Why the stack works
CJC-1295 (no DAC) is a GHRH analog — it tells the pituitary to release GH. Ipamorelin is a GHRP (growth hormone releasing peptide) that activates the ghrelin receptor through a different pathway. Together they produce a larger, cleaner GH pulse than either peptide alone, while Ipamorelin's selectivity avoids the cortisol and prolactin spikes seen with older GHRPs like GHRP-6.
Dosing schedule
Standard research protocol is 100 mcg CJC-1295 (no DAC) + 100–200 mcg Ipamorelin per injection. The most-studied timing is pre-bed (to amplify the natural overnight GH pulse) and optionally post-workout. Both peptides have ~30 minute half-lives, mimicking the natural GH pulse window.
Expected research outcomes
Most studied effects appear in this order: improved sleep depth (week 1–2), enhanced recovery (week 2–3), skin and collagen improvements (week 4+), lean mass gain and body fat reduction (week 6–12). Effects plateau around the 12-week mark; researchers typically run 12-week on / 4-week off cycles.
Cost per month
At Atlas Labs research pricing, the combined CJC-1295/Ipamorelin vial is $100. A typical research month uses 1 vial. Bulk discounts (10% at 3 vials, 15% at 6 vials) bring the per-month cost down meaningfully on a 12-week protocol.
Common research stacks
CJC/Ipamorelin is frequently stacked with BPC-157 (recovery research), Tesamorelin (visceral fat research), or IGF-1 LR3 (anabolic research). These pairings target different parts of the GH/IGF-1 axis and are extensively documented in published peptide literature.