Tesamorelin vs Ipamorelin vs CJC-1295: Tracking and Research Protocols
Three growth-hormone secretagogue peptides with very different mechanisms, dosing schedules, and tracking variables. Here is exactly how each works for research-protocol logs and how researchers structure tracking.
What You'll Learn
- ✓Distinguish the three peptides by mechanism (GHRH analog vs ghrelin-receptor agonist vs DAC-modified GHRH).
- ✓Identify the tracking variables for each protocol type.
- ✓Recognize the dosing-frequency differences (daily vs twice daily vs once weekly).
1. Direct Answer: Three Different Mechanisms
All three peptides increase endogenous growth hormone release but through different pathways. TESAMORELIN is a GHRH (growth-hormone-releasing hormone) ANALOG with stabilization modifications. FDA approved for HIV-associated lipodystrophy in 2010. Once daily subcutaneous injection. Produces pulsatile GH release matching physiologic patterns. IPAMORELIN is a GHRELIN-RECEPTOR AGONIST (also called a GH secretagogue). Not FDA approved; widely used in research. Selective — does not significantly elevate cortisol, prolactin, or ACTH like older secretagogues. Typically dosed 2-3 times daily because of short half-life. CJC-1295 is a GHRH ANALOG with optional DAC (drug affinity complex) modification. DAC version (CJC-1295 with DAC) has a half-life of 6-8 days and is dosed once or twice weekly. Non-DAC version (CJC-1295 without DAC, also called mod GRF 1-29) has a short half-life and is typically combined with ipamorelin in research protocols. Each requires different tracking variables. This content is for educational and research-tracking purposes only.
Key Points
- •Tesamorelin: GHRH analog, daily injection, FDA approved for HIV lipodystrophy.
- •Ipamorelin: ghrelin-receptor agonist, 2-3x daily, selective (no cortisol/prolactin elevation).
- •CJC-1295: GHRH analog; DAC version weekly, non-DAC version short-acting.
2. Tesamorelin: Dosing and Tracking
Tesamorelin is approved at 2 mg subcutaneously once daily. It produces an endogenous GH pulse pattern most similar to physiologic release because it acts at the GHRH receptor on the pituitary. Reported effects in trials: reduction in visceral adipose tissue (the FDA-approved indication for HIV lipodystrophy), increased IGF-1 levels, modest improvements in lipid profile. Tracking variables typically logged: WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE (the primary outcome measure in trials), WEIGHT, INJECTION TIME (consistent timing matters for endogenous pulse alignment — typically evening to layer onto physiologic nocturnal GH peak), IGF-1 LEVEL if a provider monitors it, SIDE EFFECTS (injection site reactions, occasional joint pain, fluid retention, hyperglycemia in some subjects). Dosing is consistent daily without escalation in approved protocol.
Key Points
- •Tesamorelin 2 mg daily SC, FDA approved.
- •Tracking variables: waist circumference, IGF-1, injection time, side effects.
- •Evening injection layers onto physiologic nocturnal GH peak.
3. Ipamorelin: Dosing and Tracking
Ipamorelin acts at the ghrelin receptor (GHSR1a) on the pituitary, releasing GH through a different pathway than GHRH analogs. The selectivity of ipamorelin — no significant cortisol, prolactin, or ACTH elevation — is its main differentiator from older secretagogues like GHRP-6 and hexarelin. It has a short half-life (about 2 hours), so research-protocol schedules tend to involve multiple daily injections; the specific amounts and frequency are set by the protocol a qualified professional establishes, not by this page. Tracking variables: DOSE TIMING (morning, mid-day, evening; consistency matters for cumulative effect), DOSE AMOUNT (mcg per injection), CUMULATIVE DAILY DOSE, SLEEP QUALITY (subjective; GH pulses during sleep are physiologic and ipamorelin can enhance), WEIGHT AND COMPOSITION (slow effects compared to direct GH or GLP-1 peptides), SIDE EFFECTS (mild injection site, occasional flushing or hunger spike from ghrelin-receptor agonism).
Key Points
- •Short half-life means research schedules tend to involve multiple daily injections.
- •Selective: minimal cortisol, prolactin, or ACTH elevation.
- •Track timing, cumulative daily dose, sleep, and side effects.
4. CJC-1295: DAC and Non-DAC Versions
CJC-1295 with DAC: the drug affinity complex modification allows the peptide to bind to serum albumin in vivo, extending half-life to 6-8 days, which supports infrequent dosing and produces sustained rather than pulsatile elevation of GH and IGF-1. CJC-1295 without DAC (also called mod GRF 1-29 or modified GRF): a short half-life (~30 minutes) version used in research for a more pulsatile GH-release pattern. The specific amounts, frequency, and whether compounds are ever combined are decisions for a qualified professional, not this page. Tracking with DAC: WEEKLY DOSE, INJECTION DAY, IGF-1 baseline and periodic measurement, weight and composition over weeks-to-months. Tracking with non-DAC stack: same as ipamorelin (multiple daily injections), plus the modified-GRF component logged separately.
Key Points
- •CJC-1295 with DAC: 6-8 day half-life, weekly dosing, sustained elevation.
- •CJC-1295 without DAC: short half-life; used in research for a more pulsatile pattern.
- •Track weekly dose, IGF-1, body composition for DAC version.
5. Safety, monitoring, and combinations are clinical decisions
Any side-effect profile, lab monitoring (such as IGF-1 or glucose), and whether compounds are ever combined are medical questions that belong to a licensed healthcare professional who knows your situation — not to an app, and not to a web page. This guide deliberately does not provide a monitoring plan, a safety-marker target, or any stacking protocol. If a qualified professional has established a protocol and a monitoring schedule, Dosed can store those lab values and notes alongside your administration log so your records stay in one place for review.
Key Points
- •Lab monitoring and safety targets are decisions for a licensed professional.
- •This page does not provide a monitoring plan or any combination protocol.
- •Dosed can store provider-directed labs and notes for record-keeping only.
6. Tracking GH-Axis Peptides in Dosed
Dosed supports detailed tracking for GH-axis peptide protocols including tesamorelin, ipamorelin, CJC-1295 (DAC and non-DAC), and stacked combinations. Log dose, time, injection site, side effects, sleep, body composition, and labs (IGF-1, glucose) where available. The app produces trend visualizations, side-effect heat maps, and reconstitution calculators for each peptide. Templates for the common protocols (daily tesamorelin, ipamorelin TID, ipamorelin + CJC-1295 stack, weekly CJC-1295 DAC) reduce setup time. This content is for educational and research-tracking purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
Key Points
- •Detailed tracking for each peptide and stacked combinations.
- •Trend visualizations and side-effect heat maps.
- •Templates for common GH-axis protocols.
Key Facts
- ★Tesamorelin: GHRH analog, daily, FDA approved for HIV lipodystrophy.
- ★Ipamorelin: ghrelin agonist, short half-life, 2-3x daily, selective.
- ★CJC-1295 with DAC: 6-8 day half-life, weekly dosing.
- ★Ipamorelin + CJC-1295 non-DAC: synergistic stack, pulsatile pattern.
- ★IGF-1 is the primary safety marker; monitor periodically.
Common Questions
1. Why is ipamorelin considered selective compared to older GH secretagogues?
2. What is the practical advantage of CJC-1295 with DAC over without DAC?
3. Why do researchers stack ipamorelin with CJC-1295?
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Common questions about this topic
Only tesamorelin is FDA approved (for HIV-associated lipodystrophy in 2010, brand name Egrifta). Ipamorelin and CJC-1295 in both forms are not FDA approved for any indication and remain research peptides. Use outside of clinical trials carries regulatory implications that vary by jurisdiction.
That is a clinical decision, and it is not one this page or the app makes for you. Which labs to run, how often, and how to interpret them must come from a licensed healthcare professional who knows your history. If a clinician directs monitoring, Dosed can store those values alongside your log — but it does not recommend what to test or how to read the results.
Dosed cannot answer that. Ipamorelin and CJC-1295 are not approved by the FDA for human use, and the long-term risks of research peptides are not fully characterized. Any question about safety, side effects, or risk belongs with a qualified healthcare professional. This content is educational and for record-keeping only — not medical advice.
Modified GRF 1-29 (mod GRF) is the same peptide sequence as CJC-1295 without DAC. The names are used interchangeably in the research-peptide market for the same molecule. CJC-1295 with DAC is the same base peptide with the additional DAC modification that extends half-life. Always check whether a product is "with DAC" or "without DAC" — the dosing schedules differ by 7x or more.
Yes. Dosed supports stacked protocols where multiple peptides are co-administered, logging each component independently and producing combined trend visualizations. Templates for the common ipamorelin + CJC-1295 stack and tesamorelin solo protocols are pre-configured. This content is for educational and research-tracking purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.