CJC-1295 with DAC vs GHRP-2
Long-acting growth hormone releaser that works around the clock to boost your body's natural GH production with just one or two injections per week.
A ghrelin-receptor agonist that triggers a growth hormone pulse from the pituitary. Approved in Japan — but only as a single 100 μg intravenous dose for DIAGNOSING growth hormone deficiency, not as a treatment [6]. The one chronic human study, 8 months in 6 children, raised GH but left IGF-I unchanged [5].
Written by Michael Carroll — Owner, Director of Research · Reviewed by the Peptide Initiative Research Team · Editorial standards
Quick comparison
Dose range
CJC-1295 with DAC
2–2 mg
GHRP-2
100–100 mcg
Frequency
CJC-1295 with DAC
Twice weekly
GHRP-2
Single dose (approved diagnostic use)
Administration
CJC-1295 with DAC
Subcutaneous injection
GHRP-2
Intravenous (approved diagnostic use)
Cycle length
CJC-1295 with DAC
8-12 weeks
GHRP-2
Not established — the approved use is one injection
Onset speed
CJC-1295 with DAC
Moderate (1-2 weeks)
GHRP-2
Rapid (hours to days)
Evidence level
CJC-1295 with DAC
Moderate human trials (Phase 1-2)
GHRP-2
Approved diagnostic agent in Japan; no treatment approval anywhere
Benefit ratings
GH Elevation
Convenience
Recovery Support
GH Release
Recovery Speed
Sleep Quality
Compound specifications
CJC-1295 with DAC
Molecular formula
C165H269N47O46
Molecular weight
3647.28 g/mol
Half-life
6-8 days
Bioavailability
~100% (subcutaneous)
CAS number
863288-34-0
GHRP-2
Molecular formula
C45H55N9O6
Molecular weight
817.97 g/mol
Half-life
15-60 minutes
Bioavailability
High (subcutaneous)
CAS number
158861-67-7
Dosing compared
CJC-1295 with DAC
Subcutaneous
1 mg (1000 mcg)
Once weekly · 2-4 weeks
A starting dose used in practice. The DAC version is long-acting (about a 6-8 day half-life), so weekly dosing keeps growth hormone and IGF-1 raised. In the Phase 1 trial a single dose raised GH for 6+ days and IGF-1 for up to 11 days. [2]
2 mg (2000 mcg)
Once weekly (or split twice weekly) · 8-12 weeks
The common maintenance dose, roughly in line with the 30-60 mcg/kg weekly range studied in the Phase 1 trial. [1][2] In the ascending-dose trials, single injections raised mean GH 2- to 10-fold for six or more days and IGF-I 1.5- to 3-fold for 9-11 days; 30 and 60 µg/kg doses were the best tolerated [2].
2 mg per dose
Twice weekly · 8-12 weeks
A higher total weekly amount split into two doses, used by experienced users; near the top of the 30-60 mcg/kg weekly range from the clinical study. [2]
GHRP-2
Intravenous
100 mcg
Single dose, once — this is a diagnostic test · One administration
The only dose of GHRP-2 approved by any regulator. Japan approves pralmorelin hydrochloride as GHRP Kaken 100 for diagnosing growth hormone deficiency: dissolve the vial in 10 mL of saline immediately before use and inject 100 μg slowly into a vein, fasted, for anyone 18 or over. Children aged 4 to under 18 get 2 μg/kg, capped at 100 μg above 50 kg. Blood is then sampled to see how much growth hormone the pituitary releases [6]. It is a one-off test. Nothing about this approval extends to repeated dosing or to injecting under the skin.
Subcutaneous
0.3 – 3 mcg/kg/day
Once daily · 2 months per dose level, 8 months in total
The only chronic subcutaneous dosing ever published, and it was in 6 growth-hormone-deficient children, not adults: 0.3, then 1.0, then 3.0 mcg/kg per day, each for 2 months [5]. Overnight GH rose with dose and growth velocity improved, but serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 did not increase at any dose, and each injection's effect was brief. For a 75 kg adult these levels would be about 22 to 225 mcg a day — which is where the commonly quoted per-dose figures roughly land, though no trial has given them to an adult on that schedule.
100 – 300 mcg per dose
1-3 times daily (community practice) · Undefined — no trial has run this schedule
Community-reported, not peer-reviewed and not on any label. This is the schedule most people asking about GHRP-2 mean, and it is worth being plain about what stands behind it: no human trial has dosed an adult subcutaneously one to three times daily at these amounts. The previous version of this page attributed the range to a study that does not contain it. What IS known at comparable exposures is that GHRP-2 raises food intake substantially — 33.5% above placebo at 1 mcg/kg/hour in 19 adults [7] — and that in the one chronic study IGF-I did not move [5].
Best suited for
CJC-1295 with DAC
Growth Hormone Optimization
CJC-1295 with DAC excels at providing a sustained, steady elevation of growth hormone levels. Unlike shorter-acting peptides that create brief spikes, the DAC modification keeps GH elevated for days, mimicking a more youthful hormone profile.
Muscle Building and Recovery
By increasing both GH and IGF-1 levels, this peptide supports protein synthesis and muscle repair. Users often notice improved recovery between workouts and better ability to build and maintain lean muscle mass.
Anti-Aging and Longevity
Growth hormone naturally declines with age, contributing to many signs of aging. CJC-1295 with DAC helps restore more youthful GH levels, potentially supporting better skin quality, energy levels, and overall vitality.
Body Composition Improvement
The combination of increased GH and IGF-1 promotes fat metabolism while preserving muscle tissue. Many users experience gradual fat loss, particularly in stubborn areas, while maintaining or building lean mass.
Convenient Weekly Dosing
Unlike peptides requiring daily or twice-daily injections, the extended half-life of CJC-1295 with DAC means just one or two injections per week provide continuous benefits. Ideal for those who want results without daily protocols.
GHRP-2
Natural Growth Hormone Optimization
GHRP-2 excels at stimulating your pituitary to release more of your own growth hormone. Unlike synthetic HGH, it works with your body's natural feedback systems, creating more physiological GH pulses that mimic what your body did when you were younger.
Recovery and Muscle Building
Athletes and fitness enthusiasts love GHRP-2 for its ability to speed up recovery between workouts. The elevated GH and IGF-1 levels help repair muscle tissue faster, reduce soreness, and support lean muscle growth—especially when combined with proper training and nutrition.
Deep Sleep Enhancement
One of the most noticeable effects users report is dramatically improved sleep quality. GHRP-2 taken before bed can enhance deep sleep phases, which is when your body does most of its repair work. Many users report waking up feeling more refreshed and recovered.
Anti-Aging and Vitality
As we age, natural GH production declines significantly. GHRP-2 helps restore more youthful GH levels, which can translate to better skin elasticity, improved energy, enhanced recovery capacity, and that overall feeling of vitality that tends to fade with age.
Appetite Stimulation
Unlike many peptides that suppress appetite, GHRP-2 is known for increasing hunger. This makes it ideal for hard-gainers trying to build muscle or anyone who struggles to eat enough calories. The appetite boost typically kicks in within 20-30 minutes of injection.
Side effects
CJC-1295 with DAC
Common
- Injection site reactions
- Water retention
- Flushing
- Tingling sensation
Uncommon
- Headaches
- Fatigue or lethargy
- Joint discomfort
Serious
- Carpal tunnel symptoms
- Blood glucose elevation
GHRP-2
Common
- Substantially increased food intake
- Gastrointestinal effects
- Feeling of warmth, drowsiness, runny nose
Uncommon
- Low blood pressure
- Raised white cell count and lactate
Safety & evidence
CJC-1295 with DAC
Evidence level
Moderate human trials (Phase 1-2)
FDA status
Research compound
Safety overview
CJC-1295 with DAC was evaluated in Phase 1-2 human clinical trials where it demonstrated a generally favorable safety profile. The most common adverse events were mild injection site reactions including temporary pain, swelling, and redness. No serious adverse events were reported in the published clinical studies. The compound was being developed for HIV-associated lipodystrophy before the program was discontinued.
Contraindications
- Active cancer or history of malignancy
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Pituitary tumors or disorders
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Uncontrolled diabetes
GHRP-2
Evidence level
Approved diagnostic agent in Japan; no treatment approval anywhere
FDA status
Not FDA approved. Approved in Japan as 注射用GHRP科研100 (pralmorelin hydrochloride, Kaken Pharmaceutical) for the diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency only — a single 100 μg intravenous dose. There is no treatment approval for GHRP-2 in any country.
Safety overview
The largest measured effect in humans is on appetite, and it is not small: in 19 adults, food intake rose 10.2 ± 3.9% at 0.1 mcg/kg/hour (p=0.011) and 33.5 ± 5.8% at 1 mcg/kg/hour (p<0.001) against placebo, with obese participants responding as much as lean ones [7]. The Japanese diagnostic label lists abdominal rumbling, leukocytosis, a feeling of warmth, low blood pressure, nausea, gastric discomfort, abdominal distension, drowsiness and rhinorrhoea as adverse reactions — but that label covers a single 100 μg intravenous dose, not repeated use [6]. In 6 growth-hormone-deficient children given 0.3 to 3.0 mcg/kg/day for 8 months, no side effects or toxicities were observed, in a cohort far too small to detect anything uncommon [5]. One adverse signal from longer infusion: in critically ill men, GHRP-2 given alone at 1 mcg/kg/hour for 5 days raised serum lactate and white cell count by day 5, which the fuller hormonal replacement in the same trial did not [8].
Contraindications
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding — no human data
- Known hypersensitivity to pralmorelin
- Anyone for whom a 33% rise in food intake is the opposite of the goal — that is the measured effect at 1 mcg/kg/hour [7]
- There is no treatment label anywhere, so there is no authoritative contraindication list for repeated use
Which is right for you?
Choose CJC-1295 with DAC if...
- Boosting natural growth hormone production
- Building lean muscle mass
- Improving body composition
- Anti-aging and longevity
Choose GHRP-2 if...
- Growth hormone optimization
- Muscle building
- Recovery enhancement
- Anti-aging