Ipamorelin vs CJC-1295: How Much to Take
Ipamorelin and CJC-1295 are two of the most popular growth hormone peptides — and they are almost always discussed together. Here is why they work better as a stack than either does alone.
Dosage at a glance
The key difference
Ipamorelin is a GHRP that works on ghrelin receptors. CJC-1295 is a GHRH analog that works on GHRH receptors. Because they target completely different receptor systems, stacking them produces a synergistic effect — significantly more GH release than either alone.
Why they are almost always used together: Using both simultaneously hits two separate pathways that both lead to GH release. The combined pulse is dramatically larger than either peptide produces individually.
Ipamorelin overview
Ipamorelin is a third-generation GHRP known for its selectivity — it produces a clean GH pulse without raising cortisol, prolactin, or appetite. Most users inject it 30 minutes before bed fasted to align with the body's natural nighttime GH release. Read our Ipamorelin guide and dosage guide.
CJC-1295 overview
CJC-1295 without DAC (Mod GRF 1-29) has a half-life of about 30 minutes and produces a pulsatile pattern similar to natural GHRH. Most clinicians prefer this version. CJC-1295 with DAC lasts up to two weeks but can cause receptor desensitization over time.
Side by side
| Feature | Ipamorelin | CJC-1295 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | GHRP (ghrelin receptor) | GHRH analog |
| Half-life | 2 hours | 30 min (no DAC) |
| Raises cortisol? | No | No |
| Best used | Alone or stacked | Almost always stacked |
Why the stack works
A typical stack: 100-200 mcg CJC-1295 (no DAC) plus 200-300 mcg Ipamorelin, injected together subcutaneously 30 minutes before bed fasted. This produces a large GH pulse aligned with the body's nighttime release. Compared to the Sermorelin + Ipamorelin stack, this tends to produce a larger GH pulse but is considered slightly more aggressive.