Brain & cognitive · Anxiolytic/nootropic prescription in Russia; research chemical elsewhere
Selank
Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro, tuftsin analog
A tuftsin-derived heptapeptide. Mechanisms: GABA, serotonin/dopamine, BDNF, enkephalinase. Russian anxiolytic/nootropic. Not a benzodiazepine and not a US drug.
- Anxiolytic (Russian labelled use)
- BDNF
- GABAergic
- Catalog fill
- 10 mg
- Typical water
- 2 mL
- Route
- Intranasal
- Cycle
- 2–4 weeks.
- Approval
- Approved in Russia for GAD/nootropic use; not FDA-approved.
- Status
- Research peptide outside Russia.
- Evidence
- Russian labelled use. Long-term data outside Russia is thin.
- Research score
- 70 / 100
Mechanism
Tuftsin analog plus stabilising residues. BDNF and serotonin expression, T-helper balance, GABA inhibitory tone, BBB penetration.
Safety file
No typical sedative dependence in the Russian file. Rare headache, nasal/injection irritation, nausea, dizziness. Long-term safety outside Russia is limited.
- Headache
- Nasal irritation
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
Reconstitution
2 mL into 10 mg gives 5 mg/mL. Match the spray's microlitres per actuation to this concentration before counting sprays as 'a dose'.
Research amounts
1–2 times daily.
| Step | Amount | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common nasal range | 250–500 mcg | 1–2× daily | — |
Storage
- Lyophilized
- −20 °C freezer preferred; a refrigerator is also acceptable. Do not open a cold vial — wait 15–30 minutes so it does not sweat. Avoid freeze–thaw cycling.
- After water
- 2–8 °C before and after opening. Up to 45 days after first use. Do not freeze. Return the spray to the fridge after each actuation.
Worksheet notes
- Semax and Selank are often alternated or used in the same block; they are not substitutes for each other.
- Bacteriostatic water: 20–25 °C. Do not refrigerate the diluent.
- Amounts on this sheet are reconstitution math for the vial, not a recommendation.
Full protocol
Titration, schedule, and handling
The complete protocol for Selank. Where it differs from the worksheet amounts above, the worksheet reflects the NovaEvum vial.
Reconstitution
| Vial | 1 mL water | 2 mL water |
|---|---|---|
| 5 mg | 5 mg/mL | 2.5 mg/mL |
| 10 mg | 10 mg/mL | 5 mg/mL |
- Use bacteriostatic water as the diluent.
- Add the water slowly, letting it run down the inside wall of the vial rather than onto the powder.
- Swirl gently to mix, then leave it to dissolve. Do not shake.
- Give it a few minutes. The finished solution should be clear and colourless.
Protocol
Route: Subcutaneous
Standard protocol (subcutaneous)
- 0.3 mg per day (range 0.2 to 0.4 mg), once daily
- At a 1 mL fill on a 5 mg vial (5 mg/mL), 0.3 mg is a 0.06 mL draw (6 units)
Short courses
- Like Semax, run it in short courses (around 1 to 2 weeks) during stressful stretches rather than continuously
- Often paired with Semax (Selank for calm, Semax for focus)
Dosing detail
- Common dose is 0.2 mg to 0.4 mg per day, once daily.
- A calming, anti-anxiety nootropic. Pairs with Semax for a focus-plus-calm combination.
- Used in short courses rather than indefinitely.
- Generally well tolerated.
Duration
- Short courses of about 1 to 2 weeks during stressful periods.
Notes
- A calming, anti-anxiety nootropic peptide.
- Generally well tolerated.
- Inject subcutaneously and rotate sites.
Storage and handling
- Keep the powdered (lyophilized) vial in a cool, dark place. Refrigerate it for longer-term storage before mixing.
- Once reconstituted and refrigerated at 2–8 °C away from light, use the vial within 90 days.
- Do not freeze a reconstituted vial, and keep it away from heat and sunlight.
- If the solution turns cloudy, develops floating particles, or shows any other sign of degradation, stop using that vial.