortisol bumps of older GHRPs. CJC-1295 is a long-acting GHRH analog. Together they hit both pituitary axes that drive GH pulses.
Last reviewed · Panya.health editorial
Panya scores vendors against an 11-signal rubric. Vendors at or above 70 out of 100 are routable; below 70 are documented but get no Panya affiliate link. For prescription peptides like Mounjaro and Wegovy, Panya routes today through licensed clinicians. For research peptides like Ipamorelin and CJC-1295, vendor scorecards land in a follow-up sprint after legal review and payment processor selection. Until then, the page surfaces commonly-mentioned vendor names so adults can do their own diligence. We do not yet earn commission on any Ipamorelin and CJC-1295 vendor.
Not medical advice. Ipamorelin and CJC-1295 is not approved for human medical use in most jurisdictions. The data below is what users do; it is not what regulators have validated. You decide your risk profile.
What it does, and how
Ipamorelin binds GHSR (growth hormone secretagogue receptor, the 'ghrelin receptor') on pituitary somatotrophs and triggers GH release. Compared to older GHRPs like GHRP-6 or GHRP-2, ipamorelin is selective: it doesn't bump cortisol or appreciably stimulate appetite, which is why it became the default GHRP in modern stacks. CJC-1295 comes in two forms: 'with DAC' (longer half-life, multi-day plasma persistence via a drug-affinity-complex with serum albumin) and 'without DAC' (mod GRF 1-29, similar half-life to sermorelin). Stacking ipamorelin (ghrelin axis) with CJC-1295 (GHRH axis) gives synergistic GH release because the two axes are independently regulated.
Typical practice
Standard community stack: 100 to 300 mcg ipamorelin combined with 100 to 200 mcg CJC-1295 (no DAC) or 1 to 2 mg CJC-1295 (with DAC) per dose. Sub-q injection. Without-DAC version is dosed 1 to 3 times per day (often morning, post-workout, before bed). With-DAC version is dosed once or twice per week. Cycles run 8 to 16 weeks continuous. Reconstitution typically 5 mg vials each in 2 to 5 mL bacteriostatic water. The rationale for combining is that GHRH (CJC) primes somatotrophs and ghrelin agonist (ipamorelin) triggers the pulse, producing larger GH bursts than either alone.
The dosing above is community practice, not a regulator-validated protocol. Trial-validated dosing for Ipamorelin and CJC-1295 in humans does not exist for most use cases listed.
Risks and contraindications
Most-reported side effects: facial flushing in the first 5 to 10 minutes after injection (common, harmless), mild dizziness, occasional headache. Ipamorelin's selectivity profile keeps cortisol and appetite changes minimal. CJC-1295 with DAC is theoretically more concerning because the elevated GH and IGF-1 plateau can sit above physiologic baseline for days; users prefer the without-DAC form for that reason. Insulin resistance risk, water retention, and carpal tunnel symptoms apply to all GH-axis stack work. Cancer history: same caveat as all GH stimulators.
Where this stands legally
Neither ipamorelin nor CJC-1295 is FDA-approved. 503A compounding pharmacies stopped routinely compounding these in 2024 after FDA Category 2 placement of related peptides. Sold widely as research chemicals.
Not licensed by MHRA. Sold as research chemicals. Customs scrutiny on imports has tightened through 2025.
Not on EMA's approved list. Research-chemical category.
Sold by some Bangkok longevity and anti-aging clinics under physician oversight. Not formally scheduled. WADA prohibits in competitive sport.
Prescription-only by default per MOHAP. Personal-use imports require documentation.
TGA Schedule 4 (prescription-only). Personal imports actively investigated.
Where users say they source it
Names below are sourced from community discussion. None are currently scored against the Panya 11-signal rubric. Panya does not earn commission on any of these. You can search them yourself; treat the list as a starting point for your own diligence, not an endorsement.
- Pure RawzPending Panya 11-signal audit
- Limitless LifePending Panya 11-signal audit
- Amino AsylumPending Panya 11-signal audit
- BDMS Wellness Clinic (Bangkok, prescribing context)Pending Panya 11-signal audit
- US compounding pharmacies pre-2024 FDA Category 2 shiftPending Panya 11-signal audit
Full vendor scorecards for Ipamorelin and CJC-1295 land in a follow-up sprint after lawyer review and payment processor selection. We will not route users to any vendor that scores below 70 on the rubric.
Papers worth reading directly
- Raun et al. — Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue. Eur J Endocrinol, 1998 →
- Teichman et al. — Prolonged stimulation of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I secretion by CJC-1295. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2006 →
- Sigalos and Pastuszak — The Safety and Efficacy of Growth Hormone Secretagogues. Sex Med Rev, 2018 →
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Adjacent reading
Track Ipamorelin and CJC-1295 in your peptide journal.
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