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
Intranasal
Route
3 recommended
Sites
3 times daily
Frequency
Preparation
The registered product needs no mixing — it is supplied as a 0.15% nasal drop solution in a 3 mL bottle with a dropper cap
Nasal spray atomiser bottle, if you are using a compounded powder rather than the registered drops
Bacteriostatic water (BAC water), only if reconstituting a powder
Alcohol swabs for cleaning vial tops
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
The registered solution is 1.5 mg per mL, which works out to 75 mcg in each drop. Two drops in each nostril is four drops, or 300 mcg, and three of those spread across the day comes to 900 mcg [7]. If you are mixing a powder instead, 5 mg of selank in 3.3 mL of bacteriostatic water gives you roughly the same 1.5 mg/mL strength.
Dose calculation
Counting drops is the practical measure for the nasal route: at 75 mcg a drop, 300 mcg is 4 drops and 900 mcg is 12 drops [7]. The label caps one administration at 2-3 drops per nostril; to give more than that, the rest goes in 15 minutes later.
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
Intranasal: One spray per nostril
Follow your provider's instructions for this injection site. Rotate sites regularly to prevent tissue damage.
Site 02
Abdomen
Pinch the skin 2 inches from navel. Avoid the area directly around the belly button. Rotate between left and right sides.
Site 03
Outer Thigh
Middle third of the outer thigh. Keep at least 4 inches above the knee and below the hip. Alternate legs each injection.
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
For intranasal: Tilt head slightly back, insert tip into nostril, spray while gently inhaling
For injection: Clean site with alcohol swab and let dry completely
Pinch about an inch of skin to create a fold
Insert needle at 45-90 degree angle
Push plunger slowly and steadily, wait 5 seconds before removing
Pro tip
This peptide uses subcutaneous injection (just under the skin) or intranasal spray—nasal delivery is most popular for selank due to convenience and rapid absorption to the brain. 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
Morning administration works well for most people since Selank enhances focus and mental clarity during the day. Some users prefer splitting doses between morning and early afternoon. Avoid late evening doses if you notice increased mental alertness.
With food?
Selank can be taken regardless of food timing. Intranasal administration bypasses the digestive system entirely. For injections, food timing doesn't significantly affect absorption.
Stacking notes
Pairs excellently with Semax for comprehensive cognitive support—they work through complementary mechanisms. If stacking, start with lower doses of each. Can be combined with nootropic supplements like Alpha-GPC. Space injections from other peptides at different sites.
Sample daily schedule
Morning
300 mcg (2 drops in each nostril) injection
Site: Intranasal
One of the three daily administrations on the registered label; the day's total is 900 mcg [7]. Selank has no sedative effect, so the timing is about keeping the three doses evenly spread rather than avoiding drowsiness.
Midday
300 mcg (2 drops in each nostril) injection
Site: Intranasal
Second of the three daily administrations on the registered label [7].
Evening
300 mcg (2 drops in each nostril) injection
Site: Intranasal
Third of the three daily administrations on the registered label [7]. The label sets a 14-day course, repeatable after 1-3 weeks on a doctor's advice.
Dosing tiers
Dose
900 mcg/day total (3 doses of 300 mcg)
Frequency
2 drops in each nostril, 3 times daily
Duration
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.
Dose
2,700 mcg/day total (3 doses of 900 mcg)
Frequency
900 mcg (12 drops) 3 times daily
Duration
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.
Dose
300-500 mcg per injection
Frequency
Once daily
Duration
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.
Preservation
Before mixing
Keep your Selank powder in the refrigerator (36-46°F / 2-8°C) for short-term storage or in the freezer (-4°F / -20°C) for long-term storage. Store in the original sealed vial away from light. Properly stored powder can remain stable for 2+ years when frozen.
After mixing
Once mixed with bacteriostatic water, refrigerate at 36-46°F (2-8°C). Never freeze the reconstituted solution—freezing destroys the peptide. Keep away from light and use within 14-21 days.
Shelf life after mixing
14-21 days
Signs of degradation
Discard the vial immediately if you notice any of these:
Cloudy or hazy appearance (should be crystal clear)
Visible particles floating or settled at the bottom
Color changes—any yellowing or discoloration means discard it
Unusual smell—fresh solution should have little to no odor
Important
When to stop
Any signs of allergic reaction—stop immediately and seek medical help
Persistent headaches that don't improve after the first week
Significant nasal problems with intranasal use that don't resolve
Worsening anxiety or mood changes (paradoxical reaction)
Any side effect that feels serious or really concerns you
Your cycle is complete and you're entering a rest period
Selank is approved in Russia but remains a research compound in most other countries. It is not FDA-approved in the United States. Never start, stop, or change your dosing without guidance from a qualified healthcare provider. This information is for educational purposes only—not medical advice.
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 L, Shevchenko K, et al. · 2018
This study revealed that Selank works as a positive allosteric modulator of GABA receptors—meaning it enhances your brain's natural calming system without directly activating it like benzodiazepines do. This explains why Selank reduces anxiety without causing sedation, dependence, or memory problems.
Kolik LG, Nadorova AV, Antipova TA, et al. · 2019
Selank prevented alcohol-induced memory problems in rats by protecting BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. This shows Selank's potential for protecting brain function and supporting healthy memory formation.
Medvedev VE, Tereshchenko ON, Israelian AIu, et al. · 2014
In patients with anxiety disorders, Selank showed comparable anxiolytic effects to phenazepam (a strong benzodiazepine) but with significantly better tolerability. Importantly, Selank's anti-anxiety effects lasted for a week after stopping the peptide, suggesting lasting benefits.
Kolomin T, Shadrina M, Andreeva L, et al. · 2011
Selank significantly changed the expression of 34 genes involved in inflammation, including the important Bcl6 gene crucial for immune system development. This demonstrates Selank's immunomodulatory effects beyond just brain benefits.
Uchakina ON, Uchakin PN, Miasoedov NF, et al. · 2008
In patients with generalized anxiety disorder and neurasthenia, Selank regulated the balance of Th1/Th2 cytokines and affected IL-6 levels. The study suggests Selank could work as an immunomodulator for people with anxiety disorders, potentially helping both mind and immune system.
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 inhibited the enzymatic breakdown of enkephalin in plasma (IC50 15 microM), more strongly than the peptidase inhibitors bacitracin and puromycin. The authors proposed that slowing enkephalin degradation is one mechanism behind Selank's anti-anxiety effect.
Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation; JSC Peptogen (registration holder) · 2009
The registered product is a 0.15% nasal drop solution (1.5 mg/mL; one drop delivers 75 mcg). The approved dose is 2 drops in each nostril three times a day — 4 drops, 300 mcg, per administration, so 900 mcg a day — for a 14-day course, repeatable after 1-3 weeks on a doctor's advice. Absolute bioavailability by the intranasal route is 92.8%, with the peptide detectable in plasma within 30 seconds. No cases of overdose have been recorded.
Kolomin TA, Shadrina MI, Slominsky PA, et al. · 2011
A single dose of Selank changed expression of chemokine, cytokine, and receptor genes in mouse spleen at 6 and 24 hours. Most of the same gene changes occurred after giving the dipeptide Gly-Pro on its own, which the authors state had earlier been identified as Selank's pharmacophore - the minimum fragment carrying antiviral activity.
Zozulya AA, Neznamov GG, Syunyakov TS, et al. · 2008
In 62 people with generalised anxiety disorder or neurasthenia (30 on selank, 32 on medazepam), selank's anxiolytic effect was similar to the benzodiazepine medazepam on the Hamilton, Zung and CGI scales, and selank additionally reduced fatigue where medazepam did not. The developing institute's monograph records the doses as selank 2,700 mcg a day against medazepam 30 mg a day, over 14 days.
Medvedev VE, Tereshchenko ON, Kost NV, et al. · 2015
In 70 people with anxiety-phobic, hypochondriac and somatoform disorders, 30 took the benzodiazepine phenazepam alone and 40 took phenazepam together with selank. Adding selank brought the improvement on the Hamilton depression scale on sooner, and reduced the phenazepam side effects the authors tracked on the UKU scale — attention and memory impairment, fatigue, sedation, longer sleep, sexual problems, emotional flatness and dizziness on standing — both during treatment and after the benzodiazepine was withdrawn. Cognition was measured with the Stroop and verbal fluency tests and quality of life with SF-36. Published in Russian.
Pogodina MG, Nikiforova EYu · 2024
In 64 people with asthenia after COVID-19, 32 took a neuroprotective regimen plus selank nasal drops and 32 took the neuroprotective regimen alone. The selank group dosed 2-3 drops four times a day for 30 days — a longer course and one more administration a day than the registered label's 14 days at three times daily. The authors report improvement in asthenia and work capacity alongside anxiety and depressive symptoms. Published in Russian; no per-arm adverse-event rates are given.
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 animal work and it is the only study measuring selank's effect on BDNF — no trial has measured BDNF in people taking selank.
Vasil'eva EV, Kondrakhin EA, Salimov RM, Kovalev GI · 2016
In mice given selank at 300 mcg/kg a day for 5 days, the injected and intranasal routes did not behave the same way. Injected into the abdomen, selank raised GABA-receptor binding in the frontal cortex by about a third (38%) and left NMDA receptors unchanged; given intranasally it raised NMDA-receptor binding by about a quarter (23%) and left GABA receptors unchanged. Anxiolytic and nootropic effects appeared only in the BALB/c strain, which starts out more anxious. The authors attribute the difference to how the drug is absorbed and broken down by each route. This is animal work.
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