CJC-1295 w/ DAC 10 mg — Quick Chart
Dosing & Reconstitution Overview
CJC-1295 with DAC is a synthetic growth-hormone-releasing-hormone (GHRH) analog carrying a Drug Affinity Complex (DAC) that binds circulating serum albumin. The figures below are compiled strictly for laboratory and educational reference — they describe how the compound has been handled and dosed in published work, not a recommendation for use in humans or animals.
For a 10 mg vial, adding 4.0 mL of bacteriostatic water yields a concentration of 2.5 mg/mL (2,500 mcg/mL). At that concentration, each unit on a U-100 insulin syringe equals 0.01 mL and delivers 25 mcg of material, so a 500 mcg measurement corresponds to 20 units (0.20 mL). One 10 mg fill holds 4.0 mL, or 400 units of total volume.
Standard (Gradual) Titration Schedule
The gradual schedule mirrors the slow dose-escalation pattern reported in the literature, where per-injection amounts are stepped up every couple of weeks and the compound is administered twice weekly subcutaneously (for example Monday/Thursday or Tuesday/Friday).
| Phase | Per-Injection Dose | Units (U-100) | Volume | Weekly Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1–2 | 300 mcg | 12 units | 0.12 mL | 600 mcg |
| Weeks 3–4 | 500 mcg | 20 units | 0.20 mL | 1000 mcg |
| Weeks 5–6 | 750 mcg | 30 units | 0.30 mL | 1500 mcg |
| Weeks 7–12 | 1000 mcg | 40 units | 0.40 mL | 2000 mcg |
Reconstitution Steps
- Let the sealed lyophilized vial and the bacteriostatic water reach room temperature, then wipe both stoppers with an alcohol swab.
- Draw 4.0 mL of bacteriostatic water with a sterile syringe and inject it slowly down the inside wall of the vial — never directly onto the powder pellet, to limit foaming.
- Swirl or roll gently until fully dissolved. Do not shake; aggressive agitation can shear the peptide.
- The solution should be clear and colourless. Label the vial with the concentration (2.5 mg/mL) and the reconstitution date.
- Refrigerate at 2–8 °C between uses, protect from light, and draw subsequent volumes with a fresh sterile syringe each time.
Advanced (Aggressive) Titration Schedule
An accelerated reference schedule reaches the top of the studied band faster by holding the 1000 mcg twice-weekly step from early on. Because the standard range tops out near 1 mg per injection, this schedule shortens the ramp rather than exceeding the dose ceiling.
| Phase | Per-Injection Dose | Units (U-100) | Volume | Weekly Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 500 mcg | 20 units | 0.20 mL | 1000 mcg |
| Week 2 | 750 mcg | 30 units | 0.30 mL | 1500 mcg |
| Weeks 3–12 | 1000 mcg | 40 units | 0.40 mL | 2000 mcg |
The DAC modification extends the circulating half-life to roughly 6–8 days, which is why infrequent twice-weekly administration is used rather than the daily dosing seen with non-DAC GHRH analogs.
Supplies Needed
- CJC-1295 w/ DAC vials (10 mg): ~2 vials for an 8-week run at the top step; ~3 vials for 12 weeks; ~4 vials for a 16-week run (each 10 mg vial ≈ 5 weeks of 1000 mcg twice-weekly dosing).
- Insulin syringes (U-100, 1 mL): 2 per week (twice-weekly) — 16 for 8 weeks, 24 for 12 weeks, 32 for 16 weeks; one fresh syringe per draw.
- Bacteriostatic water (10 mL): ~4 mL per vial, so one 10 mL bottle covers two vials; budget two bottles for a 16-week run.
- Alcohol swabs: ~4 per week (two per injection); a single 100-count box comfortably covers an 8–16 week schedule.
Protocol Overview
- Research goal: model sustained GH and IGF-1 elevation via long-acting GHRH-receptor agonism.
- Schedule: twice-weekly subcutaneous administration in the reference model.
- Dose band: 300 mcg–1 mg per injection (600 mcg–2 mg weekly).
- Fill: 10 mg lyophilized, reconstituted to 2.5 mg/mL with 4 mL diluent.
- Storage: −20 °C dry; 2–8 °C once reconstituted.
Dosing Protocol Notes
- Begin at the lowest 300 mcg step and hold each level for about two weeks before escalating.
- Space the two weekly administrations evenly (roughly three to four days apart) for steadier exposure modelling given the long half-life.
- Escalate only after tolerability is established at the prior step.
- Target the 750–1000 mcg band for the bulk of the published GH/IGF-1 response signal.
Storage Instructions
Keep sealed lyophilized vials at −20 °C, protected from light, where stability extends for many months. Once reconstituted, refrigerate at 2–8 °C (35.6–46.4 °F) and use within about two to four weeks. Allow refrigerated solution to warm slightly before drawing, avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles, and aliquot if a vial will be sampled many times.
Important Handling Notes
- Use a sterile syringe for every draw and never re-enter the vial with a used needle.
- Rotate sampling/handling technique to keep the stopper intact.
- Keep draws under a single syringe’s capacity — at 2.5 mg/mL no studied dose exceeds 40 units.
- Document each draw — date, volume, remaining material — for reproducibility.
How CJC-1295 w/ DAC Works
CJC-1295 with DAC is a modified analog of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). It binds GHRH receptors on the somatotroph cells of the anterior pituitary, prompting the release of growth hormone. Its defining feature is the Drug Affinity Complex (DAC), an albumin-binding moiety that tethers the molecule to circulating serum albumin and stretches its half-life from minutes to roughly 6–8 days. The sustained GH signal in turn drives hepatic production of IGF-1, which mediates much of the downstream growth and metabolic activity through JAK/STAT signalling. Reported work indicates GH secretion retains a degree of pulsatility even under this continuous receptor stimulation.
Reported Benefits & Side Effects
Benefits reported in the literature
- Sustained, dose-dependent elevation of circulating GH and IGF-1.
- Associations with greater lean body mass, reduced fat mass and improved body composition in research contexts.
- Enhanced protein-synthesis and recovery signalling via anabolic pathways.
Side effects reported
- Generally well tolerated; occasional mild injection-site reactions such as redness or swelling.
- Transient flushing, headache or fluid retention reported by some during initial titration.
- Effects most often described as mild and self-limiting.
Supporting Lifestyle Factors (Research Context)
- Adequate protein intake to support the anabolic signalling being modelled.
- Consistent resistance training paired with quality sleep, when GH/IGF-1 secretion peaks.
- Standard trial controls: hydration, stress management and regular sleep-wake timing.
Injection Technique (Reference Only)
- Prepare the vial and site with alcohol swabs and let them dry.
- Insert subcutaneously at a 45–90° angle depending on needle length; aspiration is not required for subcutaneous work.
- Small volumes (≤0.40 mL) deliver comfortably as a single subcutaneous injection.
- Rotate sites systematically and dispose of sharps in an approved container.
References
- Teichman SL, et al. Prolonged stimulation of growth hormone and IGF-1 secretion by CJC-1295 in healthy adults. J Clin Endocrinol Metab (2006). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16352683
- Ionescu M, Frohman LA. Pulsatile GH secretion persists under continuous stimulation by CJC-1295, a long-acting GHRH analog. J Clin Endocrinol Metab (2006). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17018654
- Alba M, et al. Once-daily administration of CJC-1295 normalizes growth in the GHRH-knockout mouse. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab (2006). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16822960
- Brinkman JE, et al. Physiology, Growth Hormone. StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482141
- Ayuk J, Sheppard MC. Growth hormone and its disorders. Postgrad Med J (2006). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16461469