CJC-1295 DAC (5 mg vial)

Protocol Overview

Concise summary of the regimen.

Dosing & Reconstitution

Frequency: two subcutaneous injections per week, spaced across the week (for example Monday and Thursday, or Tuesday and Friday). This is not a daily peptide. The extended 6 to 8 day half-life conferred by the DAC modification is what supports the less frequent cadence compared with non-DAC GHRH analogs; once weekly dosing has also been studied, and frequency is adjusted to the protocol being run. At 5 mg/mL every step of the ladder fits comfortably on a single U-100 insulin syringe, with the largest dose of 1,000 mcg coming to 20 units (0.20 mL), so no dose in this protocol needs splitting across two injections. For the smaller steps of 10 units (0.10 mL) or less, a 30 unit or 50 unit insulin syringe gives better readability than a full 100 unit barrel. Sites are rotated systematically across abdomen, thighs, and upper arms, and consistent spacing between the two weekly injections matters more here than clock time of day, because the DAC modification produces sustained rather than pulsed exposure.

Results Timeline

Sequence described in the research record. Individual response varies.

• Weeks 1 to 2: introductory dose of 300 mcg per injection, 6 units, for a weekly total of 600 mcg.
• Weeks 3 to 4: first titration step to 500 mcg per injection, 10 units (0.10 mL), weekly total 1,000 mcg.
• Weeks 5 to 6: second titration step to 750 mcg per injection, 15 units (0.15 mL), weekly total 1,500 mcg.
• Weeks 7 to 12: maintenance at 1,000 mcg per injection, 20 units (0.20 mL), weekly total 2,000 mcg, held to the end of the course and extended to week 16 where a longer run is required.

Reconstitution Steps

1. Draw 1.0 mL bacteriostatic water with a sterile syringe.
2. Inject slowly down the vial wall; avoid foaming.
3. Gently swirl until dissolved (do not shake).
4. Label with date and concentration; refrigerate at 2 to 8 °C, protected from light. At 5 mg/mL, 1 unit = 0.01 mL » 50 mcg on a U-100 insulin syringe, so 300 mcg = 6 units, 500 mcg = 10 units (0.10 mL), 750 mcg = 15 units (0.15 mL), and 1,000 mcg = 20 units (0.20 mL).

Storage Instructions

Proper storage preserves peptide quality.

• Lyophilized: store at -20 °C in dry, dark conditions; minimize moisture exposure.
• Reconstituted: refrigerate at 2 to 8 °C; stable for 2 to 4 weeks; avoid freeze-thaw.

• Allow vials to reach room temperature before opening to reduce condensation uptake.
• A vial reconstituted at 1.0 mL holds 100 units of solution in total, so the working supply and the 2 to 4 week refrigerated window should be matched when planning which vial to open.

Supplies Needed

Planning math is based on an 8 to 16 week twice weekly protocol with gradual titration, reaching a maintenance weekly total of 2,000 mcg (2 mg) per week from week 7 onward.

Peptide Vials (CJC-1295 DAC, 5 mg vial):

• An 8 week course totals about 10.2 mg, which is about 3 vials at 5 mg each; 12 weeks totals about 18.2 mg, about 4 vials; 16 weeks totals about 26.2 mg, about 6 vials.

Insulin Syringes (U-100):

• Per week: 2 U-100 insulin syringes, one per injection at twice weekly dosing, since the largest dose is 20 units (0.20 mL) and fits a single syringe.
• Full cycle: 16 syringes across 8 weeks, 24 across 12 weeks, and 32 across 16 weeks.

Bacteriostatic Water (10 mL bottles):

• Each 5 mg vial takes 1.0 mL of bacteriostatic water, so one 10 mL bottle covers 10 vials, which is enough for the 8, 12, and 16 week courses alike.

Alcohol Swabs:

• Per injection: 2 alcohol swabs, one for the vial stopper and one for the skin, which is 4 swabs per week at twice weekly dosing.
• Full cycle: 32 swabs across 8 weeks, 48 across 12 weeks, and 64 across 16 weeks; one 100 count box covers a full 16 week course.

Important Notes

Practical considerations for consistency and safety.

• Use new sterile insulin syringes for every administration and dispose of them in a sharps container.
• Rotate injection sites across abdomen, thighs, and upper arms to reduce local irritation, and inject slowly, waiting a few seconds before withdrawing the needle.
• Document each dose, injection site, and timing, since the value of this protocol comes from consistency across the titration ladder rather than from any single injection.
• The DAC modification provides sustained release, so consistent twice weekly scheduling matters more than time of day; drifting the two injections closer together or further apart changes exposure more than it changes total dose.
• The 5 mg vial reconstituted at 1.0 mL yields 100 units of solution, which is 16 doses at the 300 mcg step or 5 doses at the 1,000 mcg step, so fewer reconstitutions are needed over a course and open vial time stays inside the 2 to 4 week refrigerated window.
• Regulatory Note: CJC-1295 DAC is not an approved drug for human therapeutic use and is supplied for research purposes only, not for human consumption. The master sheet does not record a WADA classification for this compound.

How This Works

CJC-1295 DAC mimics endogenous GHRH, binding to GHRH receptors on pituitary somatotrophs to drive GH release. The DAC modification, an albumin-binding moiety, keeps the GHRH analog circulating for days rather than minutes, extending the half-life to approximately 6 to 8 days. The resulting GH surge stimulates IGF-1 production, primarily in the liver, and IGF-1 then mediates many growth and metabolic effects through JAK/STAT signaling pathways. Notably, pulsatile GH secretion persists even during continuous CJC-1295 stimulation, so the physiological release pattern is preserved rather than flattened.

Benefits & Side Effects

Observations from the published record.

• Supports sustained elevation of GH and IGF-1 in a dose-dependent manner, the primary finding across the published CJC-1295 work.
• May promote increased lean body mass, reduced fat mass, and improved body composition consistent with GH/IGF-1 axis activation.
• Enhanced protein synthesis and recovery potential through anabolic signaling.
• Pulsatile GH secretion persists during continuous stimulation, which means the physiological release pattern is preserved rather than overridden.
• Generally well tolerated in clinical studies; occasional mild injection-site reactions such as redness and swelling may occur.
• Side effects: some individuals report transient flushing, headache, or water retention during initial titration.

Lifestyle Factors

Complementary strategies for best outcomes.

• Pair with a balanced, protein-forward diet tailored to energy and recovery needs, since GH and IGF-1 signaling acts on substrate that has to be supplied.
• Combine resistance training with aerobic activity to reinforce GH-mediated adaptations.
• Prioritize quality sleep of 7 to 9 hours, because endogenous GH release peaks during deep sleep and a disrupted sleep architecture works against the same axis this protocol targets.
• Manage stress to support hormonal balance and adherence across a course that runs 8 to 16 weeks.

Injection Technique

General subcutaneous guidance from clinical best-practice resources.

1. Clean the vial stopper and skin with alcohol; allow to dry.
2. Pinch a skinfold; insert the needle at 45 to 90 degrees into subcutaneous tissue.
3. Do not aspirate for subcutaneous injections; inject slowly and steadily.
4. Wait 5 to 10 seconds before withdrawing; dispose of syringe in sharps container.
5. Rotate sites systematically (abdomen, thighs, upper arms) to avoid lipohypertrophy.

References

Source citations for further reading.

1. Teichman SL et al. Prolonged stimulation of GH and IGF-1 by CJC-1295 in healthy adults (J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2006).
2. Ionescu M et al. Pulsatile GH secretion persists during continuous CJC-1295 stimulation (J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2006).
3. Alba M et al. Once-daily CJC-1295 normalizes growth in GHRH knockout mouse (Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, 2006).
4. Brinkman JE et al. Physiology, Growth Hormone (StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf).