CJC-1295 is a synthetic injectable peptide that prompts a gland at the base of the brain to release more growth hormone, sold for body composition, sleep and healthy aging. Its only established human effect is that hormonal rise; claimed benefits rest on related compounds, and no long-term safety data exist. Persistently high growth-signal levels are linked with some cancers and earlier death in older adults; it remains experimental. (Full Review)

Protocol

Trial regimen (with DAC)

30 or 60 µg/kg subcutaneously

Weekly or every two weeks, in healthy adults; long-acting, half-life 5.8–8.1 days

Online regimen (without DAC)

100–200 µg per injection

Once or twice daily, at bedtime away from food, often with ipamorelin; no human trial supports it

Approved-analogue alternative

Tesamorelin 1.28 mg daily

Subcutaneously; the labeled regimen of an approved related peptide, with randomized-trial data

Time to effect

Visceral fat

26 weeks

When the change was measured with tesamorelin, a related peptide

Lean mass

20 weeks

When the change was measured with tesamorelin in older adults

Hormone rise

Within days

Growth hormone and IGF-1, after a CJC-1295 injection

Benefits

Low: Less visceral fat; less liver fat; more lean body mass; better thinking in older adults; deeper sleep

Speculative: Raised GH and IGF-1 as a longevity strategy; tissue repair, recovery and skin

Contraindications

Active cancer or cancer under treatment

Pregnancy

Disrupted hypothalamic-pituitary axis (hypophysectomy, hypopituitarism, pituitary tumor, head irradiation or trauma)

Acute critical illness (prolonged intensive care after cardiac or abdominal surgery, multiple trauma, respiratory failure)

Diabetes with retinopathy

Competitive athletes under anti-doping rules

Key Interactions

Glucocorticoids (cortisone acetate, prednisone)

CYP-metabolized drugs (sex steroids, anticonvulsants, cyclosporine)

Glucose-lowering drugs (insulin, metformin, sulfonylureas)

Oral estrogens (ethinyl estradiol, conjugated estrogens)

Other GH secretagogues (ipamorelin, GHRP-6)

Thyroid hormone (levothyroxine)

Arginine (supplement)

Theoretical (inferred from mechanism)

Growth hormone (somatropin) or IGF-1 analogues (mecasermin)

Somatostatin analogues (octreotide, lanreotide)

Testosterone and anabolic steroids (testosterone cypionate, nandrolone)

Over-the-counter decongestants (pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine)

Over-the-counter high-dose niacin (nicotinic acid)

Other supplements raising GH (ornithine, alpha-GPC)

Risk & Side Effects

Medium: Injection-site reactions

Low: Raised heart rate and vasodilatory reactions; glucose intolerance and diabetes; fluid retention, joint pain and carpal tunnel syndrome; promotion of cancer growth; higher mortality at high IGF-1 levels; allergic reactions and anti-drug antibodies

Speculative: Mislabeled or contaminated gray-market product; pituitary overstimulation

Monitoring

Marker	Target	Why
IGF-1	Below +3 SDS for age and sex	Expected to change; safety check
Fasting glucose	70–99 mg/dL	Safety check
HbA1c	Below 5.7%	Safety check
Fasting insulin	About 2.6–24.9 µIU/mL, lab-specific	Safety check
Triglycerides	Below 150 mg/dL	Expected to change
PSA (men)	Below 4.0 ng/mL	Safety check
Resting heart rate	60–100 beats/min	Safety check
Blood pressure	Not specified in the ER	Safety check
Body composition (DEXA)	No established target; track change from own baseline	Expected to change

Cadence: Baseline before starting; IGF-1, glucose, heart rate and blood pressure at 4–6 weeks; then IGF-1, HbA1c, lipids and PSA every 3 months while in use; DEXA at 6 months; IGF-1 again 4–6 weeks after stopping.

Qualitative Assessment

Sleep quality and night-time awakenings
Swelling of hands, feet or ankles
Joint or muscle pain
Numbness or tingling in the hands
Flushing or palpitations after injection
Injection-site redness, itching or lumps
Energy, recovery from training and waist circumference

CJC-1295 for Health & Longevity

Protocol

Benefits

Risk & Side Effects

Monitoring

Qualitative Assessment