Semax is a acth(4-10) peptide (nasal). Selank is a tuftsin analog (nasal).
They are aimed at different things: Semax at focus & brain; Selank at calm & anxiety.
| Comparison | Semax ACTH 4-10 | Selank TP-7 |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | How it works Semax is seven amino acids based on a fragment of ACTH, a brain-signalling hormone, with the hormonal part removed. It is a nasal spray, and it is a registered medicine in Russia. | How it works Selank is a synthetic version of tuftsin, a natural peptide that sits at the junction of immune and brain signalling. |
| What it is | A nasal spray for sharper focus, memory, and mental clarity. | A nasal spray that eases anxiety while keeping you clear-headed. |
| Status | Research onlyResearch only (approved in Russia) | Research onlyResearch only (approved in Russia) |
| Typical dose | 0.2–0.6 mg per day | 0.25–0.5 mg per day |
| How often | 1-2x daily | 1-2x daily |
| Stays active | minutes (nasal) | minutes (nasal) |
| Dose comes from | Published human study | Published human study |
| Cycled? | Taken in courses, usually 10 to 14 days, with breaks between Community practice | Taken in courses, usually 10 to 14 days, with breaks between Community practice |
| What it does | ||
| Drug class | ACTH(4-10) peptide (nasal) | Tuftsin analog (nasal) |
| Used for | A nasal spray that sharpens focus, memory, and mental clarity by raising a brain-growth signal. It works within about half an hour and is used in Russia for stroke recovery and attention. | A nasal spray that eases anxiety and stress while keeping you clear-headed, without the sedation or dependence of anti-anxiety pills. It is often paired with Semax. |
| Receptors hit | — | — |
| Numbers | ||
| Full dose line | 0.2 up to 0.6 mg per day | 0.25 up to 0.5 mg per day |
| Why that cycle | The Russian clinical literature uses course dosing rather than continuous use, and users report the effect fading if it is taken every day without a break. No controlled study has compared courses against continuous use. | Course dosing follows the Russian clinical practice it comes from. No controlled study has compared it against continuous use. |
| Weight / effect | Not measured in a trial | Not measured in a trial |
| Chain length | 7 residues | 7 residues |
| Common vial | 30 mg | 30 mg |
| Before you start | ||
| Route | Nasal spray | Nasal spray |
| Do not use if | No formal contraindications established outside Russia Pregnancy | No formal contraindications established outside Russia Pregnancy |
What people actually report
Semax
- Mostly mild nasal irritation or occasional headache.
- No dependence has been reported.
- No serious adverse events have been reported at studied doses
- Signs of an allergic reaction
Selank
- Mostly mild nasal irritation; very well tolerated.
- Signs of an allergic reaction
Side effects are what users and trials report most often, not a complete list. Anything sudden, spreading, or breathing-related is an emergency regardless of which compound caused it.
People also compare
This comparison does not cover cost, long-term safety, or how you personally will respond. Effect figures come from separate trials in different populations and are not always directly comparable to each other. Nothing here is medical advice or a recommendation to use any of these. Talk to a clinician about your own situation.