Comparison
CJC-1295 vs PT-141
Side-by-side of CJC-1295 and PT-141. 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.
PT-141
PT-141 peptide (bremelanotide, Vyleesi): MC4R agonist for libido and erectile dysfunction. 1.75 mg subcutaneous, 30 to 60 min onset, 2 to 4 h half-life.
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
PT-141
- •Cyclic 7-amino-acid synthetic peptide and melanocortin receptor agonist (MC4R-preferring)
- •FDA approved in 2019 as Vyleesi for hypoactive sexual desire disorder in pre-menopausal women
- •Acts centrally on hypothalamic sexual-desire circuits rather than peripherally on vasculature
- •On-demand dosing: subcutaneous 1.75 mg approximately 45 minutes before sexual activity
- •Common adverse effects: nausea (~40%), flushing, headache, injection-site reactions, hyperpigmentation
- •Off-label male ED use is documented but not FDA approved; mechanism is distinct from PDE5 inhibitors
Side-by-side
| Attribute | CJC-1295 | PT-141 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | peptide | peptide |
| Also known as | CJC-1295 DAC, CJC-1295 no-DAC, Mod GRF 1-29, tesamorelin analog | Bremelanotide, Vyleesi |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 168 | 2.7 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 0.1 | 1.75 |
| Dosing frequency | weekly (DAC); 1-3x daily (non-DAC) | as needed (max once per 24 hours, max 8 per month) |
| Routes | subcutaneous | subcutaneous |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 0.75 |
| Peak (hr) | 3 | 1.5 |
| Molecular weight | 3367.83 | 1025.18 |
| Molecular formula | C152H252N44O42 | C50H68N14O10 |
| 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. | Synthetic agonist of melanocortin receptors with preference for MC4R, expressed in hypothalamic and limbic circuits regulating sexual motivation. Engages central pathways distinct from peripheral PDE5-mediated vasodilation. |
| Legal status | Not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market; banned by WADA | Prescription only as Vyleesi; FDA-approved 2019 for HSDD in pre-menopausal women. Compounded versions sold off-label for male sexual function are research-use-only grey market. |
| WADA status | banned | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status | Rx only (not a controlled substance) for the FDA-approved Vyleesi formulation |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data; not recommended | Not recommended; contraindicated during pregnancy per Vyleesi label |
| CAS | 446262-90-4 | 189691-06-3 |
| PubChem CID | 91971820 | 9941379 |
| Wikidata | Q5012154 | Q422059 |
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)
PT-141
Common side effects
- nausea (~40%)
- flushing
- headache
- injection-site reactions
- hyperpigmentation (focal, gums, face, breasts)
- transient blood pressure increase (~6 mmHg systolic)
Contraindications
- uncontrolled hypertension
- established cardiovascular disease
- pregnancy
- naltrexone co-administration (reduces opioid efficacy due to MC receptor crosstalk)
Interactions
- naltrexone (oral): bremelanotide reduces oral naltrexone exposure significantly; avoid co-administration(major)
- antihypertensives: transient BP rise after bremelanotide can offset BP control(moderate)
- PDE5 inhibitors (sildenafil, tadalafil): no documented adverse interaction; mechanisms are non-overlapping(minor)
Which Should You Take?
CJC-1295 and PT-141 score evenly on the criteria we weight (goal breadth, legal accessibility, evidence depth). The conditionals below should drive the decision more than any aggregate score.
- → If your priority is post-training recovery, pick CJC-1295.
- → If your priority is growth-hormone axis, pick CJC-1295.
- → If your priority is sexual function, pick PT-141.
- → If your priority is libido, pick PT-141.
Edge case: PT-141 is contraindicated in pregnancy; CJC-1295 is the safer pick if that applies.
Default choice: either is defensible. CJC-1295 edges out on goal breadth + legal accessibility; PT-141 is the right call if your priority sits in the goals listed 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 PT-141?
CJC-1295 and PT-141 differ in category (peptide vs peptide), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, CJC-1295 or PT-141?
CJC-1295 half-life is 168 hours; PT-141 half-life is 2.7 hours.
Can you stack CJC-1295 with PT-141?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper