Skip to main content
Educational comparison - not medical advice. This page compares two compounds for informational purposes. Neither is recommended as treatment. Any protocol decision is a conversation with your licensed healthcare provider.
Home/Peptides/Tesamorelin vs CJC-1295
HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPARISON

Tesamorelin vs CJC-1295

Users choosing between GHRH-class peptides for GH-axis support.

QUICK ANSWER

Tesamorelin is a stabilized GHRH analog with ~26 min half-life - strong pulsatile GH release, daily dosing, FDA-approved. CJC-1295 is also GHRH-based but modified with a DAC (drug affinity complex) extending half-life to ~7 days - provides tonic GH elevation rather than pulses. Key specs: Tesamorelin (Growth, ~26 minutes, Subcutaneous (abdominal)) vs CJC-1295 (Growth, ~30 minutes (no DAC); several days (with DAC), Subcutaneous).

OPTION A
Tesamorelin
Tesamorelin (Egrifta)
FDA-approved GHRH analog with the strongest IGF-1 response of any peptide in its class.
Full profile →
OPTION B
CJC-1295
CJC-1295 (no DAC)
Synthetic GHRH analog that pairs with Ipamorelin for synergistic GH-pulse amplification.
Full profile →
THE CORE DIFFERENCE

Tesamorelin is a stabilized GHRH analog with ~26 min half-life - strong pulsatile GH release, daily dosing, FDA-approved. CJC-1295 is also GHRH-based but modified with a DAC (drug affinity complex) extending half-life to ~7 days - provides tonic GH elevation rather than pulses. Community preference tends toward tesamorelin for the more physiologic pulse profile; CJC-1295 users often choose the "no DAC" version for the same reason.

BEST FOR
Build Muscle →Sleep Better →Longevity →Libido & Sexual Health →Women's Longevity →
Each protocol guide pairs the relevant compounds with the supplement stack that supports them and the biomarkers that show whether it’s working.
FEATURE COMPARISON
Tesamorelin
CJC-1295
Full name
Tesamorelin (Egrifta)
CJC-1295 (no DAC)
Category
Growth
Growth
FDA status
FDA-approved as Egrifta for HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Widely used off-label.
Not FDA-approved. Category 1 under the 2026 reclassification.
Half-life
~26 minutes
~30 minutes (no DAC); several days (with DAC)
Typical dosing
1–2 mg nightly, subcutaneous, on an empty stomach
100–200 mcg SC, 1–3× per day (typically no-DAC version)
Route
Subcutaneous (abdominal)
Subcutaneous
Classification
Synthetic GHRH (growth hormone releasing hormone) analog
Synthetic GHRH (1-29) analog
BIOMARKERS COMMONLY TRACKED
On Tesamorelin
  • • IGF-1 (primary)
  • • IGFBP-3
  • • Fasting glucose
  • • HbA1c
  • • Fasting insulin
On CJC-1295
  • • IGF-1
  • • IGFBP-3
  • • Fasting glucose
  • • Fasting insulin
  • • Hematocrit
CALCULATOR
Tesamorelin reconstitution →
CALCULATOR
CJC-1295 reconstitution →
CONDITIONS USERS RESEARCH THESE FOR
Informational only - neither compound is presented as a treatment for any condition. These are contexts in which users research these compounds and discuss them with their licensed provider.
RECOVERY
Poor Sleep Quality
Chronic insufficient or fragmented sleep - upstream of most metabolic, hormonal, and cognitive markers.
METABOLIC
Elevated Visceral Fat
The metabolically-active abdominal fat linked to cardiovascular + insulin-resistance risk. Hard to see; visible in labs.
RELATED COMPARISONS
Tesamorelin vs Ipamorelin
Ipamorelin vs CJC-1295
Sermorelin vs Tesamorelin
MK-677 vs Tesamorelin
HGH vs Tesamorelin
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the difference between Tesamorelin and CJC-1295?

Tesamorelin is a stabilized GHRH analog with ~26 min half-life - strong pulsatile GH release, daily dosing, FDA-approved. CJC-1295 is also GHRH-based but modified with a DAC (drug affinity complex) extending half-life to ~7 days - provides tonic GH elevation rather than pulses. Community preference tends toward tesamorelin for the more physiologic pulse profile; CJC-1295 users often choose the "no DAC" version for the same reason.

Who typically researches Tesamorelin vs CJC-1295?

Users choosing between GHRH-class peptides for GH-axis support. Tesamorelin (Growth, ~26 minutes, Subcutaneous (abdominal)) and CJC-1295 (Growth, ~30 minutes (no DAC); several days (with DAC), Subcutaneous) differ in mechanism and dosing cadence - the right choice depends on protocol goals, biomarker baseline, and provider guidance. MyProtocolStack lets you log doses and lab values for both side-by-side if you're cycling between them.

What blood markers do users track on Tesamorelin or CJC-1295?

Biomarkers commonly tracked across Tesamorelin and CJC-1295 protocols include IGF-1 (primary), IGFBP-3, Fasting glucose, HbA1c, Fasting insulin, IGF-1, Hematocrit. Establishing a baseline before starting and re-drawing at consistent intervals lets you measure each compound's effect against your own reference point - generic lab ranges are less informative than your personal trend over time. MyProtocolStack tracks these biomarkers in the context of whichever compound you're currently running.

Whichever you're tracking, we built the dashboard for it.

Log doses, upload labs, watch the biomarkers trend. StackAI reads your panel in context of what you're actually running.

Start tracking free →

Informational comparison only - not medical advice. Research-stage compounds discussed are not FDA-approved unless specifically noted. Any protocol decision should be made with a licensed healthcare provider.