Carl read the papersWhat it actually is
Selank is a synthetic analog of tuftsin, an immune-modulating peptide. Russian research explored it as an anti-anxiety agent that also touches focus and immune signalling.
It’s often described as calming without the sedation, tolerance or withdrawal associated with benzodiazepines.
How it’s thought to work
- GABA/serotonin modulation — reported effects on calming neurotransmitter systems.
- BDNF — may influence brain-derived neurotrophic factor.
- Immune signalling — tuftsin heritage gives it immune-modulating activity.
- Non-sedating — calm without the drowsiness of classic anxiolytics.
What the research says
Registered in Russia as nasal drops for anxiety and studied in Russian clinical settings. We found no independent Western trials. Nasal-spray delivery is common.
- Anxiety and stress research.
- Focus/attention and mood (reported).
- Studied intranasally and by injection.
Watch: Selank explained
Video by Peptides-explained-easy on YouTube. Not affiliated with Peptide Carl and not an endorsement — included because a second explanation of the same mechanism is often what makes it click.
Reported protocols
These are the doses the peptide community actually reports running (Reddit & forums), alongside published research — logged for education, not as a recommendation to use.
| Parameter | Commonly reported range |
|---|---|
| Community dose | 250–500 mcg per dose (nasal spray common) |
| Frequency | 1–3× daily, or as-needed for anxiety |
| Route | Intranasal (most popular); subQ |
| Cycle | Short courses (1–3 weeks) |
| Community tip | Nasal is the default; non-sedating; commonly paired with Semax |
Common use cases
| Goal | Community protocol notes |
|---|---|
| Anxiety / calm | 250–500 mcg intranasal as needed |
| Focus support | paired with Semax |
| Short course | 1–3 weeks, non-continuous |
Mixing it (reconstitution)
Freeze-dried peptides must be reconstituted with bacteriostatic water before they can be measured. Carl’s calculator turns “mg in the vial + ml of water + target dose” into “units on the syringe” — and tells you how long the vial lasts.
→ Open the Reconstitution Calculator
Injection & handling
Intranasal spray is the popular route (subQ also works), 250–500 mcg, 1–3×/day as needed for anxiety. Short courses (1–3 weeks). Refrigerate.
Stacks it appears in
- Calm & Sharp — Selank + Semax — the Russian nootropic duo: one calms, one sharpens.
Sources
- Vidal.ru: Selank 0.15% nasal drops, Russian label (reg. ЛП-№(010951)-(РГ-RU))
- Zozulia AA et al. Selank vs medazepam in GAD and neurasthenia, Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr 2008 (PMID 18454096)
- Medvedev VE et al. Selank vs phenazepam in anxiety disorders, Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr 2014 (PMID 25176261)
- Medvedev VE et al. Selank added to phenazepam, Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr 2015 (PMID 26356395)
- Volkova A et al. Selank and GABAergic gene expression, Front Pharmacol 2016 (PMID 26924987)
- Semenova TP et al. Selank vs tuftsin on brain serotonin in rats, Eksp Klin Farmakol 2009 (PMID 19803361)
- Inozemtseva LS et al. Intranasal Selank and hippocampal BDNF in rats, Dokl Biol Sci 2008 (PMID 18841804)
- Kolomin T et al. Inflammation-related gene expression under the tuftsin analog Selank, Mol Immunol 2014 (PMID 24291245)
- ClinicalTrials.gov intervention search: Selank (no Selank trials registered, 16 Oct 2026)
