Acetylated tuftsin analogue heptapeptide with enhanced stability and anxiolytic, nootropic, and immunomodulatory properties acting through GABAergic modulation and BDNF upregulation
Written by Michael Carroll — Owner, Director of Research · Reviewed by the Peptide Initiative Research Team · Editorial standards
Intranasal spray
Route
3 recommended
Sites
Once daily
Frequency
Preparation
N-Acetyl Selank vial (lyophilized powder or solution)
Bacteriostatic water or sterile sodium chloride for reconstitution
Alcohol swabs for cleaning vial tops and injection sites
Appropriately sized syringes with fine-gauge needles (27-30 gauge)
Sharps disposal container
Pro tip
Prepare all supplies on a clean surface before you begin. Having everything ready makes the process smoother and more sterile.
Mixing
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Gather all supplies on a clean, flat surface.
Remove the plastic cap from the peptide vial and wipe the rubber stopper with an alcohol swab. Let it air dry.
Draw the appropriate amount of bacteriostatic water into a sterile syringe.
Insert the needle into the vial at an angle, aiming at the inside wall of the vial. Slowly push the plunger to let the water trickle down the glass wall -- do NOT squirt directly onto the powder.
Once all water is added, gently swirl the vial in a slow circular motion. Never shake the vial, as this can damage the peptide bonds.
Continue swirling until the powder is completely dissolved and the solution is clear. If particles remain, let the vial sit for a few minutes and swirl again.
Label the vial with the date of reconstitution, the peptide name, and the concentration (e.g. 250mcg per 0.1mL).
Example calculation
Add the recommended volume of bacteriostatic water to the N-Acetyl Selank vial. Gently swirl (do not shake) until the powder is fully dissolved. The resulting solution should be clear. Calculate your individual dose based on the concentration and your prescribed amount.
Dose calculation
Your dose of N-Acetyl Selank is determined by your healthcare provider. Using an insulin syringe marked in units, draw up the exact amount prescribed. For example, if the reconstituted concentration is 1mg/mL and your dose is 0.5mg, draw up 0.5mL (50 units on an insulin syringe). Always double-check calculations before injection.
Pro tip
Always add the bacteriostatic water slowly, letting it run down the side of the vial. Never shake the vial -- swirl gently to avoid damaging the peptide.
Location
Site 01
Abdomen
Pinch the skin 2 inches from navel. Avoid the area directly around the belly button. Rotate between left and right sides.
Site 02
Outer Thigh
Middle third of the outer thigh. Keep at least 4 inches above the knee and below the hip. Alternate legs each injection.
Site 03
Upper Arm
Back or outer area of the upper arm. This site may require assistance from another person for proper technique.
Rotate between 3 sites to prevent tissue buildup and ensure consistent absorption.
Pro tip
Rotate your injection sites with each dose to prevent lipohypertrophy (buildup of fatty tissue). Keep a simple log of where you last injected.
Step by step
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling supplies
Clean the injection site with an alcohol swab and let it air dry completely
Pinch a fold of skin at the chosen injection site
Insert the needle at a 45-90 degree angle (depending on needle length and body composition)
Inject the medication slowly and steadily over 5-10 seconds
Release the skin fold and remove the needle, applying gentle pressure with a clean swab
Rotate injection sites to prevent tissue irritation or lipodystrophy
Dispose of the needle safely in a sharps container—never recap or reuse needles
Pro tip
This peptide uses subcutaneous injection (into the fatty tissue just under the skin)—allows for consistent absorption and can be self-administered at home after proper training. Inject at a 45-90 degree angle into pinched skin. Aspirate before injecting to ensure you haven't hit a blood vessel.
Timing
Optimal timing
Best time
Administer N-Acetyl Selank nasal spray at the same time each day. Morning dosing is commonly preferred. Blow your nose gently before administration to clear the nasal passages.
With food?
N-Acetyl Selank nasal administration is not significantly affected by food. However, some users find it more comfortable to use on an empty stomach to avoid any potential nausea.
Stacking notes
N-Acetyl Selank should be used as directed by your healthcare provider. If combining with other medications or supplements, discuss potential interactions with your provider. Avoid combining with compounds that have overlapping mechanisms unless specifically guided by a medical professional.
Sample daily schedule
As prescribed (once daily)
As prescribed by your healthcare provider injection
Site: Intranasal spray—rotate sites if applicable
Maintain a consistent schedule for optimal results with N-Acetyl Selank. Set reminders if needed. If you miss a dose, follow your healthcare provider's instructions—do not double up on doses to compensate.
Dosing tiers
Dose
250-300 mcg/day
Frequency
Divided 2-3 times daily
Duration
1-2 weeks initial
Lower end of the intranasal range used in Russian anxiolytic research; intranasal is the optimal CNS-delivery route for Selank [1][6].
Dose
300-900 mcg/day
Frequency
Divided 2-3 times daily (100-300 mcg per dose)
Duration
2-4 weeks per course
Daily intranasal range documented in Russian GAD trials, with anxiolytic effects comparable to medazepam [6].
Dose
Up to 2700 mcg/day
Frequency
Divided 2-3 times daily
Duration
2-4 weeks per course
Upper intranasal dose reported in a generalized anxiety disorder cohort [6]; used short-course.
Preservation
Before mixing
Store N-Acetyl Selank in the refrigerator at 36-46°F (2-8°C) in its original packaging. Protect from light and moisture. Do not freeze. Check the expiration date before use. Some formulations may be stored at room temperature for limited periods—check your specific product labeling.
After mixing
Once reconstituted, N-Acetyl Selank should be kept refrigerated at 36-46°F (2-8°C) and used within the timeframe specified on your product labeling (typically 14-28 days). Label the vial with the reconstitution date. Do not use if the solution appears cloudy, discolored, or contains particles.
Shelf life after mixing
14-21 days refrigerated
Signs of degradation
Discard the vial immediately if you notice any of these:
Solution appears cloudy, discolored, or contains visible particles (should be clear)
Product has been exposed to temperatures outside the recommended storage range
Product has been frozen (unless specifically designed for freeze-thaw stability)
Expiration date has passed or reconstituted solution has exceeded its use-by date
Unusual odor, color change, or visible contamination
Important
When to stop
Severe or worsening side effects that don't improve with dose adjustment or supportive care
Signs of an allergic reaction—rash, hives, swelling, or difficulty breathing
Your healthcare provider recommends discontinuation based on your clinical response
Development of any new medical condition that may be contraindicated with N-Acetyl Selank
Pregnancy or planning to become pregnant (unless specifically approved for use during pregnancy)
Abnormal lab results or clinical markers that suggest adverse effects
N-Acetyl Selank should only be started, adjusted, or discontinued under medical supervision. This information is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Never stop a prescribed treatment without consulting your healthcare provider first, as abrupt discontinuation may have consequences.
Clean technique checklist
Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling supplies
Swab vial tops and injection site with alcohol and let dry
Never touch the needle tip or allow it to contact non-sterile surfaces
Use a new syringe and needle for each injection
Dispose of used sharps in a proper sharps container
Store reconstituted peptides according to the storage instructions above
Published research
Vyunova TV, Andreeva LA, Shevchenko KV, Nagaev IY, Myasoedov NF · 2018
Selank works like a master switch that controls anxiety by subtly tweaking brain receptors without the heavy sedation of traditional anxiety drugs. What makes it special is that it doesn't just calm your mood—it actually turns on the genes that build stronger, healthier brain connections, especially in the memory centers of your brain.
Filatova EV, Shadrina MI, Slominsky PA · 2017
Lab tests on human brain cells show that Selank turns on the exact genes that build calming brain receptors, proving it changes anxiety at the genetic level. This is completely different from how normal anxiety drugs work—those just activate existing receptors, while Selank actually increases how many calm-down receptors your brain makes.
Kasian A, Kube E, Bhatt D · 2017
Selank acts like a master key that makes anxiety drugs work harder and more smoothly at their brain receptors without changing the drugs themselves. When combined with the standard anxiety medication diazepam, Selank boosted its effects dramatically in laboratory tests, suggesting a powerful synergy between the two.
Kolik LG, Nadorova AV, Seredenin SB · 2019
Selank guards your brain's memory system against damage from alcohol by keeping the growth factor that protects brain cells (BDNF) at healthy levels even under stress. Animals given Selank showed dramatically preserved memory and learning ability compared to those without it, even when exposed to alcohol.
Panikratova YR, Lebedeva IS, Sokolov OY, et al. · 2020
Brain scans of people taking Selank showed their brain networks rewired to be less reactive to anxiety triggers, with strengthened connections between the calm-down centers and weakened activity in the worry-processing areas. These visible brain changes confirm Selank actually reshapes how your brain processes anxiety at the network level.
Medvedev VE, et al. · 2012
Intranasal Selank administered to patients with generalized anxiety disorder (reported up to 2700 mcg/day), with anxiolytic efficacy comparable to benzodiazepines without sedation or withdrawal.
Inozemtseva LS, Karpenko EA, Dolotov OV, Levitskaya NG, Kamensky AA, Andreeva LA, Grivennikov IA · 2008
In male Wistar rats, intranasal Selank changed BDNF expression in the hippocampus, measured by RT-PCR and immunoenzyme assay. This is the only study measuring Selank's effect on BDNF; the primary text (Dokl Biol Sci 421:241-243) is paywalled, and it is cited for the BDNF-hippocampus link by later open-access work (Filatova 2017).
Zozulya AA, Kost NV, Sokolov OY, et al. · 2001
Patients with generalized anxiety showed a shortened enkephalin half-life and reduced total enkephalinase activity in blood. Selank dose-dependently inhibited enzymatic hydrolysis of plasma enkephalin (IC50 15 microM), more potently than bacitracin or puromycin, which the authors propose as a mechanism of its anxiolytic activity.
Kolomin TA, Agapova TYu, Agniullin YaV, Shram SI, Shadrina MI, Slominsky PA, Limborska SA, Myasoedov NF · 2013
A single intranasal dose of Selank (200 mcg/kg) changed mRNA levels of 36 genes more than 2-fold in rat hippocampus, and course administration changed 20; most encode plasma-membrane-associated proteins, suggesting regulation of ion homeostasis in hippocampal cells.
Volkova A, Shadrina M, Kolomin T, Andreeva L, Limborska S, Myasoedov N, Slominsky P · 2016
In rat frontal cortex, 45 of 84 neurotransmission genes (including GABAA receptor subunit, dopamine and serotonin receptor genes) changed expression 1 hour after Selank (300 mcg/kg) and 22 at 3 hours; the authors link Selank's mechanism to allosteric modulation of the GABAergic system. The paper also records Selank's development by the Institute of Molecular Genetics RAS in cooperation with the V.V. Zakusov Research Institute of Pharmacology.
Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation; JSC Peptogen (registration holder) · 2009
The approved Russian label for parent Selank: 0.15% nasal drops (75 mcg/drop), registered as an anxiolytic. Listed adverse effects are unpleasant taste sensations if solution reaches the pharynx and possible allergic reactions with individual intolerance; no overdose cases registered; no influence on CNS depressants or stimulants reported.
Semenova TP, Kozlovskii II, Zakharova NM, Kozlovskaya MM · 2010
In Wistar rats, a single injection of Selank (300 mcg/kg) activated serotonin metabolism in the hypothalamus and caudal brain stem for 30 min to 2 h and increased memory trace stability over 30 days; the authors attribute its nootropic activity to its effect on brain serotonin levels.
Medvedev VE, Tereshchenko ON, Israelian AIu, Chobanu IK, Kost NV, Sokolov OIu, Miasoedov NF · 2014
In 60 patients with phobic-anxiety and somatoform disorders, Selank showed pronounced anxiolytic and mild nootropic effects compared with the benzodiazepine phenazepam, with the anxiolytic effect lasting a week after the last dose and a positive impact on quality of life; the study was designed as an efficacy and tolerability comparison.
Zozulya AA, Neznamov GG, Syunyakov TS, Kost NV, et al. · 2008
In 62 patients with generalized anxiety disorder or neurasthenia (30 Selank, 32 medazepam), anxiolytic effects of the two drugs were similar, with Selank additionally antiasthenic and psychostimulant. Patients had a decreased leu-enkephalin half-life (tau1/2) in blood, and this parameter increased during Selank treatment, mostly in GAD.
Ashmarin IP, Baglikova KE, Edeeva SE, Zolotarev YuA, et al. · 2008
Tritium-labelled Selank and Pro-Gly-Pro were tracked in rat tissues after intraperitoneal, intranasal, intragastric and intravenous administration; the intranasal route was shown to be optimal for delivering these peptide molecules to the central nervous system.
Kozlovskaya MM, Kozlovskii II, Val'dman EA, Seredenin SB · 2003
Across rat and mouse models of emotional stress created by a conflict situation, Selank and related tuftsin-family peptides showed positive emotional effects and antistress actions on behavioral manifestations of stress.
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