Lower numbers = closer to natural. Higher numbers = more enhanced.
Why this rating?
Selank is an anxiolytic/nootropic peptide approved in Russia. A Russian randomized trial (Zozulia et al., 2008) found its anxiolytic effect on Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) scores comparable to the benzodiazepine medazepam over ~14 days in patients with generalized anxiety disorder/neurasthenia; exact effect-size percentages are not consistently reported across English-language summaries of that trial, so treat specific numbers with caution. It works via GABA-A modulation and BDNF upregulation. It does NOT directly build muscle, burn fat, or enhance athletic performance. It is purely for anxiety and cognitive support. Not WADA prohibited. Rated 1 (basically natty) because it does not move the muscular/physique/performance ceiling by any path, direct or indirect. It is a pure anxiolytic/nootropic with no anabolic, fat-loss, or hormonal effect.
Overview
A synthetic heptapeptide (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro) developed by combining tuftsin (immunomodulatory peptide) with Pro-Gly-Pro for stability. Anxiolytic comparable to benzodiazepines but WITHOUT sedation, tolerance, dependence, or cognitive impairment. Allosteric GABA-A modulation, increases BDNF expression, and provides immunomodulatory effects. A Russian randomized trial (Zozulia et al., 2008) found its anxiolytic effect on GAD/neurasthenia comparable to the benzodiazepine medazepam over ~14 days. Non-stimulating alternative to Semax.
Important Warnings
- •Not FDA-approved - approved only in Russia
- •Effects are subtle and supportive, not dramatic
- •Not directly anabolic or fat-burning
- •Use caution with benzodiazepines or alcohol (additive GABA effects)
- •Theoretically may interact with immunosuppressants
- •Quality varies between peptide suppliers
- •Intranasal solutions should be stored refrigerated
- •May require 1-2 weeks for full cognitive effects
- •Limited long-term safety data outside Russian clinical use
Purpose & Use Cases
Anxiolytic
A Russian RCT (Zozulia et al., 2008) found Selank's anxiolytic effect on Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) scores comparable to the benzodiazepine medazepam over ~14 days in GAD/neurasthenia patients, without sedation, tolerance, dependence, or cognitive impairment. Community reports describe some rapid responders within 1-3 days, with effects building through ~2 weeks; exact effect-size percentages vary across secondary sources and are not verified here.
Nootropic/Cognitive Enhancement
Improves memory consolidation, learning acquisition, sustained attention, cognitive flexibility. BDNF upregulation supports neuroplasticity. May require 7-14 days for full cognitive effects.
Immunomodulation
Tuftsin-derived properties: stimulates phagocytic activity, enhances NK cell function. Reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines. May help with immune suppression from chronic stress.
Stress/Cortisol Management
Reduces anxiety from training, competition, cutting. May modulate cortisol response. Could preserve muscle during caloric restriction via stress hormone reduction.
Benefits
- Anxiolytic without sedation, tolerance, or dependence
- No cognitive impairment (unlike benzodiazepines)
- No withdrawal syndrome upon discontinuation
- Increases BDNF and NGF expression
- Immunomodulatory/anti-inflammatory effects
- ~93% absolute intranasal bioavailability per Russian manufacturer product information (not independently confirmed in Western PK literature)
- Russian clinical approval with Phase II/III trial data
- Non-stimulating (unlike Semax)
- Very low toxicity profile
Good to Know
A Russian-approved anxiolytic peptide (usually nasal)
Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide built from the immunomodulatory peptide tuftsin with a Pro-Gly-Pro tail for stability. It is an approved prescription anxiolytic/nootropic in Russia and is typically dosed intranasally (high intranasal bioavailability). The selling point is benzodiazepine-comparable anxiety relief WITHOUT sedation, tolerance, dependence, or withdrawal.
The calm half of the Semax + Selank pair
Selank and Semax are the classic Russian nootropic duo from the same institute: Selank is the calming/anti-anxiety agent, Semax is the stimulating focus/cognition agent. They are frequently run together and time-separated (Selank any time, Semax earlier in the day).
Not anabolic: the physique angle is stress management
Selank does not build muscle, burn fat, or touch the HPTA, so no PCT is involved and it rates a 2. Its relevance to a lifter is indirect: managing anxiety and stress-hormone load during a hard cut, contest prep, or PCT, where lower cortisol may help preserve muscle and adherence.
Evidence is real but mostly Russian and subtle
The clinical evidence base is a Russian RCT (Zozulia et al., 2008) showing anxiolytic effects comparable to the benzodiazepine medazepam, plus a body of Russian/CIS animal and mechanistic work, with limited independent Western replication. Effects are supportive and cumulative (often 1-2 weeks for full cognitive benefit), not the dramatic acute hit of a stimulant or benzodiazepine.
Dosage Guidelines
| Route | Typical Dose | Frequency | Cycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intranasal | 300 – 500 mcg/day | Intranasal: 2-3x daily divided doses (community protocols commonly total 750mcg-1mg/day at the higher end). SC: 1-2x daily. Cycle 2-4 weeks on, 1-4 weeks off. | 2 – 4 wk |
| Subcutaneous injection | 200 – 500 mcg/day | 1-2x daily (occasionally split AM/PM) | 2 – 4 wk |
Dosing depends on how it's administered. Pick your route in the calculator to score the one you use.
Russian clinical protocol commonly cited as ~150mcg 3x/day (~450mcg/day total) for 14-21 days in the Zozulia et al. 2008 GAD/neurasthenia trial; exact clinical dosing is not consistently reported across English-language sources, so treat this figure as a well-corroborated approximation rather than a verified primary-source number. Cognitive effects may require 7-14 days. Intranasal is the preferred route, with absolute bioavailability reported at ~93% in Russian manufacturer product information (community/vendor sources estimate lower, ~40-70%, when treated as unmeasured. Treat bioavailability as uncertain). SC also used. Often cycled 2-4 weeks on, with a short break recommended between courses.
Not the route used in the original Russian clinical trials (those used intranasal drops per the approved product labeling) - SC dosing here is entirely community/vendor-derived and less validated than the intranasal figures. Because injection is assumed to have higher/more reliable systemic bioavailability than nasal delivery, community guides generally recommend somewhat lower per-dose amounts than intranasal: several sources (peptidewiki.co, allaboutpeptides.com) converge on roughly 100-500mcg/day as typical (beginner ~100-200mcg 1x/day, up to ~500mcg/day split 1-2x for more experienced users), while other.
Very short in plasma: rapidly degraded by peptidases; community/vendor estimates range from a few minutes up to ~20-30 minutes (no single value is established in peer-reviewed human PK literature). It is detectable in plasma within ~30 seconds of intranasal dosing per the Russian manufacturer's product information, yet functional/anxiolytic effects persist roughly 3-6 hours due to rapid CNS penetration and active fragments.
Side Effects
Nasal Irritation/Dryness
commonMild tingling or dryness with intranasal use. More common with preservative-containing solutions.
Usually resolves with continued use. Use preservative-free solutions if available.
Fatigue
uncommonSometimes reported in first few days. May reflect GABA modulation.
Usually transient. Consider evening dosing if persistent.
Headache
rareOccasionally reported.
Stay hydrated. Usually transient.
Allergic Reaction
rareVery rare but possible with peptides.
Discontinue immediately if signs of allergy develop.
General Mitigation Strategies
Selank has an excellent safety profile. No tolerance development, physical dependence, withdrawal symptoms, cognitive impairment, or respiratory depression documented. Very low toxicity in animal studies. Russian clinical experience suggests good long-term tolerability. Most side effects are mild and transient.
Post Cycle Therapy (PCT)
Does not affect HPT axis. No PCT required. May actually support PCT by managing anxiety and stress hormones during recovery.
How It Works
Allosteric GABA-A receptor modulation: changes receptor affinity for GABA rather than binding at the benzodiazepine site. Increases serotonin turnover in hypothalamus/striatum. Upregulates BDNF and NGF gene expression. In rats, alters expression across a panel of 84 neurotransmission-related genes (GABA receptor subunits, transporters, ion channels, monoamine receptors) in frontal cortex, ~45 genes shifted at 1 hour and ~22 at 3 hours post-dose (Volkova et al., 2016). Animal studies also show it normalizes stress-elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1B, IL-6, TNF-a) and shifts Th1/Th2 cytokine balance (Uchakina et al., 2008). Tuftsin component is associated with enhanced phagocytic activity and NK cell function, a classic tuftsin property.
Fundamentals
Reference on the practices relevant to Selank: how they are done and where they go wrong. Not a recommendation to use it.
Common Stacks
- Selank + Semax - comprehensive nootropic stack (calming + cognitive)
- Selank + BPC-157 - recovery and healing focus
- Selank + Thymosin Alpha-1 - immune enhancement stack
- Selank during PCT - anxiety and stress management
- Use caution with benzodiazepines, alcohol - potential additive effects
- Generally safe with most other compounds
Legal Status
Approved as a prescription medication in Russia since 2009 (registration certificate LS-000574; developed by the Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences) for generalized anxiety disorder and neurasthenia. Not FDA-approved. Not a controlled substance in the USA. Not currently on the WADA Prohibited List. Sold without prescription as a research peptide internationally outside Russia/CIS states.
Legal status varies by country and changes over time. This is a general summary, not legal advice.
WADA Status
Selank is not specifically listed on the WADA Prohibited List. It is an anxiolytic/nootropic peptide with no direct performance-enhancing effects. As an already-approved Russian prescription medicine, it would also be unlikely to fall under the S0 (Non-Approved Substances) category, which applies to substances not approved for human therapeutic use by any government health authority.
References
- Kozlovskaya, Seredenin et al. - Selank and tuftsin peptides in adaptive behavior under stress (Neurosci Behav Physiol 2003)
- Kozlovskii & Danchev - Optimizing action of Selank on active avoidance in rats (Neurosci Behav Physiol 2003)
- Zozulia AA et al. - Selank in generalized anxiety disorder and neurasthenia (Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr 2008)
- Uchakina ON et al. - Immunomodulatory effects of Selank (Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr 2008)
- Volkova A et al. - Selank administration affects the expression of some genes involved in GABAergic neurotransmission (Front Pharmacol 2016)
- Kasian A et al. - Peptide Selank enhances the effect of diazepam in reducing anxiety in unpredictable chronic mild stress conditions in rats (Behav Neurol 2017)