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.
Reviewed by the amino101 editorial team. , first published .
Quick start
What people commonly do. Not a prescription.- Typical dose
- 250 to 750 mcg
- How often
- one to three times daily, or as needed
- Where
- Intranasal, split across both nostrils; subcutaneous as an alternative
- Timing
- any time; morning for baseline anxiety, or 20 to 30 minutes before a stressful event; food does not matter
- Effects timeline
- calm within about 30 minutes of a dose; a steadier baseline over 1 to 2 weeks
- Storage
- fridge 2 to 8 C once mixed or as a nasal spray, use within 4 weeks; lyophilized in fridge or freezer away from light
- Cycle length
- 2 to 3 weeks
- Break between
- 1 to 3 weeks; some skip cycling and use it only as needed
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.
Where the research stands
Generalized anxietyModerate evidence
- Generalized anxiety disorder and neurasthenia. Russian clinical trials found anxiety reduction comparable to phenazepam with less sedation; small, not independently replicated.
- Anxiety with alcohol use disorder. A small Russian study reported reduced anxiety in this group; open-label design.
Cognitive complaints and mental fatigueEmerging
- Cognitive symptoms alongside anxiety. The Russian anxiety trials also recorded improvement in concentration and memory complaints as secondary findings.
- BDNF in the hippocampus. Rodent studies show increased BDNF expression after nasal dosing, similar to Semax.
Immune modulationWeak or mixed
- Cytokine and interferon expression. In vitro only; consistent with its tuftsin origin but no human immune outcome has been studied.
- 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.
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.
Levels over time
Modeled from the half-life. Illustrative, not measured.A half-life of 6 min against dosing every 24 h means each dose has cleared before the next. Nothing stacks; you start from zero every time, and the tissue effect is what carries over.
Blood levels are irrelevant to how it feels; the effects on GABA related gene expression and enkephalin breakdown outlast the peptide by hours, so dosing is one to three times daily or simply before a stressful event.
Selank dosage and protocols
Courses of 2 to 3 weeks then a break is the Russian pattern. No loading; the dose is the same from day one. Many community users skip cycling and use it as needed on specific stressful days.
| Goal | Dose | Frequency | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline anxiety, full course | 250 to 500 mcg | two to three times daily | Intranasal |
| Before a stressful event | 250 to 500 mcg | single dose as needed | Intranasal |
| Injected alternative | 250 to 500 mcg | once daily | Subcutaneous |
| Higher dose trial | 750 mcg | once daily | Intranasal, watch for fatigue |
Any time of day; it works within about half an hour, so dose ahead of whatever you need it for. Food makes no difference. If pairing with Semax, Semax in the morning and Selank in the afternoon or evening.
Russian 0.15 percent drops deliver roughly 75 mcg per drop, with 2-3 drops per nostril typical.
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.
| 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 |
How to reconstitute Selank
- 1
Wash your hands and wipe the work surface. Swab both vial stoppers with alcohol and let them dry.
- 2
Pick the water volume with the calculator above and write it on the vial. The concentration means nothing without it.
- 3
Draw the bacteriostatic water into a mixing syringe.
- 4
Insert at an angle and let the water run down the inside wall. Never squirt it straight onto the powder.
- 5
Swirl gently or leave it to dissolve. Do not shake.
- 6
Label with the date and water volume. Store in the fridge at 2 to 8 C and use within about 4 weeks.
- 7
Unmixed vials keep for months in the fridge and longer in the freezer, sealed and out of light.
- Full walkthrough with syringe reading and site rotation: reconstitution guide.
- ✓White, fluffy cake
Lyophilized powder should look like a small white puck or fluffy cake at the bottom of the vial. That is a proper freeze-dry.
- ✓Clear after mixing
Once dissolved the solution should be water-clear with nothing floating in it.
- !Slight clumping
Small clumps that dissolve with gentle swirling are fine. Shipping compacts powder.
- ✕Collapsed or melted
Powder stuck to the sides, glassy, or shrunken means it got hot in transit. Contact the vendor.
- ✕Cloudy or particles
Persistent cloudiness or visible particles after mixing means degraded or contaminated product. Do not use it.
- Day 1 to 3
A subtle calm and clearer head within half an hour of dosing, or nothing at all; effects are mild for many people.
- Week 1 to 2
Lower baseline anxiety and easier sleep onset when worry was the cause; concentration may improve as a side benefit.
- Week 2 to 3
Effects plateau; some people feel flat or tired at higher doses and do better dropping down.
- After stopping
Effects fade within about a week; no withdrawal or rebound anxiety has been reported.
Interactions and stacking
Semaxsynergistic
The classic pairing from the same Moscow lab; Semax for drive, Selank for calm.
DSIPcompatible
Daytime Selank with evening DSIP when anxiety is disrupting sleep; no combined data.
Pinealoncompatible
Both are low-intensity compounds sometimes run in the same course; no interaction expected.
Benzodiazepines and other sedativescaution
Selank enhances GABA signaling indirectly, so additive drowsiness is plausible; it should not replace a prescribed medication.
SSRIs and other serotonergic drugscaution
Rodent data show changes in serotonin metabolism; no human interaction data exists.
Alcoholcaution
Both are GABA-leaning; the combination can leave people flat and tired.
Safety
- ▲Nasal irritation with repeated spraying
- ▲Fatigue or emotional flatness at higher doses
- ▲Mild headache
- ▲Occasional drowsiness
- ▲No noticeable effect at all for a fair share of users
- ▲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.
- ■Fatigue or low mood shows up with dosing
- ■Nasal bleeding or irritation persists
- ■Anxiety gets worse rather than better
- ■You are using it instead of getting a diagnosed anxiety disorder treated
Community poll
Self-reported by visitors. Not clinical evidence.Selank: 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