There are several categories of peptides I will cover, with more in depth information about each in the following weeks.
These are;
Growth Hormone Releasing Peptides
These peptides release a pulse of GH by stimulating the pituitary gland and also suppresses Somatostatin.
The main effects of GHRPs are;
Common side effects are;
GHRP-6 is a first generation peptide, and as such it has a very wide range of effects. The most noticeable over the other peptides is intense hunger, which can be seen as both positive and negative.
If you have trouble eating, or need increased calories then it is ideal as this will allow you to consume more – if however you’re on a strict calorie diet then you may want to look into another peptide.
It is also considered one of the stronger GHRPs, but does have an injection limit, normally 1mcg/kg three times daily.
It also effects cortisol and prolactin.
GHRP-2 is a second generation peptide, the most noticeable difference is that the hunger is eliminated, however it does still affect cortisol and prolactin, just not as much as GHRP-6.
There’s also the factor that it has a more intense GH release.
Ipamorelin is a third generation peptide, as such it does not affect hunger, cortisol or prolactin.
It matches GHRP-6 for strength but doesn’t have a cap on how much you can inject – more peptide = more GH release, however, it is considerably more expensive.
Generally, GHRP-2 is the go to peptide, unless you need the hunger enhancement from GHRP-6 – or if you’re sensitive to either peptide then Ipamorelin is the only option.
Growth Hormone Releasing Peptides
These peptides release a pulse of GH by stimulating the pituitary gland and also suppresses Somatostatin.
The main effects of GHRPs are;
Common side effects are;
GHRP-6 is a first generation peptide, and as such it has a very wide range of effects. The most noticeable over the other peptides is intense hunger, which can be seen as both positive and negative.
If you have trouble eating, or need increased calories then it is ideal as this will allow you to consume more – if however you’re on a strict calorie diet then you may want to look into another peptide.
It is also considered one of the stronger GHRPs, but does have an injection limit, normally 1mcg/kg three times daily.
It also effects cortisol and prolactin.
GHRP-2 is a second generation peptide, the most noticeable difference is that the hunger is eliminated, however it does still affect cortisol and prolactin, just not as much as GHRP-6.
There’s also the factor that it has a more intense GH release.
Ipamorelin is a third generation peptide, as such it does not affect hunger, cortisol or prolactin.
It matches GHRP-6 for strength but doesn’t have a cap on how much you can inject – more peptide = more GH release, however, it is considerably more expensive.
Generally, GHRP-2 is the go to peptide, unless you need the hunger enhancement from GHRP-6 – or if you’re sensitive to either peptide then Ipamorelin is the only option.
Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone
These peptides amplify the release of GH, and when used in combination with GHRP, the effects are staggering.
On their own they have little to no effect, and as such have very few side effects.
MOD GRF is the base for the two peptides we’ll talk about here, it’s also known as CJC-1295 (w/o DAC).
MOD GRF has a half-life of around 30 minutes, and should be used to dose alongside GHRP, which causes massive pulses in GH.
CJC-1295 DAC has a half-life of 6-8 days, which causes a continuous GH release, also known as a ‘bleed’.
This can be used instead, with similar results – but only for 4 weeks, with a break of 2 weeks to avoid severe damage to the pituitary gland.
Use of this peptide at 30-60mcg/kg each week gives a 2-10 fold increase in basel GH, and 1.5-3 fold increase in IGF1 levels. [pubmed/16352683]
Insulin-like Growth Factor 1
IGF-1 is an endocrine hormone naturally occurring in the body. Production is increased in the presence of GH and works similarly, enhancing protein anabolism, and will generally not stack together in normal diet, but do work synergistically in a calorie deficit diet.
IGF-1 can be used as a standalone peptide, unlike GHRP-GHRH where the best effects are only noticeable when used in combination.
It has a few effects;
There are also a few side effects;
IGF-1 only lasts around 30 minutes in the body, and is relatively weak, so IGF-1 DES and LR3 were developed.
IGF-1 DES is a shorter version of the IGF-1 chain, and approx. 10x more potent than the standard hormone, and 5x more potent than LR3.
It still suffers a short half-life of 30 minutes though, and is best suited for localised injections.
It can be used more frequently and for longer periods than LR3.
IGF-1 LR3 is a longer version of the IGF-1 chain, and approx. 2x more powerful than the standard hormone.
The half-life however is greatly increased, at around 1-1.5 days – this means systemic injections.
The other advantage of this is that it stops glucose entering your cells, forcing the body to burn fat for energy.
Mechano Growth Factor
MGF is actually an IGF variant, it differs enough to have its own section, however. It’s also known as IGF-1Ec/IGF-1Ea, but often gets confused under those names.
The main effects are;
MGF has a short half-life of 5-7 minutes, thus it must be used immediately post workout due to the fact it needs damaged tissue to activate. Localised injections are also ideal due to the short effect time.
Peg-MGF is pegylated MGF, meaning Polyethylene Glycol has been added (similar to DAC for CJC-1295), which increases the half-life from minutes to hours; this allows you to use it systemically.
Because your body naturally releases IGF-1Ec/a post workout, it’s not actually ideal to inject then. It’s actually better to inject several hours, or the next day after the work out once so as not to waste the natural hormones – as there are only so many receptors to bind to.
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GHRP & GHRH Guide
GHRP
GHRP 6, GHRP 2 and Ipamorelin, as well as other Growth Hormone Releasing Peptides (GHRP) all work in the same way – increasing secretion of Ghrelin, a hormone; which in turn increases Growth Hormone (GH).
GHRH
CJC-1295 (Mod GRF 1-29) and CJC-1295 DAC are both Growth Hormone Releasing Hormones (GHRH), and also work in the same was as each other, allowing substantially more GH to be released (2-10 fold[1]).
The only difference between the two is half-life. Due to the Drug Affinity Complex (DAC), the half-life is increased from around 30 minutes to 6-8 days.
One thing to consider is that they are most effective when somatostatin is low.
Somatostatin is a hormone which inhibits the release of growth hormone; if you administer the peptide when a GH pulse isn’t occurring then it will do next to nothing. However, if you use it while a GH pulse is happening your GH release will be much larger.
This is why they are most effective when used in combination with GHRP, as it suppresses it.
Synthesis information
GHRP
The starting point for GHRPs was the analogue Tyr-D-Trp-Gly-Phe-Met-NH2, which was observed to have GH releasing properties, with following modifications leading to GHRP-6.
Minor modifications to this was made to form GHRP-1; then leading onto GHRP-2 and Ipamorelin.
GHRH
Both peptides are derived from GRF 1-44
Tyr-Ala-Asp-Ala-Ile-Phe-Thr-Asn-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Lys-Val-Leu-Gly-Gln-Leu-Ser-Ala-Arg-Lys-Leu-Leu-Gln-Asp-Ile-Met-Ser-Arg-Gln-Gln-Gly-Glu-Ser-Asn-Gln-Glu-Arg-Gly-Ala-Arg-Ala-Arg-Leu-NH2
However, the last 15 amino acids don’t have any effect on growth hormone release.
Mod GRF 1-29 is the result of removing the amino acids, and also replacing the first Ala with D-Ala, which reduces degredation - as seen below.
H-Tyr-D-Ala-Asp-Ala-Ile-Phe-Thr-Asn-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Lys-Val-Leu-Gly-Gln-Leu-Ser-Ala-Arg-Lys-Leu-Leu-Gln-Asp-Ile-Met-Ser-Arg-NH2
CJC 1295 DAC is the above with a few modifications, position 8, 15 and 27 have been modified to increase the effectiveness, but the most important change is an added Lys amino acid used to secure the DAC, which attaches to Albumin and increases the half-life.
H-Tyr-D-Ala-Asp-Ala-Ile-Phe-Thr-Gln-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Lys-Val-Leu-Ala-Gln-Leu-Ser-Ala-Arg-Lys-Leu-Leu-Gln-Asp-Ile-Leu-Ser-Arg-Lys(Mal)-NH2
Effects
There are many effects of GHRP peptides, and vary between them. Most of this was covered in the original overview, but I’ll include it here too for the sake of completeness.
GHRP-6 has the greatest amount of effects, the main one being increased hunger – and thus should only be used by those trying to ‘bulk’ up, as it will allow you to consume more calories than normally.
It also increases levels of cortisol, prolactin and aldosterone.
GHRP-2 is the most powerful, mg for mg, but also increases cortisol, prolactin and aldosterone levels slightly more than GHRP-2. The noticeable hunger is absent with this peptide though, so is better suited to those aiming to diet or lose fat.
Ipamorelin is the ‘cleanest’ of the three, in which it only affects Ghrelin release, and doesn’t cause any affects to the other hormones. There has been reported increase in hunger, but no official studies carried out. It is however, considerably more expensive, so this should be accounted for when choosing which peptide you wish to use.
Side effects
GHRP
Generally, people tolerate GHRPs very well at suggested dosages.
As I have covered hunger elsewhere I won’t include it here, mainly as it’s considered an ‘effect’ by many, rather than a side.
The main side effect is water retention, which is caused by aldosterone, and while minor and short lived (2-3 weeks) it is present – but not for Ipamorelin. Tiredness has also been reported, but also passes quickly.
Lastly, some reactions at the injection site are to be expected, for all GHRPs –as well as flushing of the face.
GHRH
CJC has no other ‘effects’ besides what is mentioned above, however it does have a couple of side effects.
As with GHRP, water retention is present, however if you’re using both together it will be similar to just using one, and is nothing to worry about. Similarly, tiredness is also experienced at most dosages.
The most important side effect is numbness in extremities (hands and feet), with carpel tunnel like symptoms.
Many of the side effects can be mitigated by using anti-histamines, or injecting intra-muscular rather than subcutaneous.
As a side note, the only other thing to mention here is that CJC-1295 should always be used as a cycle, ideally with 4 weeks on, 2 weeks off – this allows the pituitary gland to recover from the constant bleed effect.
If you are using as a one off cycle, perhaps in between AAS cycles, or similar, then you could consider a prolonged on period, with some users reporting no damage at 3 months, usage beyond this point is exponentially more likely to cause damage.
Dosage information
GHRP
GHRP 6, GHRP 2 and Ipamorelin should all be dosed at 100-200mcg, with 200mcg giving about 40% better results than 100mcg, however unless you have a large budget 100mcg is sufficient.
Injections should be given two to three times per day, depending on your schedule and goals.
Considering that the peptides have a 15-60 minute half-life, they need to be used when required.
Optimal injection times are straight away in the morning, pre-workout and before sleep.
A single vial of GHRP 6 & 2 will last for 25 200mcg injections, so 8 or 12 days, depending on your frequency. Alternatively, it will last for 50 100mcg injections, or 16 or 25 days.
Ipamorelin, however, comes in a smaller vial, so will only last for 10 200mcg injections (3 or 5 days), or 20 100mcg injections (6 or 10 days).
GHRH
If using Mod GRF 1-29 you will be injecting 100mcg per dose, three times daily – at the same time as your GHRP. Mixing the two peptides into a single syringe is optimal, to cut down on the number of injections – this will not affect the potency of either peptide.
If using CJC-1295 DAC you will be injecting the whole 2mg in one injection, once per week.
Increasing dosage
GHRP
The recommended dosages given are at the upper end of the scale, with entry level users aiming for 100mcg, and advanced users opting for 200mcg. This is due to the ‘cap’ (or saturation dose) on how much your body can absorb, this is present for GHRP-6 and 2, and is around 1mcg/kg, however this doesn’t mean that above that will be wasted, just that it will be less effective. The additional 100mcg will yield about 40% extra.
If you do wish to push beyond this figure, you can use Ipamorelin to do so, however, the investment in such a regime is substantial, and not generally worth the cost.
GHRH
Increasing the dosage of CJC-1295 will increase your basal levels of GH, however, it also increases the side effects, and thus generally isn’t recommended – however, studies have been carried out up to 4mg weekly, and beyond that point causes multiple issues, including lower back and calf muscle pain.
Mod GRF 1-29 can be increased in frequency, but not dosage. Generally 4 times a day is the upper limit, as it works best when paired with GHRP, which should be take 3 times daily.
Glossary
Aldosterone – A hormone which causes water retention
Cortisol – A hormone which is released when stressed, aids metabolism of fat, protein and carbohydrates, but also decrease bone formation
Prolactin – A hormone that diminishes sex drive
Somatostatin – A hormone which inhibits GH release
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Insulin-like Growth Factor Guide
When we talk about IGF, there are two main analogues we mean – DES, and LR3.
While there are others, they are less important than these – or will be covered in the MGF article to follow next week.
IGF is actually a naturally occurring endocrine hormone produced in the liver, and is released into the body in response to GH levels. IGF has the advantage of not having to be released from the liver to begin working, as you’re injecting it directly.
This doesn’t mean that you can’t use IGF and GH (or GHR(P/H)) in combination, however; as doing so will allow them to act synergistically.
IGF is different to most peptides we talk about, in that it is a polypeptide, meaning rather than one single chain of amino acids, it consists of multiple. This means manufacture is more expensive both in materials and process, and this is reflected in the price.
Because of this, IGF is aimed at intermediate to advanced body builders, with a larger budget – however, it is still considerably cheaper than many.
It’s called Insulin-like due to the fact it shares many molecular properties with insulin.
The main method of affect is muscle growth and repair, however it is also responsible for bone growth, mainly in children.
Synthesis Information
Both IGF peptides are derived from IGF-1, the naturally occurring hormone. However, due to the fact that the base hormone is relatively weak, and has a short half-life, it wasn’t really suitable for medical use.
The original hormone was 70 amino acids long, in a single chain with three intramolecular disulphide bridges.
IGF-1 DES was modified from the base IGF-1 peptide, by removing 3 of the amino acids (reducing to 67), this significantly reduces the binding and enhanced the potency 10fold.
IGF-1 LR3 was also modified from the base peptide by replacing the glutamic acid at position 3 with arginine (R) – hence the R3.
The L stands for long, as an additional 13 amino acids were added, again reducing binding, while improving metabolic stability. This increases the half-life to 20-30 hours, and also increasing the potency 3fold.
Effects
As above, IGF helps with increasing muscle mass, it does this by inducing hyperplasia – which means increasing the rate of reproduction of cells, allowing tissue to enlarge.
Nerve tissue regeneration and the anti-ageing effects also work in the same manner.
While still under debate, many anecdotal trials have shown IGF also allows for increased fat loss via regulated lipolysis – however the science does not support this.
Both in vitro and in vivo, it has been show to not possess lipolytic properties due to the lack of IGF-1 receptors in adipocytes, and the reported fat loss is more likely due to the additional metabolism of proteins and carbohydrates – as well as stopping glucose from entering the cells, causing fat to be used for energy.
Side effects
Relatively few side effects are reported for IGF – with high doses causing hypoglycaemia, a deficiency of glucose in the blood. This effect isn’t close to what insulin causes, though.
The most important side effect to mention is also the reason people use the peptide – hyperplasia.
There has been several studies on the effect of IGF on cancer patients. Due to the increased reproduction of cells, cancerous cells are also included, allowing tumours to grow at increased rates.
This doesn’t mean IGF causes cancer – but it does accelerate existing cancerous growths.
Dosage information
IGF should be reconstituted with Acetic Acid 0.6%, bacteriostatic water will work, however it isn’t as stable.
Dilution with bacteriostatic water after the AA is preferred by many.
DES
IGF DES is dosed at 25mcg daily, or twice daily before training. Localised IM injections are required in the muscle group you are working on due to the short half-life.
LR3
IGF LR3 is generally dosed at 25mcg daily post workout. Many prefer IM injections, however subcutaneous injections are generally better as the peptide will go systemic.
Cycles should last between 4 weeks and 40 days, depending on dosage and budget.
Increasing dosage
IGF doses can be increased, up to around 100-150mcg daily – however it is not advised.
The most important factor is exponential desensitizing after 80mcg, meaning the more you inject after this point the less additional benefit you receive.
The second factor is cost, as most vials are either 1mg or 2mg, they will be used quickly.
If you have room in the budget to do so, then increasing to 50-100mcg may be viable, but there may also be other peptides you can use in addition.
These are;
- Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide (GHRP)
- Including GHRP-2, GHRP-6 and Ipamorelin (IPA)
- Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH)
- Including CJC-1295 DAC & Mod GRF 1-29
- Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF1)
- Including IGF-1 LR3 & IGF-1 DES
- Mechano Growth Factor (MGF)
- Including MGF & Peg-MGF
Growth Hormone Releasing Peptides
These peptides release a pulse of GH by stimulating the pituitary gland and also suppresses Somatostatin.
The main effects of GHRPs are;
- Increased lean muscle mass
- Descreased body fat
- Increased collagen
- Increased bone density
- Increase cell repair
- Increased hunger (GHRP-6)
Common side effects are;
- Water retention
- Numbness/tingling in extremities
- Tiredness
GHRP-6 is a first generation peptide, and as such it has a very wide range of effects. The most noticeable over the other peptides is intense hunger, which can be seen as both positive and negative.
If you have trouble eating, or need increased calories then it is ideal as this will allow you to consume more – if however you’re on a strict calorie diet then you may want to look into another peptide.
It is also considered one of the stronger GHRPs, but does have an injection limit, normally 1mcg/kg three times daily.
It also effects cortisol and prolactin.
GHRP-2 is a second generation peptide, the most noticeable difference is that the hunger is eliminated, however it does still affect cortisol and prolactin, just not as much as GHRP-6.
There’s also the factor that it has a more intense GH release.
Ipamorelin is a third generation peptide, as such it does not affect hunger, cortisol or prolactin.
It matches GHRP-6 for strength but doesn’t have a cap on how much you can inject – more peptide = more GH release, however, it is considerably more expensive.
Generally, GHRP-2 is the go to peptide, unless you need the hunger enhancement from GHRP-6 – or if you’re sensitive to either peptide then Ipamorelin is the only option.
Growth Hormone Releasing Peptides
These peptides release a pulse of GH by stimulating the pituitary gland and also suppresses Somatostatin.
The main effects of GHRPs are;
- Increased lean muscle mass
- Descreased body fat
- Increased collagen
- Increased bone density
- Increase cell repair
- Increased hunger (GHRP-6)
Common side effects are;
- Water retention
- Numbness/tingling in extremities
- Tiredness
GHRP-6 is a first generation peptide, and as such it has a very wide range of effects. The most noticeable over the other peptides is intense hunger, which can be seen as both positive and negative.
If you have trouble eating, or need increased calories then it is ideal as this will allow you to consume more – if however you’re on a strict calorie diet then you may want to look into another peptide.
It is also considered one of the stronger GHRPs, but does have an injection limit, normally 1mcg/kg three times daily.
It also effects cortisol and prolactin.
GHRP-2 is a second generation peptide, the most noticeable difference is that the hunger is eliminated, however it does still affect cortisol and prolactin, just not as much as GHRP-6.
There’s also the factor that it has a more intense GH release.
Ipamorelin is a third generation peptide, as such it does not affect hunger, cortisol or prolactin.
It matches GHRP-6 for strength but doesn’t have a cap on how much you can inject – more peptide = more GH release, however, it is considerably more expensive.
Generally, GHRP-2 is the go to peptide, unless you need the hunger enhancement from GHRP-6 – or if you’re sensitive to either peptide then Ipamorelin is the only option.
Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone
These peptides amplify the release of GH, and when used in combination with GHRP, the effects are staggering.
On their own they have little to no effect, and as such have very few side effects.
MOD GRF is the base for the two peptides we’ll talk about here, it’s also known as CJC-1295 (w/o DAC).
MOD GRF has a half-life of around 30 minutes, and should be used to dose alongside GHRP, which causes massive pulses in GH.
CJC-1295 DAC has a half-life of 6-8 days, which causes a continuous GH release, also known as a ‘bleed’.
This can be used instead, with similar results – but only for 4 weeks, with a break of 2 weeks to avoid severe damage to the pituitary gland.
Use of this peptide at 30-60mcg/kg each week gives a 2-10 fold increase in basel GH, and 1.5-3 fold increase in IGF1 levels. [pubmed/16352683]
Insulin-like Growth Factor 1
IGF-1 is an endocrine hormone naturally occurring in the body. Production is increased in the presence of GH and works similarly, enhancing protein anabolism, and will generally not stack together in normal diet, but do work synergistically in a calorie deficit diet.
IGF-1 can be used as a standalone peptide, unlike GHRP-GHRH where the best effects are only noticeable when used in combination.
It has a few effects;
- Increased fat loss (via regulated lipolysis)
- Helps with Anti-Aging
- Helps with protein synthesis
- Increase nerve tissue regeneration
- Increase lean muscle mass (via hyperplasia in muscle cells)
There are also a few side effects;
- High doses may cause hypoglycaemia
- There has been reports of increased cancerous tumour size in some patients, there are no official studies regarding this, however. It also doesn’t cause it, just accelerates it.
IGF-1 only lasts around 30 minutes in the body, and is relatively weak, so IGF-1 DES and LR3 were developed.
IGF-1 DES is a shorter version of the IGF-1 chain, and approx. 10x more potent than the standard hormone, and 5x more potent than LR3.
It still suffers a short half-life of 30 minutes though, and is best suited for localised injections.
It can be used more frequently and for longer periods than LR3.
IGF-1 LR3 is a longer version of the IGF-1 chain, and approx. 2x more powerful than the standard hormone.
The half-life however is greatly increased, at around 1-1.5 days – this means systemic injections.
The other advantage of this is that it stops glucose entering your cells, forcing the body to burn fat for energy.
Mechano Growth Factor
MGF is actually an IGF variant, it differs enough to have its own section, however. It’s also known as IGF-1Ec/IGF-1Ea, but often gets confused under those names.
The main effects are;
- Causes wasted tissue to improve and grow (via activating stem cells)
- Increased protein synthesis
- Increased muscle repair/recovery
- Increased muscle mass
MGF has a short half-life of 5-7 minutes, thus it must be used immediately post workout due to the fact it needs damaged tissue to activate. Localised injections are also ideal due to the short effect time.
Peg-MGF is pegylated MGF, meaning Polyethylene Glycol has been added (similar to DAC for CJC-1295), which increases the half-life from minutes to hours; this allows you to use it systemically.
Because your body naturally releases IGF-1Ec/a post workout, it’s not actually ideal to inject then. It’s actually better to inject several hours, or the next day after the work out once so as not to waste the natural hormones – as there are only so many receptors to bind to.
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GHRP & GHRH Guide
GHRP
GHRP 6, GHRP 2 and Ipamorelin, as well as other Growth Hormone Releasing Peptides (GHRP) all work in the same way – increasing secretion of Ghrelin, a hormone; which in turn increases Growth Hormone (GH).
GHRH
CJC-1295 (Mod GRF 1-29) and CJC-1295 DAC are both Growth Hormone Releasing Hormones (GHRH), and also work in the same was as each other, allowing substantially more GH to be released (2-10 fold[1]).
The only difference between the two is half-life. Due to the Drug Affinity Complex (DAC), the half-life is increased from around 30 minutes to 6-8 days.
One thing to consider is that they are most effective when somatostatin is low.
Somatostatin is a hormone which inhibits the release of growth hormone; if you administer the peptide when a GH pulse isn’t occurring then it will do next to nothing. However, if you use it while a GH pulse is happening your GH release will be much larger.
This is why they are most effective when used in combination with GHRP, as it suppresses it.
Synthesis information
GHRP
The starting point for GHRPs was the analogue Tyr-D-Trp-Gly-Phe-Met-NH2, which was observed to have GH releasing properties, with following modifications leading to GHRP-6.
Minor modifications to this was made to form GHRP-1; then leading onto GHRP-2 and Ipamorelin.
GHRH
Both peptides are derived from GRF 1-44
Tyr-Ala-Asp-Ala-Ile-Phe-Thr-Asn-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Lys-Val-Leu-Gly-Gln-Leu-Ser-Ala-Arg-Lys-Leu-Leu-Gln-Asp-Ile-Met-Ser-Arg-Gln-Gln-Gly-Glu-Ser-Asn-Gln-Glu-Arg-Gly-Ala-Arg-Ala-Arg-Leu-NH2
However, the last 15 amino acids don’t have any effect on growth hormone release.
Mod GRF 1-29 is the result of removing the amino acids, and also replacing the first Ala with D-Ala, which reduces degredation - as seen below.
H-Tyr-D-Ala-Asp-Ala-Ile-Phe-Thr-Asn-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Lys-Val-Leu-Gly-Gln-Leu-Ser-Ala-Arg-Lys-Leu-Leu-Gln-Asp-Ile-Met-Ser-Arg-NH2
CJC 1295 DAC is the above with a few modifications, position 8, 15 and 27 have been modified to increase the effectiveness, but the most important change is an added Lys amino acid used to secure the DAC, which attaches to Albumin and increases the half-life.
H-Tyr-D-Ala-Asp-Ala-Ile-Phe-Thr-Gln-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Lys-Val-Leu-Ala-Gln-Leu-Ser-Ala-Arg-Lys-Leu-Leu-Gln-Asp-Ile-Leu-Ser-Arg-Lys(Mal)-NH2
Effects
There are many effects of GHRP peptides, and vary between them. Most of this was covered in the original overview, but I’ll include it here too for the sake of completeness.
GHRP-6 has the greatest amount of effects, the main one being increased hunger – and thus should only be used by those trying to ‘bulk’ up, as it will allow you to consume more calories than normally.
It also increases levels of cortisol, prolactin and aldosterone.
GHRP-2 is the most powerful, mg for mg, but also increases cortisol, prolactin and aldosterone levels slightly more than GHRP-2. The noticeable hunger is absent with this peptide though, so is better suited to those aiming to diet or lose fat.
Ipamorelin is the ‘cleanest’ of the three, in which it only affects Ghrelin release, and doesn’t cause any affects to the other hormones. There has been reported increase in hunger, but no official studies carried out. It is however, considerably more expensive, so this should be accounted for when choosing which peptide you wish to use.
Side effects
GHRP
Generally, people tolerate GHRPs very well at suggested dosages.
As I have covered hunger elsewhere I won’t include it here, mainly as it’s considered an ‘effect’ by many, rather than a side.
The main side effect is water retention, which is caused by aldosterone, and while minor and short lived (2-3 weeks) it is present – but not for Ipamorelin. Tiredness has also been reported, but also passes quickly.
Lastly, some reactions at the injection site are to be expected, for all GHRPs –as well as flushing of the face.
GHRH
CJC has no other ‘effects’ besides what is mentioned above, however it does have a couple of side effects.
As with GHRP, water retention is present, however if you’re using both together it will be similar to just using one, and is nothing to worry about. Similarly, tiredness is also experienced at most dosages.
The most important side effect is numbness in extremities (hands and feet), with carpel tunnel like symptoms.
Many of the side effects can be mitigated by using anti-histamines, or injecting intra-muscular rather than subcutaneous.
As a side note, the only other thing to mention here is that CJC-1295 should always be used as a cycle, ideally with 4 weeks on, 2 weeks off – this allows the pituitary gland to recover from the constant bleed effect.
If you are using as a one off cycle, perhaps in between AAS cycles, or similar, then you could consider a prolonged on period, with some users reporting no damage at 3 months, usage beyond this point is exponentially more likely to cause damage.
Dosage information
GHRP
GHRP 6, GHRP 2 and Ipamorelin should all be dosed at 100-200mcg, with 200mcg giving about 40% better results than 100mcg, however unless you have a large budget 100mcg is sufficient.
Injections should be given two to three times per day, depending on your schedule and goals.
Considering that the peptides have a 15-60 minute half-life, they need to be used when required.
Optimal injection times are straight away in the morning, pre-workout and before sleep.
A single vial of GHRP 6 & 2 will last for 25 200mcg injections, so 8 or 12 days, depending on your frequency. Alternatively, it will last for 50 100mcg injections, or 16 or 25 days.
Ipamorelin, however, comes in a smaller vial, so will only last for 10 200mcg injections (3 or 5 days), or 20 100mcg injections (6 or 10 days).
GHRH
If using Mod GRF 1-29 you will be injecting 100mcg per dose, three times daily – at the same time as your GHRP. Mixing the two peptides into a single syringe is optimal, to cut down on the number of injections – this will not affect the potency of either peptide.
If using CJC-1295 DAC you will be injecting the whole 2mg in one injection, once per week.
Increasing dosage
GHRP
The recommended dosages given are at the upper end of the scale, with entry level users aiming for 100mcg, and advanced users opting for 200mcg. This is due to the ‘cap’ (or saturation dose) on how much your body can absorb, this is present for GHRP-6 and 2, and is around 1mcg/kg, however this doesn’t mean that above that will be wasted, just that it will be less effective. The additional 100mcg will yield about 40% extra.
If you do wish to push beyond this figure, you can use Ipamorelin to do so, however, the investment in such a regime is substantial, and not generally worth the cost.
GHRH
Increasing the dosage of CJC-1295 will increase your basal levels of GH, however, it also increases the side effects, and thus generally isn’t recommended – however, studies have been carried out up to 4mg weekly, and beyond that point causes multiple issues, including lower back and calf muscle pain.
Mod GRF 1-29 can be increased in frequency, but not dosage. Generally 4 times a day is the upper limit, as it works best when paired with GHRP, which should be take 3 times daily.
Glossary
Aldosterone – A hormone which causes water retention
Cortisol – A hormone which is released when stressed, aids metabolism of fat, protein and carbohydrates, but also decrease bone formation
Prolactin – A hormone that diminishes sex drive
Somatostatin – A hormone which inhibits GH release
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Insulin-like Growth Factor Guide
When we talk about IGF, there are two main analogues we mean – DES, and LR3.
While there are others, they are less important than these – or will be covered in the MGF article to follow next week.
IGF is actually a naturally occurring endocrine hormone produced in the liver, and is released into the body in response to GH levels. IGF has the advantage of not having to be released from the liver to begin working, as you’re injecting it directly.
This doesn’t mean that you can’t use IGF and GH (or GHR(P/H)) in combination, however; as doing so will allow them to act synergistically.
IGF is different to most peptides we talk about, in that it is a polypeptide, meaning rather than one single chain of amino acids, it consists of multiple. This means manufacture is more expensive both in materials and process, and this is reflected in the price.
Because of this, IGF is aimed at intermediate to advanced body builders, with a larger budget – however, it is still considerably cheaper than many.
It’s called Insulin-like due to the fact it shares many molecular properties with insulin.
The main method of affect is muscle growth and repair, however it is also responsible for bone growth, mainly in children.
Synthesis Information
Both IGF peptides are derived from IGF-1, the naturally occurring hormone. However, due to the fact that the base hormone is relatively weak, and has a short half-life, it wasn’t really suitable for medical use.
The original hormone was 70 amino acids long, in a single chain with three intramolecular disulphide bridges.
IGF-1 DES was modified from the base IGF-1 peptide, by removing 3 of the amino acids (reducing to 67), this significantly reduces the binding and enhanced the potency 10fold.
IGF-1 LR3 was also modified from the base peptide by replacing the glutamic acid at position 3 with arginine (R) – hence the R3.
The L stands for long, as an additional 13 amino acids were added, again reducing binding, while improving metabolic stability. This increases the half-life to 20-30 hours, and also increasing the potency 3fold.
Effects
As above, IGF helps with increasing muscle mass, it does this by inducing hyperplasia – which means increasing the rate of reproduction of cells, allowing tissue to enlarge.
Nerve tissue regeneration and the anti-ageing effects also work in the same manner.
While still under debate, many anecdotal trials have shown IGF also allows for increased fat loss via regulated lipolysis – however the science does not support this.
Both in vitro and in vivo, it has been show to not possess lipolytic properties due to the lack of IGF-1 receptors in adipocytes, and the reported fat loss is more likely due to the additional metabolism of proteins and carbohydrates – as well as stopping glucose from entering the cells, causing fat to be used for energy.
Side effects
Relatively few side effects are reported for IGF – with high doses causing hypoglycaemia, a deficiency of glucose in the blood. This effect isn’t close to what insulin causes, though.
The most important side effect to mention is also the reason people use the peptide – hyperplasia.
There has been several studies on the effect of IGF on cancer patients. Due to the increased reproduction of cells, cancerous cells are also included, allowing tumours to grow at increased rates.
This doesn’t mean IGF causes cancer – but it does accelerate existing cancerous growths.
Dosage information
IGF should be reconstituted with Acetic Acid 0.6%, bacteriostatic water will work, however it isn’t as stable.
Dilution with bacteriostatic water after the AA is preferred by many.
DES
IGF DES is dosed at 25mcg daily, or twice daily before training. Localised IM injections are required in the muscle group you are working on due to the short half-life.
LR3
IGF LR3 is generally dosed at 25mcg daily post workout. Many prefer IM injections, however subcutaneous injections are generally better as the peptide will go systemic.
Cycles should last between 4 weeks and 40 days, depending on dosage and budget.
Increasing dosage
IGF doses can be increased, up to around 100-150mcg daily – however it is not advised.
The most important factor is exponential desensitizing after 80mcg, meaning the more you inject after this point the less additional benefit you receive.
The second factor is cost, as most vials are either 1mg or 2mg, they will be used quickly.
If you have room in the budget to do so, then increasing to 50-100mcg may be viable, but there may also be other peptides you can use in addition.
