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Research only

Selank

A 7-amino-acid Russian-developed peptide. Sniffed up the nose for anxiety.

Technically · Synthetic heptapeptide (Tuftsin analog)

cognitivesleep
Selank
The vial
Selank 2D molecular structure
The moleculeCID 11765711

In one sentence

A Russian-developed nasal-spray peptide for anxiety — calms without making you sleepy.

Like a quieter Xanax that you sniff. Approved in Russia, ignored by Western drug regulators.

Half-life

Short (minutes plasma)

In and out of the bloodstream in minutes — used 1-3x daily during a 2-week cycle.

Dosing

1–3× daily

How often you take a dose

Route

Nasal

How it goes into the body

Status

Research

Sold for lab research — not approved for humans

Education only. Many compounds discussed are research chemicals not approved for human use in the US. This is not medical advice — consult a licensed physician.

What it is

Russia approved this as an anti-anxiety medication. It's based on tuftsin (a natural immune molecule). You spray it up your nose. Reports say it calms anxiety without the drowsy, foggy side of typical anti-anxiety pills. Western drug regulators haven't evaluated it.

The full technical answer

Russian-developed synthetic peptide based on tuftsin. Used in Russia for generalized anxiety disorder. No FDA approval.

How it works

Selank seems to tap into the same brain systems other anti-anxiety drugs use (GABA, serotonin, dopamine) — but more gently. Think of it as turning down the volume on stress without putting you to sleep.

The full technical answer

Modulates GABA, serotonin, and dopamine systems. Animal studies suggest anxiolytic effects without sedation.

ExtracellularInside the cellGABA systemReceptorDopamineReceptorSerotoninReceptorpeptidedownstream signaling
Receptors hit: GABA system, Dopamine, Serotonin. The peptide binds the receptor on the cell surface, triggering downstream signaling inside the cell.

What the research says

Russian clinical trials report anxiolytic efficacy. Western RCTs lacking.

Sources: PubMed: Selank

Common dosing ranges

Range
300–900 mcg/day intranasal
Frequency
1–3× daily
Duration
14-day cycles common in Russian protocols

Sources: PubMed

How to take it

Practical guidance synthesized from clinical protocols, FDA labels, and clinician interviews. Always cross-check with a prescribing physician.

Best time of day

1–3× per day, as needed when anxiety hits. Spray into each nostril, alternating sides per dose.

With food or fasted

Doesn't matter — absorbed through nasal mucosa, bypasses the gut.

How long to cycle

14-day cycles, then 1–2 weeks off. Don't run continuously — efficacy is highest with fresh cycles.

When to get off

End each 2-week cycle on schedule. Long-term continuous use isn't how it was studied.

Administration

Nasal

Side effects

Common

  • Minimal reported

Serious / theoretical

  • Long-term safety unclear

Sources: PubMed

Further reading & listening

Where the experts go deeper.

Curated from the PeptideFacts expert directory — vetted YouTube channels, podcasts, books, and communities. No anecdote-only or supplier-affiliated picks.

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