Comparison
CJC-1295 vs Low-Dose Naltrexone
Side-by-side of CJC-1295 and Low-Dose Naltrexone. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
CJC-1295
CJC-1295 peptide profile: GHRH analog forms (with-DAC ~7-day half-life, no-DAC Mod GRF 1-29 ~30 min), ipamorelin pairing, recovery use, dosing, side effects.
Low-Dose Naltrexone
Low dose naltrexone at 1.5 to 4.5 mg, one-tenth the 50 mg addiction dose. Compounded Rx. Small trials in fibromyalgia, Crohn's, Hashimoto's.
Effects at a glance
CJC-1295
- •GHRH analog that binds the GHRH receptor on pituitary somatotrophs to release endogenous GH
- •DAC variant has ~7 day half-life via albumin binding; non-DAC variant ~30 minutes
- •Teichman 2006 trial showed sustained 2 to 10 fold IGF-1 elevation at 60 to 250 mcg/kg DAC dosing
- •Anecdotal protocols pair non-DAC CJC-1295 with Ipamorelin to mimic pulsatile GH release
- •Side effects: water retention, numbness or tingling at injection site, vivid dreams, transient flushing
- •No completed phase III RCTs; research-use-only and not FDA approved
Low-Dose Naltrexone
- •Off-label use at 1.5 to 4.5 mg, roughly one-tenth the FDA-approved 50 mg addiction-treatment dose
- •Proposed mechanisms include brief opioid receptor blockade triggering rebound endogenous opioid release, plus TLR4 antagonism
- •Compounded prescription only; insurance rarely covers; cash prices 20 to 80 USD per month
- •Younger 2013 reported ~30% pain reduction in fibromyalgia at 4.5 mg in a small crossover trial
- •Smith 2011 reported endoscopic improvement in active Crohn's disease (n=40 placebo-controlled)
- •Vivid dreams affect 20 to 40% in first 2 weeks; manageable by switching to morning dosing
Side-by-side
| Attribute | CJC-1295 | Low-Dose Naltrexone |
|---|---|---|
| Category | peptide | pharmaceutical |
| Also known as | CJC-1295 DAC, CJC-1295 no-DAC, Mod GRF 1-29, tesamorelin analog | LDN, naltrexone (low dose) |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 168 | 4 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 0.1 | 4.5 |
| Dosing frequency | weekly (DAC); 1-3x daily (non-DAC) | once daily, typically at bedtime |
| Routes | subcutaneous | oral |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 1 |
| Peak (hr) | 3 | 1.5 |
| Molecular weight | 3367.83 | 341.4 |
| Molecular formula | C152H252N44O42 | C20H23NO4 |
| Mechanism | Binds the GHRH receptor on pituitary somatotrophs, stimulating pulsatile growth-hormone release. The DAC modification extends plasma residence by tethering the peptide to serum albumin via a maleimide-cysteine bond. | Brief mu-opioid receptor antagonism proposed to trigger compensatory upregulation of endogenous opioids; secondary TLR4 antagonism on microglia and immune cells contributes to anti-inflammatory effect. |
| Legal status | Not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market; banned by WADA | Off-label compounded prescription (naltrexone is FDA approved for opioid and alcohol use disorder at 50 mg) |
| WADA status | banned | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status | Rx only (not a controlled substance) |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data; not recommended | Insufficient data; not routinely recommended |
| CAS | 446262-90-4 | 16590-41-3 |
| PubChem CID | 91971820 | 5360515 |
| Wikidata | Q5012154 | Q426444 |
Safety profile
CJC-1295
Common side effects
- injection-site reactions
- water retention
- numbness or tingling at injection site
- vivid dreams
- transient flushing
- head pressure or mild headache
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- active malignancy
- diabetic retinopathy (theoretical)
- history of pituitary tumor
Interactions
- Ipamorelin: synergistic GH release; commonly co-administered in anecdotal protocols(minor)
- insulin: GH-induced insulin resistance can shift glycemic control over weeks(moderate)
- corticosteroids: blunt GH-axis response; reduce expected efficacy(moderate)
Low-Dose Naltrexone
Common side effects
- vivid dreams
- sleep disruption
- headache
- mild GI upset
- fatigue (early)
Contraindications
- concurrent opioid use
- acute hepatitis or liver failure
- opioid dependence
- pregnancy (insufficient data)
Interactions
- opioid analgesics (oxycodone, morphine, codeine): blocks analgesic effect; precipitates withdrawal in dependent users(major)
- tramadol: blocks opioid component of analgesia(major)
- thyroid hormone replacement: may alter dose requirements after immune modulation; monitor TSH(minor)
Which Should You Take?
Low-Dose Naltrexone comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 2 catalogued goals, prescription-only, oral dosing, with a Tier-A outcome catalogued. CJC-1295 is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is post-training recovery, pick CJC-1295.
- → If your priority is growth-hormone axis, pick CJC-1295.
- → If your priority is immune support, pick Low-Dose Naltrexone.
- → If your priority is pain modulation, pick Low-Dose Naltrexone.
Edge case: If you cannot self-administer injections, Low-Dose Naltrexone is the only oral option in this pair.
Default choice: Low-Dose Naltrexone. Wider use case, a Tier-A evidence outcome catalogued, and broader goal coverage. Reach for CJC-1295 only if your priority sits squarely in the goals it owns above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between CJC-1295 and Low-Dose Naltrexone?
CJC-1295 and Low-Dose Naltrexone differ in category (peptide vs pharmaceutical), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, CJC-1295 or Low-Dose Naltrexone?
CJC-1295 half-life is 168 hours; Low-Dose Naltrexone half-life is 4 hours.
Can you stack CJC-1295 with Low-Dose Naltrexone?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper