PROTOCOLS & TIMING
Growth Hormone Peptide Protocols — Timing, Cycling, Stacking, and What to Expect
By G1 Peptides · Medically reviewed by the G1 Peptides clinical team · Updated September 24, 2026 · 3 min read
THE SHORT ANSWER
Most GH peptide protocols dose once nightly before bed, fasted, with optional morning or post-training doses; many run five days on and two off, or twelve weeks on and four off, to keep the pituitary responsive. Sleep changes come first, then recovery and skin, then body composition over three months. IGF-1 before and after tells the provider it is working.
The default protocol
For most adults starting a GHRH + GHRP stack such as CJC-1295/ipamorelin:
- Dose: 100–300 mcg of each peptide (200–600 mcg total from a 1:1 blend) per injection.
- Timing: once nightly, 30–60 minutes before bed, at least an hour or two after the last meal.
- Frequency: every night, or five nights on and two off.
- Duration: twelve weeks, then labs and reassessment; many continue with a break of a few weeks each quarter.
Sermorelin alone follows the same shape at 200–500 mcg nightly. Tesamorelin is 1–2 mg daily, same timing.
The bedtime dose works with the largest natural GH pulse of the day, in early deep sleep. Dosing fasted matters because insulin and circulating fatty acids suppress GH release — a late, heavy dinner can flatten the pulse the peptide is trying to build.
Multi-dose protocols
Some protocols add a second or third injection — on waking (fasted) and/or after training — to create additional pulses. Each dose is the same size as the bedtime one. The added benefit is real but incremental, and the extra injections and cost are why most people start with nightly-only and add doses if the provider recommends it after the first cycle.
Cycling
Two common patterns:
- 5 on / 2 off — weekdays on, weekends off. Simple, and the two-day pause is thought to help maintain pituitary sensitivity.
- 12 weeks on / 4 off — a full cycle, then a break with labs at the end. The break is a natural checkpoint: how much of the effect persists tells you something about your own axis.
Evidence that cycling is necessary is thin — continuous protocols with monitoring are also used — but it costs little and builds in reassessment.
Stacking logic
- GHRH + GHRP (CJC-1295 + ipamorelin): the core stack; two receptors, one bigger pulse.
- + Sermorelin (Trinity): a third GHRH input for a broader pulse; used when someone wants maximum stimulus without moving to tesamorelin.
- Tesamorelin + ipamorelin: for visceral fat with an amplified pulse.
- + Recovery peptides (BPC-157/TB-500): different mechanism, often run alongside for injury recovery — see the Recovery guide.
- With GLP-1 therapy: some providers pair a GH stack with a GLP-1 to support body composition during weight loss; the evidence for the combination is limited, so protein and training come first.
Labs
- IGF-1 before starting and at 4–12 weeks — the readout that the axis responded. Providers aim for the upper-normal range for age, not above it.
- Fasting glucose / HbA1c — GH raises glucose; checked at baseline and on tesamorelin especially.
- Lipids — often improve; worth a baseline.
Timeline of effects
| When | What people typically notice |
|---|---|
| Week 1–2 | Deeper sleep, more vivid dreams; sometimes mild water retention |
| Week 3–6 | Better recovery from training; skin looks better hydrated |
| Week 6–12 | Body composition shifts — fat down, lean mass up; strength gains |
| Month 3+ | Effects consolidate; IGF-1 stable; reassess dose and cycling |
Side effects — tingling hands, joint aches, puffiness — are the sign of too much GH signalling and resolve with a lower dose. The full list is in peptide side effects and safety.
Measuring your dose
Blends are dosed by total: a 400 mcg draw from a 1:1 CJC/ipamorelin vial delivers 200 mcg of each. The CJC-1295/ipamorelin, sermorelin, and ipamorelin calculators convert any dose to syringe units; the Apex, Trinity, and Eros X pens dial the dose directly.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
How long until I see results?
Sleep depth often improves within one to two weeks. Recovery from training and skin changes appear over four to eight weeks. Body-composition changes are a three-month story and continue beyond. IGF-1 on a blood test moves within two to four weeks.
Do I have to cycle?
Not strictly. Cycling (days off each week, or weeks off each quarter) is a precaution against the pituitary becoming less responsive, and it gives a natural checkpoint for labs and reassessment. Many providers use it; some run continuous protocols with monitoring.
Can I eat after my bedtime dose?
Best not to. Insulin and dietary fat blunt the GH pulse, so the standard advice is to dose at least an hour or two after your last food. A protein-only snack is the least disruptive if you must eat.
SOURCES
This article is educational and is not medical advice. Peptides are prescription medications; whether any of them is appropriate for you is a decision for a licensed provider who knows your history.