Side-by-side comparison of mechanisms, dosing, interactions, and stacking potential.
| CJC-1295 (with DAC) | Melanotan II | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Peptides | Peptides |
| Standard Dose | Research indicates 2 mg administered once weekly via subcutaneous injection. | Research indicates 250-500 mcg daily via subcutaneous injection during loading, reducing to 250 mcg 2-3 times weekly for maintenance. |
| Timing | Evening administration preferred (aligns with natural GH pulsatility). Inject on an empty stomach — food (especially carbohydrates) blunts GH release. | Administer 4-6 hours before UV exposure for optimal tanning synergy. Can be taken at any time of day. |
| Cycle Duration | 12-24 week cycles with 4-8 week breaks between cycles. | Loading phase 1-2 weeks, then maintenance as long as desired. Pigmentation fades gradually upon discontinuation. |
| Evidence Level | moderate_human | moderate_human |
CJC-1295 with DAC (Drug Affinity Complex) is a synthetic 30-amino acid GHRH analog with four amino acid substitutions rendering it resistant to DPP-IV proteolytic inactivation. The DAC moiety covalently binds to endogenous serum albumin via a disulfide bond after injection, extending half-life to 5.8-8.1 days. It stimulates pulsatile GH release from anterior pituitary somatotrophs through GHRH receptor activation, producing dose-dependent 2-10 fold increases in plasma GH for 6+ days and 1.5-3 fold IGF-1 elevations for 9-11 days per injection.
Research indicates 2 mg administered once weekly via subcutaneous injection.
Evening administration preferred (aligns with natural GH pulsatility). Inject on an empty stomach — food (especially carbohydrates) blunts GH release.
12-24 week cycles with 4-8 week breaks between cycles.
Melanotan II is a synthetic cyclic analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) that non-selectively agonizes melanocortin receptors MC1, MC3, MC4, and MC5. MC1R activation stimulates eumelanin synthesis through tyrosinase upregulation, producing tanning. MC3R activation in the CNS increases libido and produces erectile responses. MC4R activation suppresses appetite. The cyclic structure provides enhanced in vivo stability (half-life 1-2 hours) and increased blood-brain barrier permeability compared to linear alpha-MSH.
Research indicates 250-500 mcg daily via subcutaneous injection during loading, reducing to 250 mcg 2-3 times weekly for maintenance.
Administer 4-6 hours before UV exposure for optimal tanning synergy. Can be taken at any time of day.
Loading phase 1-2 weeks, then maintenance as long as desired. Pigmentation fades gradually upon discontinuation.
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