Selank Quick Start
Selank is a seven-amino-acid peptide built from the immune-active tetrapeptide tuftsin with a stabilising tripeptide extension. It is studied for anxiolytic and nootropic endpoints and, like Semax, comes out of the Russian neuropeptide programme and is registered there for anxiety indications. Intranasal is the traditional and best-documented route.
This guide is an educational research reference. It does not diagnose, treat, or prescribe, and is not medical advice. Consult a licensed clinician before considering any compound.
Selank Dosing Protocol
Selank is supplied as a lyophilized vial, so the researcher chooses the vehicle and route. Intranasal is the traditional route and carries most of the published work; subcutaneous figures below are the same milligram bands delivered by injection. Ranges are research-planning references, not personal dosing recommendations.
Injection — Subcutaneous
| Band | Per dose | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Low | 250 mcg | 1–2× daily |
| Standard | 500 mcg | 1–2× daily |
| High | 900 mcg | 1–2× daily |
Cycle guidelines
| Approach | Duration | Review point | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 2–3 weeks | Week 2 | Typical research block |
| Extended | 4 weeks | Week 3 | Longer protocols |
Selank is generally researched in short blocks rather than continuously, mirroring the Russian clinical convention.
Selank Reconstitution Guide
Selank ships as a lyophilized powder. The bacteriostatic water volume sets both the injection draw size and, if a nasal sprayer is used, the per-actuation dose.
Injection
| BAC | Conc. | 500 mcg |
|---|---|---|
| 2 mL | 5,000 mcg/mL | 0.1 mL · 10 u |
| 3 mL | 3,333 mcg/mL | 0.15 mL · 15 u |
Units are U-100 insulin-syringe units (100 u = 1.0 mL).
If using a nasal sprayer
Per-spray dose = concentration × actuation volume. At 5,000 mcg/mL a 0.1 mL actuation is 500 mcg. Measure your device rather than assuming 0.1 mL.
Reconstitution steps
- Inspect the vial. Confirm the label, expected milligram amount, and that the powder looks dry and intact.
- Wipe the stoppers. Use an alcohol swab on both the bacteriostatic water and peptide vial stoppers.
- Draw the chosen volume. 2 mL into the vial — this is the number that sets every concentration figure above.
- Inject down the wall. Release the water slowly down the inside wall, not directly onto the powder.
- Swirl, do not shake. Roll gently until dissolved. Shaking foams and can damage the peptide.
- Verify clarity. Solution should be clear and colorless. Discard if cloudy or particulate.
- Label and refrigerate. Note the date and volume added on the vial, then store at 2–8 °C. Do not freeze the reconstituted solution.
See the bacteriostatic water guide for diluent handling, or the reconstitution calculator to work any other volume.
How Selank Works
Selank is derived from tuftsin, a fragment of immunoglobulin G with immune-modulating activity. Reported mechanisms centre on modulation of GABAergic and serotonergic signalling and on effects on brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression. It is described as anxiolytic without the sedation, dependence or withdrawal associated with benzodiazepines — the property that drove its development.
GABAergic modulation
Reported anxiolytic effect without benzodiazepine-type sedation or dependence.
Monoamine effects
Serotonergic and noradrenergic modulation reported in animal work.
BDNF expression
Changes in neurotrophic factor expression reported, as with Semax.
Open question
Nearly all trial data is Russian-language and has seen limited independent replication.
Who Should Avoid Selank
Human data outside the Russian clinical literature is limited, so eligibility decisions should involve a clinician.
Pregnancy & lactation
No published human safety data.
Concurrent psychiatric medication
Serotonergic and GABAergic modulation could interact; review with a clinician.
Anyone seeking a treatment
Selank is a research compound outside Russia and is not an approved therapy.
Unverified material
Peptide identity cannot be judged by appearance — verify against a COA.
Selank Side Effects & Safety
Generally mild reported profile
The Russian literature reports good tolerability; no dependence or withdrawal syndrome described.
Nasal irritation
The most common route-specific complaint when used intranasally.
Limited independent data
The safety picture rests almost entirely on one national research programme.
Quality-control risk
Verify identity and purity against a Certificate of Analysis.
Selank Evidence Context
Russian registration
Registered in Russia for anxiety indications, with supporting domestic clinical work.
Animal anxiolytic models
Consistent anxiolytic signals reported across standard rodent paradigms.
Western replication
Very limited; most literature is not in English and has not been independently repeated.
Open question
Effect sizes and durability in Western trial conditions are unestablished.
Storage & Handling
| State | Storage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lyophilized (powder) | −20 °C, desiccated | More stable than reconstituted solution. |
| Reconstituted (liquid) | 2–8 °C | Freeze aliquots for longer storage per the listing. |
| Appearance | Clear, colorless | Discard cloudy or particulate solutions. |
Selank vs Semax
| Feature | Selank | Semax |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Tuftsin (IgG fragment) analog | ACTH(4–10) fragment analog |
| Primary research focus | Anxiety, stress resilience | Cognition, neuroprotection |
| Classic route | Intranasal | Intranasal |
| Relationship | Same Russian programme; often studied together | See Semax |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Selank?
A synthetic heptapeptide analog of tuftsin, developed in Russia and studied for anxiolytic and nootropic endpoints. It is registered there for anxiety indications.
How is it dosed?
Research-planning bands sit at 250–900 mcg, once or twice daily. At 5,000 mcg/mL, 500 mcg is 10 units on a U-100 syringe, or one 0.1 mL nasal actuation.
Injection or intranasal?
Intranasal is the traditional route and carries most of the published work. The vial is supplied as powder, so the same reconstituted solution serves either route.
How does it compare to Semax?
They come from the same research programme and are often studied together, but Selank is oriented toward anxiety and stress while Semax is oriented toward cognition. See the Semax page.
Is it addictive?
The Russian literature describes it as anxiolytic without the dependence or withdrawal seen with benzodiazepines. That characterisation rests on a single national research programme with limited independent replication.
Is this page medical advice?
No. It is an educational research reference and does not diagnose, treat, or prescribe. Consult a licensed clinician before considering any compound.
Selank Formats & Sourcing
Selank is supplied as a lyophilized powder in a single 10 mg vial. There is no pre-mixed nasal spray format for this compound — if the intranasal route is used, the reconstituted solution is loaded into a metered sprayer. Batch-specific Certificates of Analysis are issued per lot.
| Format | Supplied as |
|---|---|
| Vial | 10 mg lyophilized powder |
Strengths are listed as sold; confirm against the product page and the batch COA before calculating anything.
Reference material for this protocol, with batch COA:
View Selank on Spyro Peptides →References
- Zozulya AA, et al. The anxiolytic effect of Selank. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr (2008).
- Kozlovskii II, Danchev ND. The optimizing action of the synthetic peptide Selank. Neurosci Behav Physiol (2003).
- Volkova A, et al. Selank administration affects the expression of some genes involved in GABAergic neurotransmission. Front Pharmacol (2016).
- Kolomin T, et al. Transcriptomic response of rat hippocampus to Selank. J Mol Neurosci (2014).