Selank

Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide derived from the body's own immune peptide tuftsin, extended by a stabilising end group. It was developed in Russia and is used there clinically as an anxiolytic, that is, against anxiety and inner restlessness.

The notable part: Selank calms without making you tired or foggy, and without the dependence and withdrawal risk of classic sedatives. It also has a mild nootropic and immune-modulating component. It is used nasally or subcutaneously, dosed in micrograms.

Selank acts on several systems tied to anxiety and mood. It influences the GABA and serotonin systems, stabilises the body's own enkephalins (which get broken down under tension) and, like Semax, drives BDNF production. Through its tuftsin origin it additionally has an immune-modulating effect.

In a research context, users report a calmer, clearer mood and less rumination, without the dampening veil that sedatives often bring.

What you need depends on whether you use it nasally or subcutaneously:

• The Selank vial with the freeze-dried powder
• Bacteriostatic water to dissolve it
• For nasal: a small nasal spray bottle or a dropper
• For subcutaneous: U-100 insulin syringes
• Alcohol swabs and, for injection, a sealable sharps container for used needles

The powder is dissolved in bacteriostatic water. How much water you add sets the concentration, that is, how many micrograms are in a drop or in a syringe unit.

Use the calculator above for this: it shows the concentration and, for subcutaneous use, the units per dose. You can use the same solution nasally as drops, in which case the concentration helps you estimate the micrograms per drop.

When dissolving, just add the bac water, it does not matter if it hits the powder directly. Then swirl or shake until everything has dissolved, both are fine.

Nasal

• Fill the reconstituted solution into a nasal spray bottle or a dropper.
• A few drops or sprays per application, split between both nostrils. Head slightly forward, breathe in calmly.

Subcutaneous

• With a U-100 insulin syringe into the fat layer under the skin, classically the abdomen.
• Clean the spot, pinch a small fold, insert at 45 to 90 degrees, inject slowly, needle into the sharps container.

Both routes are common. Nasal is simpler, subcutaneous gives the more precise dose.

For a neuropeptide, Selank is comparatively well documented clinically, though mainly in Russia. In a controlled study (Zozulya, 2008), Selank was about as anxiolytic in generalised anxiety disorder and neurasthenia as a classic sedative (medazepam), but additionally anti-asthenic, that is, against the exhaustion component. On top of that comes a preclinical base on GABA, serotonin and BDNF. Large Western double-blind studies are largely missing here too, and that belongs in the picture honestly.

The studies with links are in the source block below.

Selank is considered very well tolerated. A central point from the studies: unlike classic sedatives, it does not cause dependence, produces no withdrawal and little sedation. Mainly mild things are reported, such as irritation of the nasal lining with nasal use. Data on very long continuous use are limited, so phases make more sense than continuous running.

A few things get more out of Selank:

• Because it is not sedating, you can use it across the day, whenever tension typically shows up.
• In phases rather than endlessly.
• Selank and Semax are often combined: Selank for the calm, Semax for the focus.
• Sleep and basics first, the peptide builds on that.

The undissolved powder is robust, normal room temperature (around 20 to 25 degrees) is fine, ideally kept in the dark. The reconstituted solution goes into the fridge (2 to 8 degrees) and stays stable there for at least 8 to 10 weeks with barely any loss of potency, in practice considerably longer. The bacteriostatic water brings a preservative. Especially with nasal use, keep the bottle clean.