CJC-1295 DAC (Drug Affinity Complex) is a long-acting synthetic GHRH analog that covalently binds to serum albumin, extending its half-life to approximately 8 days. It is the only GHRH analog with human clinical trial data demonstrating dose-dependent, prolonged GH and IGF-1 elevation. Community dosing is not based on clinical trial goals. This is not medical advice.
Research-context information only.CJC-1295 DAC is a research peptide. Protocols, doses, and reactions reported below come from published research and self-reported community sources. This article reports what has been documented, not what should be done. Consult a licensed physician for personal medical decisions.
Note: CJC-1295 DAC has no standardized clinical dosing protocol. The protocol below is a Community Protocol based on clinical trial data and community experience.
CJC-1295 with DAC Dosing Table
Match your vial size below — reconstitution and dose math update automatically.
Reconstitute: add 2 mL of bacteriostatic water to the 5 mg vial. Resulting concentration: 2.5 mg/mL.
Dose
Syringe units
mL volume
Schedule
1 mg
40 units
0.4 mL
2x/week SubQStandard (8-day half-life)
2 mg
80 units
0.8 mL
Weekly SubQCommon
4 mg
160 units
1.6 mL
Weekly SubQAdvanced
1 mg40 units · 0.4 mL
2x/week SubQ
Standard (8-day half-life)
2 mg80 units · 0.8 mL
Weekly SubQ
Common
4 mg160 units · 1.6 mL
Weekly SubQ
Advanced
Math assumes U-100 insulin syringes (1 mL = 100 units). Verify your syringe matches before injecting. Round half-units to the nearest visible mark.
Quick Reference: Community Protocol
Protocol
Dose
Frequency
Cycle
Notes
Standard
2 mg
Twice weekly
12-16 weeks on/off
Most common protocol
Conservative
1 mg
Twice weekly
12-16 weeks on/off
Lower IGF-1 target
Clinical range
2-4 mg
Once weekly
8-12 weeks on/off
Based on trial doses
Key advantage: Weekly or twice-weekly dosing vs 2-3 daily injections for the no-DAC version. Significantly better adherence.
Cycling Details
Due to the ~8-day half-life, steady-state levels are reached after approximately 2-3 injections (10-14 days). IGF-1 begins rising within 2-3 days of first injection.
Weeks 1-2: Community protocols document a starting dose of 1-2 mg twice weekly during the first two weeks. Community protocols describe blood work at week 4 to verify IGF-1 is in the target range (upper-normal, not supraphysiological).
Dose adjustment: Community titration guidelines describe reducing to once weekly or a lower dose if IGF-1 exceeds 350 ng/mL, and increasing to 2 mg twice weekly when response is insufficient.
Timing is less critical than with no-DAC due to the long half-life. Evening injection is preferred by many but not essential. Fasting less critical. Community protocols commonly use fixed days such as Monday/Thursday to maintain even spacing between injections.
Routes of Administration
Subcutaneous injection (standard): The only route used in clinical trials and community protocols. Abdomen, love handles, thighs, or deltoid area. Typical volume 0.2-0.5 mL. 29-31 gauge insulin syringe.
Reconstitution Quick Reference
Vial Size
BAC Water
Concentration
2 mg Dose
5 mg
2.5 mL
2 mg/mL
100 units
Math: Community reconstitution references document this ratio: 5,000 mcg / 2.5 mL = 2,000 mcg/mL. At this concentration a 2 mg dose draws to 100 units on a standard insulin syringe; a 1 mg dose to 50 units.
Swirl gently -- do not shake. Refrigerate at 2-8°C and use within 28 days. For step-by-step instructions, see the CJC-1295 Reconstitution Guide.
Affiliate disclosure: vendor links in this article are affiliate links — The Peptide Catalog may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no additional cost to you.
Where These Numbers Come From
CJC-1295 DAC is unique among GH secretagogues in having direct human clinical trial data.
Pivotal study: Teichman et al. studied CJC-1295 DAC in 36 healthy adults (21-61 years). Single doses of 30, 60, or 120 mcg/kg produced dose-dependent GH and IGF-1 increases. IGF-1 increased 1.5-3 fold and remained elevated for 6-14 days. Mean half-life: 5.8-8.1 days (Teichman et al., 2006).
Preserved pulsatility: Despite continuous GHRH stimulation, pulsatile GH secretion was maintained. GH pulse frequency preserved with 2-fold increases in mean GH and pulse mass (Ionescu & Bhatt, 2006).
Animal studies: CJC-1295 normalized growth in GHRH knockout mice with once-daily dosing (Alba et al., 2006).
Community doses (1-4 mg twice weekly) target upper-normal IGF-1 based on clinical dose ranges and empirical blood work confirmation.
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Stacking Protocols
Stack
Components
Purpose
DAC + Bedtime GHRP
CJC-1295 DAC 2 mg 2x/week + Ipamorelin 100-200 mcg nightly
Sustained IGF-1 + acute bedtime GH pulse
DAC Standalone
CJC-1295 DAC 2 mg 2x/week
Simplicity -- no daily injections needed
Stacking tips: Combining with another GHRH analog (sermorelin, no-DAC CJC) is generally described as redundant rather than synergistic — they share the same GHRH receptor, so a second analog adds little once one saturates the response. The documented synergy is GHRH + GHRP (e.g., ipamorelin), which acts on a different receptor. Monitor IGF-1 carefully when stacking. Combining with exogenous GH is not described in community protocols.
Side Effects & Safety
Injection site reactions -- most common in clinical trials (mild erythema, pain)
Flushing/warmth -- transient, 15-30 min post-injection
Water retention -- more pronounced than no-DAC due to sustained GH elevation
Numbness/tingling -- carpal tunnel-like symptoms at higher doses
No serious adverse events reported in published clinical trials
Contraindications -- active malignancy, diabetic retinopathy, pregnancy
Monitoring (community protocols): Community sources and trial safety protocols describe monitoring IGF-1 at baseline, week 4, and every 8 weeks, targeting 250-330 ng/mL. Fasting glucose is commonly tracked monthly; HbA1c at 3-month intervals when insulin resistance is a concern.
mg to Units Conversion
On a standard 100-unit insulin syringe, each "unit" equals 0.01 mL (so 100 units = 1 mL). Once CJC-1295 DAC is reconstituted, the conversion from a target dose to syringe units depends on the chosen dilution.
The two reconstitution ratios most often described in community protocols are below.
Reconstitution A: 5 mg vial + 2.5 mL BAC water (2 mg/mL) — the standard dilution from the Quick Reference above.
Dose (mg)
Volume (mL)
Units (insulin syringe)
1 mg
0.5 mL
50 units
2 mg
1 mL
100 units
Reconstitution B: 5 mg vial + 1 mL BAC water (5 mg/mL) — less BAC water for a lower total volume, so smaller draws and less fridge space.
Dose (mg)
Volume (mL)
Units (insulin syringe)
1 mg
0.2 mL
20 units
2 mg
0.4 mL
40 units
These conversions reflect the dilutions documented in community reconstitution protocols. They report how the math is described, not a recommended dosing schedule.
Core Supplies for This Protocol
The essentials for running any reconstituted injectable: cold storage, accurate syringes, alcohol prep pads, and metabolic tracking.
The most common community protocol is 2 mg subcutaneous once or twice weekly. Clinical trials used single doses of 30-120 mcg/kg (approximately 2-8 mg for a 70 kg adult) and showed dose-dependent IGF-1 increases lasting 6-14 days.
How often do community protocols describe injecting CJC-1295 DAC?
Once or twice weekly due to its extended ~8-day half-life from albumin binding. Twice weekly provides more stable levels. Community protocols commonly use fixed days such as Monday/Thursday to maintain even spacing between injections.
Does CJC-1295 DAC produce natural GH pulses?
Yes -- clinical studies confirmed that pulsatile GH secretion is preserved despite continuous GHRH receptor stimulation. However, baseline GH is elevated between pulses compared to the no-DAC version.
What do community sources describe about combining CJC-1295 DAC with a GHRP?
DAC provides sufficient baseline stimulation alone. Some users add bedtime ipamorelin or GHRP-2 for pulse amplification, but community sources describe it as optional, not essential like with the no-DAC version.
How long should a CJC-1295 DAC cycle last?
Community protocols typically run 12-16 weeks on, 6-8 weeks off, with IGF-1 monitored toward an upper-normal range rather than supraphysiological levels. Because the DAC form produces near-continuous GHRH stimulation rather than discrete pulses, sustained-stimulation desensitization is a theoretical concern, though it has not been tested in long human cycles; community protocols therefore monitor IGF-1 and cycle for cost and IGF-1 normalization. See [Do GH Peptides Desensitize the Pituitary?](/articles/do-gh-peptides-desensitize) for background.
CJC-1295 DAC vs MK-677 -- which is better?
Different mechanisms: CJC-1295 DAC stimulates GHRH receptors while MK-677 activates ghrelin receptors. DAC is injectable with a cleaner side effect profile. MK-677 is oral, though community reports and trial data describe significant appetite increase and potential insulin resistance as common side effects.
For educational and research purposes only. This is not medical advice. CJC-1295 DAC has human clinical data for GH/IGF-1 stimulation but has not been approved for anti-aging or body composition use.
