CJC-1295 (No DAC) vs GHRP-2
A modified growth hormone-releasing hormone that boosts your body's natural GH pulses for better recovery, deeper sleep, and improved body composition [13] [17].
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 (No DAC)
100–100 mcg
GHRP-2
100–100 mcg
Frequency
CJC-1295 (No DAC)
Once daily
GHRP-2
Single dose (approved diagnostic use)
Administration
CJC-1295 (No DAC)
Subcutaneous injection
GHRP-2
Intravenous (approved diagnostic use)
Cycle length
CJC-1295 (No DAC)
8-12 weeks
GHRP-2
Not established — the approved use is one injection
Onset speed
CJC-1295 (No DAC)
Moderate (1-2 weeks)
GHRP-2
Rapid (hours to days)
Evidence level
CJC-1295 (No DAC)
Moderate human trials (Phase 1-2)
GHRP-2
Approved diagnostic agent in Japan; no treatment approval anywhere
Benefit ratings
GH Stimulation
Sleep Quality
Recovery Support
GH Release
Recovery Speed
Compound specifications
CJC-1295 (No DAC)
Molecular formula
C152H252N44O42
Molecular weight
3367.9 g/mol
Half-life
30 minutes to 2 hours
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 (No DAC)
Subcutaneous
100 mcg
Once daily, 30 minutes before bed · 2-4 weeks
A common starting dose used in research practice. Because the no-DAC form is short-acting (about 30 minute half-life), it is injected on an empty stomach for the best growth-hormone pulse. [14][15]
100 mcg per dose
1-2 times daily · 8-12 weeks
The typical maintenance dose used in practice, often given before bed and/or after fasted exercise. Frequently paired with a GH-releasing peptide.
100 mcg per dose
2-3 times daily · 8-12 weeks
A higher-frequency plan used by experienced users to mimic natural GH pulses across the day, each dose taken fasted.
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 (No DAC)
Natural Growth Hormone Optimization
Perfect for those wanting to boost their body's own GH production rather than using synthetic growth hormone. Mimics the natural pulsatile release pattern your pituitary uses [2].
Workout Recovery and Muscle Building
Athletes and fitness enthusiasts use it to accelerate recovery between training sessions, support lean muscle development, and reduce body fat over time [17] [18].
Sleep Quality Enhancement
Because GH is naturally released during deep sleep, many users report dramatically improved sleep quality with more vivid dreams and feeling more refreshed upon waking [12] [13].
Anti-Aging and Vitality
As GH levels decline with age, CJC-1295 helps restore more youthful hormone patterns, potentially improving skin quality, energy levels, and overall well-being [16] [17] [20].
Synergistic Peptide Stacking
Designed to work hand-in-hand with GHRPs like Ipamorelin. When combined, these peptides amplify each other's effects for significantly greater GH release than either alone [9].
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 (No DAC)
Common
- Injection site reactions
- Flushing or warmth
- Water retention
- Increased appetite
Uncommon
- Tingling or numbness
- Headache
Serious
- Allergic reaction
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 (No DAC)
Evidence level
Moderate human trials (Phase 1-2)
FDA status
Research compound
Safety overview
CJC-1295 without DAC itself has not been evaluated in controlled human clinical trials; expectations about its safety are extrapolated from studies of related GHRH analogs. The most common side effects are mild and include injection site reactions and temporary flushing [19]. Because it stimulates natural GH release rather than providing exogenous GH, it maintains the body's feedback mechanisms [2].
Contraindications
- Active cancer or history of cancer
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Pituitary tumors or disorders
- Hypersensitivity to GHRH analogs
- Diabetic retinopathy
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 (No DAC) if...
- Increasing natural growth hormone levels
- Building lean muscle mass
- Improving sleep quality
- Enhancing workout recovery
Choose GHRP-2 if...
- Growth hormone optimization
- Muscle building
- Recovery enhancement
- Anti-aging