Two different ways to raise GH, frequently sold together. Ipamorelin acts at the ghrelin receptor; CJC-1295 is a GHRH analog. The important detail is on the CJC-1295 side and it is a labeling problem, not a mechanism problem.
Side by side
| Ipamorelin | CJC-1295 | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Growth-hormone secretagogue (GHRP) | GHRH analog |
| Status | Research compound | Research compound |
| Route | Subcutaneous injection | Subcutaneous injection |
| Typical vials | 5 mg, 10 mg | 2 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg |
| Dose range | 100 mcg to 300 mcg | 100 mcg to 300 mcg |
| Frequency | 1 to 3 times daily | 1 to 3 times daily (no DAC) |
| Half-life | ~2 hours | No human data |
| Dosing unit | micrograms | micrograms |
Pharmacokinetics
No curves are shown, on purpose.
No published human pharmacokinetics for CJC-1295. Drawing one curve against an absent one would imply a comparison that cannot be made.
What the evidence supports
These grade how well each outcome has been studied in humans, never how well either compound works. A strong grade can sit on a negative result.
Both top out at the same tier of evidence: Human RCT. Where they differ is in which outcomes have been asked about, not in how well either has been studied overall.
Ipamorelin
| Outcome | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Raises growth hormone | Human RCT |
| Body composition change | No data |
| Recovery or healing | No data |
CJC-1295
| Outcome | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Raises GH and IGF-1 (with DAC) | Human RCT |
| Body composition change | No data |
| Sleep quality | No data |
How to choose
CJC-1295 is routinely sold as something it is not
The version that was actually trialed carries a DAC modification. The version usually sold does not, and the half-life differs by orders of magnitude. The two are constantly conflated.
Ipamorelin's selling point is selectivity
In the original work it raised GH with little effect on cortisol or prolactin, unlike earlier secretagogues.
Neither has outcome evidence in healthy adults
Both can raise GH and IGF-1. Whether that produces the body composition or recovery benefits they are sold for has not been shown in a trial.
At the syringe
At the default setup on each compound's own page, a 5 mg vial in 2 mL puts 25 mcg on every insulin unit, while a 5 mg vial in 2 mL puts 25 mcg on every unit. That is the number that decides whether a dose lands on a readable mark, and it is set by how much water goes in, not by the compound.