What dose is used and what is the half-life?

There is no internationally validated dose. Russian studies used an intranasal 0.15% solution at roughly 250-500 mcg per administration, two to three times daily, in courses of about two weeks. The intact peptide's half-life is reported to be very short (minutes in animal data), though effects are said to outlast plasma levels. This is reference information, not dosing advice.

Does Selank actually reduce anxiety?

Small Russian clinical trials reported anxiolytic effects comparable to benzodiazepines without sedation or dependence, and animal studies support plausible GABAergic and enkephalin-related mechanisms. However, the trials are small and largely unreplicated internationally, so the effect is suggestive rather than firmly proven by global standards.

It is most commonly administered intranasally as a reconstituted solution; subcutaneous use is also discussed. Intranasal delivery is favored for convenience and possible direct nose-to-brain transport. No route has rigorously validated human dosing outside the Russian system.

Available studies describe it as well tolerated, with no observed dependence or withdrawal, but long-term and independent safety data are limited. Possible issues include nasal irritation and mild drowsiness, and unregulated product quality is a real risk. It is not approved for human use and should be treated as a research compound.

Cognitive

Selank

Also known as: TP-7, Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro, N-acetyl Selank (acetylated form)

A synthetic tuftsin-derived heptapeptide studied as an anxiolytic and mild nootropic, with most efficacy data from Russian clinical practice rather than international trials....

Last updated July 11, 2026

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Overview

Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro) developed at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. It is an analog of the immune peptide tuftsin (a Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg fragment of the immunoglobulin G heavy chain), stabilized with a C-terminal Pro-Gly-Pro extension to slow enzymatic breakdown. It is most often discussed as an anxiolytic with additional anti-asthenic (anti-fatigue) and mild cognitive-supportive properties, and is typically administered as an intranasal solution. Unlike most research peptides, Selank has been studied in human patients, but almost entirely within the Russian regulatory and clinical-research system. Small comparative trials there have examined it in generalized anxiety disorder and neurasthenia, generally reporting anxiolytic activity comparable to benzodiazepines without the sedation, muscle relaxation, dependence, or withdrawal typically associated with that drug class. These studies are small, mostly open-label or active-comparator rather than large double-blind placebo-controlled trials, and have had limited independent international replication. Selank is reportedly registered as a medicine in Russia but is not approved by the FDA, EMA, or most other regulators. Outside Russia it is sold as a research chemical, typically labeled "for research use only." This entry summarizes the available science and community-reported practice for reference only; it is not medical advice and does not endorse human use.

How it works

Selank's proposed mechanism is multi-target and only partly characterized in humans. The most cited actions are modulation of the GABAergic system (animal and cell-culture work suggests it influences expression of GABA-A receptor subunit and related genes, supporting an inhibitory/anxiolytic tone) and stabilization of endogenous enkephalins by inhibiting the enzymes that degrade them, which is thought to contribute to its anti-anxiety and anti-stress effects. It is also reported to increase expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus in rodent models, and to modulate the balance of monoamine neurotransmitters and the expression of interferon-gamma and other immune mediators (consistent with its tuftsin-analog origin). Acute effects are attributed to rapid neurotransmitter and enkephalin modulation, while any longer-lasting effects are hypothesized to involve neurotrophic/neuroplastic changes. These mechanisms are reasonably supported in animal and in-vitro studies but remain provisional as explanations for clinical effects in humans.

Researched effects

Clinical Reduces anxiety in generalized anxiety disorder and neurasthenia, comparable to benzodiazepines in small Russian trials, without sedation or dependence
Clinical Anti-asthenic effect (reduces fatigue/asthenia) alongside its anxiolytic action
Preclinical Enhances or prolongs the anxiolytic effect of benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam) in rodent stress models
Preclinical Increases hippocampal BDNF expression and modulates GABAergic gene expression
Preclinical Modulates immune and inflammatory signaling (interferon-gamma, cytokines), reflecting its tuftsin-analog origin
Anecdotal Subjectively reported calming, reduced social anxiety, and improved focus by community users

Evidence levels: Clinical (human trials) · Preclinical (animal/lab) · Anecdotal (community-reported).

Dosing reference

For research reference only — not a recommendation.

Clinical / studied dosing

No FDA/EMA-approved dosing exists. In Russian clinical studies of anxiety, Selank has been used as a 0.15% intranasal solution at roughly 250-500 mcg per administration, around two to three times daily (commonly cited near 900-1350 mcg total per day) for courses of about 14 days. These figures come from small studies within the Russian system and should not be treated as validated international clinical guidance.

Community-reported dosing (anecdotal)

Anecdotal and research-reference only; not medical advice. Community sources and vendor educational pages commonly describe intranasal Selank at roughly 250-500 mcg per dose (often expressed as drops of a reconstituted solution), one to three times daily, used acutely for anxiety or in short courses of one to a few weeks. Some users instead cite N-acetyl Selank, an acetylated variant marketed as longer-acting. These figures are unverified community practice rather than tested safe or effective doses.

Half-life: Reported to be very short for the intact peptide. Some sources cite a plasma half-life on the order of only minutes after intranasal/IV exposure in animal work, though biological effects are described as outlasting plasma presence. Human pharmacokinetics are not well characterized in the published international literature.
Routes: intranasal, subcutaneous

Safety & side effects

Selank is generally described as well tolerated in the available Russian studies, which reported few adverse events and notably did not observe the sedation, muscle relaxation, tolerance, dependence, or withdrawal associated with benzodiazepines. However, long-term and large-scale safety data are lacking, and there is little independent international verification. Reported or plausible issues include local nasal irritation, mild fatigue or drowsiness in some individuals, and theoretical immune-modulating effects given its tuftsin origin. Product quality is a real-world risk: material sold outside Russia as a research chemical is unregulated and may vary in purity, identity, or sterility. Selank is not FDA/EMA-approved and is sold for research use only, not for human consumption. This information is for research reference only and is not a recommendation for human use.

Research summary

Selank occupies an unusual middle ground: it has more direct human data than most research peptides, but that data is narrow. Within the Russian clinical-research system, small comparative trials (e.g., Zozulia/Neznamov and colleagues, 2008) reported that Selank produced anxiolytic effects similar to the benzodiazepine medazepam in generalized anxiety disorder and neurasthenia, with an additional anti-asthenic benefit and biochemical changes (increased serum enkephalin stability) that correlated with symptom improvement. Preclinical work supports plausible mechanisms, including GABAergic modulation, enkephalin stabilization, BDNF upregulation, and potentiation of diazepam's anxiolytic effect in rodent stress models. The key limitations are study size, design, and provenance: most trials are small, are active-comparator or open-label rather than large double-blind placebo-controlled studies, and have not been independently replicated at scale outside Russia. As a result, while the signal for an anxiolytic effect is more credible than for many peptides, it cannot be considered firmly established by international standards. The honest assessment is that Selank is a mechanistically coherent and clinically suggestive anxiolytic peptide with genuine but limited human evidence and incomplete long-term safety characterization. It is appropriate to treat it as an experimental research compound, not a validated medicine.

FAQ

Is Selank approved or legal?: Selank is reportedly registered as a medicine in Russia but is not approved by the FDA, EMA, or most other regulators. Outside Russia it is sold as a research chemical for research use only, not for human consumption. Legality of possession varies by jurisdiction.
What dose is used and what is the half-life?: There is no internationally validated dose. Russian studies used an intranasal 0.15% solution at roughly 250-500 mcg per administration, two to three times daily, in courses of about two weeks. The intact peptide's half-life is reported to be very short (minutes in animal data), though effects are said to outlast plasma levels. This is reference information, not dosing advice.
Does Selank actually reduce anxiety?: Small Russian clinical trials reported anxiolytic effects comparable to benzodiazepines without sedation or dependence, and animal studies support plausible GABAergic and enkephalin-related mechanisms. However, the trials are small and largely unreplicated internationally, so the effect is suggestive rather than firmly proven by global standards.
How is Selank taken?: It is most commonly administered intranasally as a reconstituted solution; subcutaneous use is also discussed. Intranasal delivery is favored for convenience and possible direct nose-to-brain transport. No route has rigorously validated human dosing outside the Russian system.
Is Selank safe?: Available studies describe it as well tolerated, with no observed dependence or withdrawal, but long-term and independent safety data are limited. Possible issues include nasal irritation and mild drowsiness, and unregulated product quality is a real risk. It is not approved for human use and should be treated as a research compound.

References

All content is for research and educational use only and is not medical advice. Products are sold for laboratory research only and are not for human consumption.

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