Selank
Also known as TP-7, Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro, Tuftsin analog, NA-Selank
Selank is a seven-amino-acid peptide derived from the immune peptide tuftsin, approved in Russia as a nasal anti-anxiety drug. People use it for calm focus without sedation.
Overview
Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide made by adding the stabilizing Pro-Gly-Pro tail to tuftsin, a naturally occurring four-residue fragment of immunoglobulin G. It was developed at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Moscow alongside Semax and was registered in Russia in 2009 as a nasal drop for generalized anxiety disorder and neurasthenia. It is marketed as an anxiolytic that does not cause the drowsiness, memory impairment, or dependence associated with benzodiazepines.
Human evidence is limited to Russian clinical studies. The most cited compared Selank to a benzodiazepine (phenazepam) in patients with anxiety disorders and found comparable anxiety reduction with fewer sedative effects, plus improvement in cognitive complaints. Other small studies looked at anxiety with comorbid alcohol use and at asthenic symptoms. These are real trials, but they are small, some are open-label, and none have been replicated by independent groups outside Russia. Treat the human data as promising rather than settled.
In rodents Selank reduces anxiety-like behavior across standard tests, shifts expression of GABA-related genes, changes serotonin and enkephalin levels, and affects immune gene expression in a way consistent with its tuftsin origin. It is one of the few peptides where the mechanism story fits together reasonably well between animal and human findings. As with Semax, most home use is intranasal, with an N-acetyl version sold as a longer acting variant.
How it works
Selank appears to work mainly on the GABAergic system, though not by binding GABA-A receptors directly the way benzodiazepines do. Rodent studies show it changes expression of genes involved in GABA signaling and it enhances the effect of GABA on chloride currents in a way that suggests allosteric modulation. It also slows the breakdown of enkephalins, which contributes to its anti-stress and mild analgesic effects, and it increases BDNF in the hippocampus. From the tuftsin side, it modulates cytokine expression, including IL-6 and the Th1/Th2 balance, and it has been reported to raise interferon production in cell studies. The combination of GABA modulation, enkephalin protection, and neurotrophin support explains the calm-but-alert profile users describe.
What the research shows
- human pilotSelank produced anxiolytic effects comparable to phenazepam in patients with generalized anxiety disorder, with fewer sedative side effects.
- rodentSelank altered expression of multiple GABA-receptor and GABA-transport genes in rat brain.
- in vitroSelank inhibited enkephalin-degrading enzymes in human serum, prolonging endogenous enkephalin activity.
- rodentNasal Selank increased BDNF expression in rat hippocampus similarly to Semax.
- in vitroSelank modulated interleukin-6 and interferon-related gene expression in immune cells.
Evidence labels: rodent and in vitro mean no human data for that finding. Human pilot means small, often uncontrolled. Human RCT means randomized and controlled. Clinical means an approved drug with regulatory data.
Dose calculator
U-100 insulin syringeUnits are a volume on the syringe, not an amount of peptide. Concentration changes every time you change the water volume. The standalone calculator explains the math.
Dosing and protocol
Russian 0.15 percent drops deliver roughly 75 mcg per drop, with 2-3 drops per nostril typical.
2-3 weeks on, then a break. Some use it only as needed.
Any time of day. Often used before stressful events or in the morning for baseline anxiety.
| Vial | Suggested water | Concentration | Low dose draw |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 mg | 2 mL | 2.5 mg/mL | 10 units |
| 10 mg | 2 mL | 5 mg/mL | 5 units |
Lyophilized: fridge or freezer, away from light. Reconstituted or nasal spray: fridge 2-8C, use within 4 weeks.
Cautions
- ▲Fatigue or flatness at higher doses in some people, the opposite of the intended effect.
- ▲Nasal irritation with repeated spraying.
- ▲Effects are subtle for many users, and ready-made sprays of unknown age may be degraded.
- ▲Human trials are all Russian, small, and not independently replicated.
- ▲Not a substitute for treatment of a diagnosed anxiety disorder.
Commonly stacked with
Frequently asked
Is Selank sedating?
Generally no. The Russian trials specifically found less sedation than benzodiazepines, and most users describe a calm, clear state rather than drowsiness. A minority report feeling flat or tired, particularly at higher doses.
Can it cause dependence or withdrawal?
No dependence or withdrawal syndrome has been reported in the clinical literature, and it does not act on the benzodiazepine binding site. That said, long-term human safety data beyond a few weeks of use is thin.
How does Selank compare to Semax?
They share the same Pro-Gly-Pro tail and both raise BDNF, but Semax comes from ACTH and leans toward stimulation and focus, while Selank comes from tuftsin and leans toward anxiety reduction. Many people use both, often Semax in the morning and Selank as needed.
What is NA-Selank?
N-acetyl Selank is a modified version with an acetyl group added to resist enzyme breakdown. It is sold as longer lasting and more potent, but there is almost no published research on the acetylated form specifically.
References
- Efficacy and possible mechanisms of action of a new peptide anxiolytic Selank in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorders and neurasthenia. Zhurnal Nevrologii i Psikhiatrii, 2008
- Selank administration affects the expression of some genes involved in GABAergic neurotransmission. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2016
- Comparative study of Selank and phenazepam in patients with anxiety disorders. Zhurnal Nevrologii i Psikhiatrii, 2014
- The inhibitory effect of Selank on enkephalin-degrading enzymes as a possible mechanism of its anxiolytic activity. Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, 2001