CJC-1295 DAC Guide & Dosage Chart

What is CJC-1295 DAC?

CJC-1295 DAC is a synthetic peptide designed to mimic a naturally occurring hormone called Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone (GHRH). GHRH is produced in the brain and tells the pituitary gland — a small, pea-sized gland at the base of the brain — to release growth hormone (GH) into the bloodstream.

The "DAC" part stands for Drug Affinity Complex. Think of it as a molecular anchor. That anchor latches onto a protein in the blood called albumin, which is incredibly abundant and long-lived. By hitching a ride on albumin, CJC-1295 DAC avoids being broken down quickly, dramatically extending how long it stays active in the body. Without the DAC, similar peptides are cleared from the body in minutes. With it, activity can stretch to days.

Because of this unusually long half-life, CJC-1295 DAC has attracted significant interest in research settings focused on growth hormone biology, aging, metabolism, and body composition.

How CJC-1295 DAC Works

Here is a simple way to picture it. Your pituitary gland is like a factory that makes growth hormone. GHRH is the "go" signal that arrives at the factory gate and tells workers to ramp up production. Normally, that signal is short-lived — it fades fast, and the factory returns to its baseline pace.

CJC-1295 DAC is like a version of that "go" signal that keeps ringing the factory doorbell for days instead of minutes. By binding to albumin in the blood, the peptide protects itself from enzymes that would otherwise chop it up. It slowly releases from albumin and continues activating GHRH receptors on the pituitary, producing a prolonged, steady stimulation of growth hormone release.

The downstream effect is a rise in both growth hormone itself and IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor 1) — a related hormone made mostly in the liver that carries out many of GH's effects on muscle, fat, and bone tissue.

What the Research Shows

Research into CJC-1295 DAC is still at relatively early stages, and most published studies have been conducted in animal models or small human trials. No large clinical trials have been completed, and it is not approved for human therapeutic use. Here is a plain-language summary of what researchers have observed so far:

• Prolonged GH and IGF-1 elevation: Studies have shown that a single dose of CJC-1295 DAC can raise growth hormone levels for several days and keep IGF-1 elevated for over a week — a duration far beyond what natural GHRH or earlier synthetic analogs produce.
• Dose-dependent response: Researchers have observed that higher doses tend to produce stronger and longer-lasting elevations in GH and IGF-1, though the relationship is not perfectly linear at all dose levels.
• Tolerability in early human studies: Early phase human studies reported that volunteers generally tolerated the compound, with the most commonly noted effects being transient flushing, headache, and tingling — side effects seen with other growth hormone secretagogues as well.
• No significant pituitary desensitization in short studies: One of the concerns with any sustained stimulus is that receptors might "turn off" (desensitize). Short-term research suggested the pituitary remained responsive to repeated dosing, though long-term data are lacking.

It is important to emphasize: these are early-stage research findings. They do not establish that CJC-1295 DAC is safe or effective for any human health purpose.

What CJC-1295 DAC Is Being Studied For

Because it so potently and persistently elevates growth hormone and IGF-1, CJC-1295 DAC appears in research programs exploring several areas:

• Age-related GH decline: Growth hormone output drops naturally with age. Researchers are studying GHRH analogs as a way to explore whether restoring GH signaling might affect body composition, energy, and physical function in older populations.
• Muscle and fat metabolism: GH and IGF-1 play well-documented roles in promoting lean muscle and reducing fat storage. CJC-1295 DAC is used in preclinical studies examining these metabolic pathways.
• Recovery and tissue repair: Some laboratory research examines whether elevated GH signaling influences wound healing, connective tissue repair, and recovery from physical stress.
• Endocrine biology: The compound is a useful research tool for studying the hypothalamic-pituitary axis — the communication highway between the brain and the pituitary gland.

None of these research directions has produced an approved medical treatment using CJC-1295 DAC.

How CJC-1295 DAC Is Dosed in Research

Dosing protocols for CJC-1295 DAC vary across published and ongoing research, and no universally agreed standard exists. Research studies have generally used infrequent injection schedules — often once or twice per week — reflecting the peptide's long half-life. Amounts used in human studies have typically been measured in micrograms per kilogram of body weight. For a quick visual overview of the doses and schedules that have appeared in the literature, see the dosage chart on this page. If you want to work out weight-based amounts, the calculator on this page can help you run those numbers. Remember: this information is for research reference only and does not constitute medical advice.

Mixing and Storing CJC-1295 DAC

CJC-1295 DAC is typically supplied as a lyophilized powder — a freeze-dried solid in a sealed vial. Before it can be used in a research setting, it must be reconstituted, meaning dissolved in a liquid.

The standard reconstitution liquid used in most research protocols is bacteriostatic water (sterile water containing a small amount of benzyl alcohol, which slows bacterial growth). Plain sterile water can also be used, but vials reconstituted with it should be used more quickly. To mix, inject the liquid slowly down the side of the vial — do not squirt it directly onto the powder, and do not shake the vial vigorously, as peptides can degrade from mechanical stress. Instead, gently swirl or roll the vial between your palms until the powder fully dissolves. The resulting solution should be clear.

Once reconstituted, store the vial in a refrigerator at around 2–8 °C (36–46 °F) and keep it away from light. Lyophilized (undissolved) powder, when stored correctly in a freezer, can remain stable for considerably longer. Always label vials with the date of reconstitution and follow the storage guidance that comes with the specific research-grade material you are working with.