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Entire body was itchy after injection... my hands were red and super itchy on the palms... HELP

29 replies22 peopleJul 6, 2026☆ Follow
Summary

Why am I getting full-body itching, hives, and welts after peptide injections like CJC and Tesamorelin, and should I keep using them?

Multiple users describe immediate systemic itching, hives, and welts after injecting CJC-1295, Tesamorelin, or related peptides, with several experiencing near-anaphylactic episodes that required emergency care. Most contributors view these as clear allergic or mast-cell reactions and strongly recommend stopping use right away rather than risking escalation. A few note possible triggers like specific excipients or suggest antihistamines and dose splitting for milder local reactions, but the dominant advice is to treat any generalized symptoms as a warning sign.

What this discussion establishesWhere people disagree

Whether the culprit is the peptides themselves, an excipient like trehalose, or individual mast-cell sensitivity.

Still open

How to reliably test for future risk before resuming any of these compounds.

Nothing here is advice.

29 replies · 22 people
SharpCompass70archiveopening postJul 6

I've been using klow along with CJC-1295 plus Ipamorelin and Tesamorelin. Once I learned Tesamorelin and CJC-1295 basically overlap in effect I dropped the Tesamorelin. Both versions still caused big itchy welts at every injection site that stuck around for days. The last time I tried CJC alone at night the itching hit hard within ten or fifteen minutes and I had to take Benadryl to settle down. I'm wondering if this is something I should just quit altogether.

WarmAnchor46archiveJul 6

Sounds like histamine reactions. The itch can come from different sources. I get the same thing from ss31 and motsC but it fades quickly.

GreenMeadow27archiveJul 6

Look up drug-induced pruritus. It usually points to an allergic response.

QuietAnchor73archiveJul 6
↳ replying to @SharpCompass70 (opening post)

This matches an allergic reaction that might progress to anaphylactic shock. I'm going through something similar and can't pin down the exact cause yet. It began when I added tadalafil and collagen supplements. Early signs were itching plus small bumps on my hands that I ignored. Later I got bigger hives elsewhere so I stopped the collagen and tadalafil. The hives eased then returned and lined up with my twice-weekly reta dose from a new source. My current guess is an allergy to an excipient called Trehalose that shows up in some peptides. Switching back to my previous source has kept the hives away for three days now.

AmberCinder18archiveJul 6

I've had a full anaphylactic reaction to a medication before. Please stop. Your body is clearly saying no and it won't change its mind. Anaphylaxis is rough and not worth risking.

GreyAlder39archiveJul 6
↳ replying to @AmberCinder18

Exactly. I had bad allergic reactions to two different antibiotic classes as a teen. It's miserable. You either end up in serious trouble or it messes with your head.

ClearWillow37archiveJul 6
↳ replying to @SharpCompass70 (opening post)

Stay away. Both of these can trigger mast-cell reactions and so can several other peptides. I used Tesamorelin fine for three months then paused everything for two months. When I tried Reta, Tesa, and Epitalon again from the same batches I had a full anaphylactoid reaction within twenty minutes: intense itching, welts on my stomach and upper arms, pins-and-needles everywhere, flushing, throat swelling, and a sudden need to urinate. Antihistamines helped a bit but once it goes systemic you need epinephrine and real medical help. Histamine is only part of it; other inflammatory mediators are involved too.

PatientAnchor11archiveJul 6
↳ replying to @ClearWillow37

Are these all just injection-site reactions?

ClearWillow37archiveJul 6
↳ replying to @PatientAnchor11

No, only three injection spots were involved. I hadn't used any peptides for two months before that night.

CopperAlder51archiveJul 6

A small red spot or bump at the site is a local reaction. Hives or welts that spread, like the ones described, are systemic and a warning to stop right away. Next time you might skip straight to anaphylaxis.

LevelTimber64archiveJul 6

Did you get checked at urgent care? I only read the title so far.

ClearWillow59archiveJul 7

This product is a nasal spray version of epinephrine for anaphylaxis. It's the only needle-free option for emergency treatment in adults and kids over a certain weight.

BrightMeadow71archiveJul 8

Not as bad as what you had, but I got random itchy rashes two days after pinning Reta. Splitting the dose and taking a Claritin on injection day fixed the early discomfort for me.

QuietAnchor73archiveJul 8

I emailed the US rep on July 3rd asking which excipient is used in the reta since mannitol is common but trehalose has been mentioned. They said they'd check and I haven't heard anything since.

ClearLantern70archiveJul 8
↳ replying to @ClearWillow59

Never heard of that spray before. Thanks for mentioning it. Did you go through their process to get one? Was it straightforward?

GreyAlder39archiveJul 8
↳ replying to @ClearWillow59

It's still under review by the health authority in France since January. I'll keep an eye on it. Thanks for the info.

QuietAnchor73archiveJul 8

It would be useful to know for sure if it's an allergen risk, but on the grey market I probably never will. At least it's a rare genetic allergy.

ClearWillow59archiveJul 8
↳ replying to @ClearLantern70

I just learned about the spray here and looked it up. I used to carry an Epi pen and still get occasional histamine reactions, so I'd like to hear if anyone else has tried it.

BlueSparrow34archiveJul 9

Tesamorelin is the itchiest one I've tried. SS31 and MOTSC are pretty bad too but not as bad. Tesa was the first one that made me search to see if others had the same issue. Clinical reports also note injection-site reactions as the most common side effect with it. I had milder reactions to Tirz and Reta that improved when I diluted the dose more. For bad spots I use a diphenhydramine ointment. Taking a non-drowsy antihistamine thirty minutes before pinning can also help.

GreyPebble50archiveJul 9

These symptoms are early signs of a serious allergic reaction. Watch for itching on the palms, metallic taste, fast heartbeat, dizziness, or lightheadedness. Local site reactions are often just histamine release and can be helped by taking Zyrtec beforehand. Generalized itching means the reaction is spreading. Antihistamines only cover some symptoms; epinephrine is what actually reverses it. The peptides themselves rarely cause allergies but can bind to blood proteins and trigger the immune system. I've seen these serious cases too often as a doctor.

IronLantern24archiveJul 9
↳ replying to @SharpCompass70 (opening post)

That's a classic allergic reaction. You were lucky it didn't affect your breathing.

ClearSignal22archiveJul 22

How do you avoid a severe allergic reaction? I'm on my first round of CJC/Ipa with no issues so far, but after reading this I'm worried about starting a second cycle and going straight into anaphylaxis. Is there any way to know if you're at risk?

SlowSparrow49archiveJul 22
↳ replying to @ClearSignal22

Unless you already know you're allergic there's no reliable way to predict it. You could try a very small test dose first. I haven't heard of anyone finishing a full cycle without any reaction and then having anaphylaxis on the next round, so the odds seem low, but nothing is guaranteed.

SteadyLedger49archiveJul 22

After eight vials of IPA/CJC I started getting bad reactions including site redness and itchy feet and hands. I stopped and threw out the last two bottles.

SharpCompass70archiveJul 24

lol you make a strong point

ClearWillow37archiveJul 24
↳ replying to @SlowSparrow49

I did have that happen and it really scared me. Before the anaphylaxis I had used over two dozen compounds without any needle fear except for IM shots. Now I get a mild apprehension before any injection. Haven't touched Tesa again since, which is a shame because it was a 20 mg vial.

LevelQuill81archiveJul 27
↳ replying to @SharpCompass70 (opening post)

I was getting small mosquito-bite style itchy spots with CJC/Ipa. Hydrocortisone cream afterward helped a lot. When I drew epitalon into the same syringe right before injecting and used the cream, I had zero reaction at the site.

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Entire body was itchy after injection... my hands were red and super itchy on the palms... HELP · ZyraTrack Community