Noopept (Omberacetam) vs Selank
Ultra-potent dipeptide nootropic and prodrug of cycloprolylglycine that enhances cognition through BDNF/NGF upregulation, AMPA receptor modulation, and multicomponent neuroprotection at doses 1000 times lower than piracetam
A clever brain-boosting peptide derived from your immune system's natural tuftsin molecule—it calms anxiety and sharpens your mind without the drowsiness or addiction risks of traditional anti-anxiety medications [1][4].
Written by Michael Carroll — Owner, Director of Research · Reviewed by the Peptide Initiative Research Team · Editorial standards
Quick comparison
Dose range
Noopept (Omberacetam)
10–10 mg
Selank
900–2700 mcg/day
Frequency
Noopept (Omberacetam)
Multiple times daily
Selank
3 times daily
Administration
Noopept (Omberacetam)
Oral (tablet/capsule)
Selank
Intranasal
Cycle length
Noopept (Omberacetam)
12+ weeks
Selank
14 days, repeatable after 1-3 weeks
Onset speed
Noopept (Omberacetam)
Rapid (hours to days)
Selank
Rapid (hours to days)
Evidence level
Noopept (Omberacetam)
Limited human trials
Selank
Limited human trials
Benefit ratings
Memory & Learning
Brain Protection
Mental Clarity
Anxiety Relief
Cognitive Enhancement
Immune Support
Compound specifications
Noopept (Omberacetam)
Molecular formula
C17H22N2O4
Molecular weight
318.4 g/mol
Half-life
Short plasma half-life (minutes); rapidly converted to active metabolite cycloprolylglycine which has a longer pharmacological duration; effects persist for hours after dosing
Bioavailability
Orally bioavailable with BBB penetration; metabolized to active cycloprolylglycine; approximately 1000-fold more potent than parent compound piracetam
CAS number
157115-85-0
Selank
Molecular formula
C33H57N11O9
Molecular weight
751.9 g/mol
Half-life
2-3 minutes (plasma); effects last hours due to downstream signaling
Bioavailability
High intranasal absorption; near 100% subcutaneous
CAS number
129954-34-3
Dosing compared
Noopept (Omberacetam)
Oral
10 mg twice daily (20 mg/day)
Twice daily (morning and afternoon) · 56 days (8 weeks) per clinical study
Dose used in a controlled human study of mild cognitive impairment, improving cognition with good tolerability [6].
Selank
Intranasal
Registered label dose
900 mcg/day total (3 doses of 300 mcg)
2 drops in each nostril, 3 times daily · Registered label dose
The approved dose on the Russian registration (ЛРС-003338/09): 2 drops in each nostril, three times a day. At 75 mcg per drop that is 300 mcg per administration and 900 mcg across the day, taken as a 14-day course that can be repeated after 1-3 weeks [7]. Human evidence, registered label.
Highest dose studied
2,700 mcg/day total (3 doses of 900 mcg)
900 mcg (12 drops) 3 times daily · Highest dose studied
The top of the range the developing institute describes as optimal — single doses of 300-900 mcg, 900-2,700 mcg a day split across three administrations — and the dose used in the multicentre generalised-anxiety and neurasthenia trial, where 2,700 mcg/day was compared against medazepam 30 mg/day for 14 days [9]. Because the label caps a single administration at 2-3 drops per nostril, a 900 mcg dose is given as 2-3 drops per nostril with the rest 15 minutes later [7]. Human evidence, trial protocol.
Subcutaneous injection
Community suggestion — not a studied protocol
300-500 mcg per injection
Once daily · Community suggestion — not a studied protocol
Community-reported, not peer-reviewed. No human study has tested subcutaneous selank and the registered product is nasal drops only [7], so this range comes from community and clinical-practice reports rather than a trial — there is no published safety or effectiveness data behind it. Two things worth knowing before choosing the route. The nasal spray is absorbed almost completely, with 92.8% of the dose reaching the bloodstream within 30 seconds [7], so injecting is not a way to get more of the peptide in. And in mice, the injected and intranasal routes did not act the same: injection shifted GABA-receptor binding while the nasal route shifted NMDA-receptor binding instead, which the authors put down to how each route is absorbed and broken down [13]. That is animal work, and no one has checked whether the same split happens in people.
Best suited for
Noopept (Omberacetam)
Cognitive enhancement for learning, memory formation, and information retrieval
Noopept (Omberacetam) is particularly well-suited for individuals focused on cognitive enhancement for learning, memory formation, and information retrieval. Research and clinical experience suggest meaningful benefits in this area when used as part of a comprehensive treatment approach.
Neuroprotection against oxidative stress and age-related cognitive decline
Noopept (Omberacetam) is particularly well-suited for individuals focused on neuroprotection against oxidative stress and age-related cognitive decline. Research and clinical experience suggest meaningful benefits in this area when used as part of a comprehensive treatment approach.
Nootropic stacking — complements racetams, cholinergics, and neurotrophic peptides through distinct mechanisms
Noopept (Omberacetam) is particularly well-suited for individuals focused on nootropic stacking — complements racetams, cholinergics, and neurotrophic peptides through distinct mechanisms. Research and clinical experience suggest meaningful benefits in this area when used as part of a comprehensive treatment approach.
Support during periods of intense intellectual work or study
Noopept (Omberacetam) is particularly well-suited for individuals focused on support during periods of intense intellectual work or study. Research and clinical experience suggest meaningful benefits in this area when used as part of a comprehensive treatment approach.
Selank
Anxiety Without the Fog
If traditional anti-anxiety medications leave you feeling sedated, foggy, or 'not yourself,' Selank offers a refreshing alternative. It calms anxious thoughts while keeping your mind sharp—like turning down the volume on worry without muting your brain [1].
Cognitive Performers
Students, professionals, and anyone facing demanding mental tasks love Selank for its dual action. It simultaneously reduces performance anxiety while enhancing memory and focus—the best of both worlds when you need to think clearly under pressure [1][2].
Stress Resilience Seekers
Chronic stress wreaks havoc on your brain. Selank helps protect against stress-induced cognitive decline by supporting BDNF levels and modulating your stress response [2]. Think of it as building a buffer between you and life's daily pressures.
Natural Approach Enthusiasts
Derived from tuftsin—a natural peptide your own immune system produces—Selank appeals to those seeking more 'natural' solutions [4]. It works with your body's existing systems rather than overriding them like synthetic drugs.
Side effects
Noopept (Omberacetam)
Common
- Headache
- Irritability or restlessness
- Sleep disturbance
- Mild gastrointestinal discomfort
- Vivid dreams
Uncommon
- Blood pressure increase
Serious
- Allergic reaction
Selank
Common
- Nasal irritation
- Mild fatigue
- Mild headache
- Injection site redness
Uncommon
- Vivid dreams
- Dizziness
Serious
- Allergic reaction
Safety & evidence
Noopept (Omberacetam)
Evidence level
Limited human trials
FDA status
Research compound
Safety overview
Noopept demonstrates excellent safety in Russian clinical trials with LD50 >2000 mg/kg (oral, rats)—approximately 100 times higher than therapeutic doses. No serious adverse events reported in human studies up to 30 mg/day for 6-12 weeks. Mild side effects (headache, irritability) occur in <5% of users and resolve with dose reduction. No carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, or teratogenicity in preclinical testing; minimal drug interactions due to lack of hepatic CYP450 metabolism.
Contraindications
- Known hypersensitivity to Noopept, piracetam, or other racetam-class compounds
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding — insufficient safety data
- Severe hepatic impairment — Noopept undergoes hepatic metabolism
- Severe renal impairment — metabolites are renally excreted
- Lactose intolerance (some tablet formulations contain lactose as excipient)
Selank
Evidence level
Limited human trials
FDA status
Research compound
Safety overview
The safety record comes from small Russian trials, and the numbers are worth seeing. In the 62-person generalised-anxiety and neurasthenia trial, 30 people took selank at 2,700 mcg a day and 32 took medazepam 30 mg a day for 14 days; the two calmed anxiety about equally, and selank also reduced fatigue where the benzodiazepine did not [9]. A second trial of 60 people with phobic-anxiety and somatoform disorders compared it with phenazepam and reported a clear anxiolytic effect that lasted about a week after the last dose [3]. The registered label lists only two side effects — an unpleasant taste when the drops run from the nose into the throat, and allergic reactions in people sensitive to the ingredients — and records no cases of overdose, which it attributes to how fast the peptide breaks down [7]. Neither trial published a per-arm adverse-event rate, so there is no side-effect percentage to compare against placebo.
Contraindications
- Pregnancy or planning to become pregnant
- Currently breastfeeding
- Known allergy to peptide components
- Children and adolescents
- Severe psychiatric disorders requiring immediate intervention
Which is right for you?
Choose Noopept (Omberacetam) if...
- Cognitive enhancement for learning, memory formation, and information retrieval
- Neuroprotection against oxidative stress and age-related cognitive decline
- Nootropic stacking — complements racetams, cholinergics, and neurotrophic peptides through distinct mechanisms
- Support during periods of intense intellectual work or study
Choose Selank if...
- Anxiety relief without sedation
- Cognitive enhancement and focus
- Memory improvement
- Stress resilience