Compare CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin — the two most popular growth hormone peptides. Understand their mechanisms, half-lives, and why they are often stacked together.
Growth hormone releasing hormone analog — stimulates natural GH production.
Selective growth hormone secretagogue with minimal side effects.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Property | CJC-1295 | Ipamorelin |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Growth Hormone | Growth Hormone |
| Mechanism | GHRH analog that binds growth hormone-releasing hormone receptors, stimulating the pituitary to produce and release GH in a sustained, physiological pattern. | Selective ghrelin receptor agonist (GHSR) and GH secretagogue that triggers GH pulses from the pituitary without significantly affecting cortisol, prolactin, or ACTH. |
| Half-Life | ~30 minutes (without DAC); up to 8 days (with DAC) | ~2 hours |
| Typical Dosage | 100–200 mcg 2–3x per week subcutaneous | 200–300 mcg 2–3x daily subcutaneous |
| Primary Use | Sustained growth hormone stimulation, body composition, anti-aging protocols | Selective GH pulsing, fat loss, sleep quality, lean mass preservation |
| Onset | 2–4 weeks for measurable IGF-1 elevation | 1–2 weeks for sleep quality improvements; 4–6 weeks for body composition |
| Stacks Well With | Ipamorelin, Sermorelin | CJC-1295, Sermorelin |
Overview
GHRH analog that binds growth hormone-releasing hormone receptors, stimulating the pituitary to produce and release GH in a sustained, physiological pattern.
Selective ghrelin receptor agonist (GHSR) and GH secretagogue that triggers GH pulses from the pituitary without significantly affecting cortisol, prolactin, or ACTH.
Applications & Benefits
- Strong pituitary GH stimulation
- Physiological GH release pattern
- Excellent body composition data
- Well-characterized half-life
- Widely studied in human trials
- Highly selective — no cortisol or prolactin elevation
- Mimics natural GH pulsatile release
- Excellent sleep quality data
- Minimal side effect profile
- Strong fat loss and lean mass support data
CJC-1295 vs Ipamorelin: Bottom Line
Used alone, both CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin produce moderate GH increases. Together, they create a synergistic effect — CJC-1295 amplifies the GH pulse amplitude while Ipamorelin triggers the pulse with high selectivity. This combination is considered the gold standard GH optimization protocol and is far more effective than either compound individually.
Compare Other Peptides
Mix and match any of the 19 peptides in our catalog for a custom side-by-side comparison.
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