Selank dosage and protocol
Last reviewed Oct 7, 2026. Editorial policy
US regulatory status: Nomination withdrawn
Selank is a synthetic analog of tuftsin with anxiolytic, nootropic, and immunomodulatory properties. Developed in Russia, it reduces anxiety without sedation or addiction risk, while also improving memory and cognitive function. Often used as an alternative to benzodiazepines for anxiety management.
- Vial size: 5 mg
- Reconstitution: 3 mL bacteriostatic water
- Concentration: 1.67 mg/mL
- Administration: subcutaneous
Research areas
- Anxiety Reduction
- Cognitive Enhancement
- Immune Modulation
- Nootropic
- Stress
Quick start
- Reconstitute: Add 3.0 mL bacteriostatic water → ~1.67 mg/mL concentration
- Typical daily range: 300–500 mcg once daily (4 weeks on, 4 weeks off)
- Easy measuring: At 1.67 mg/mL, 1 unit = 0.01 mL ≈ 16.7 mcg on a U-100 syringe
- Storage: Lyophilized at −20°C; after reconstitution, refrigerate at 2–8°C; avoid freeze–thaw cycles
Dosing protocol
| Phase | Dose | Frequency | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1–2 | 300 mcg | Once daily (SC) | 0.18 mL (18 units) |
| Weeks 3–4 | 500 mcg | Once daily (SC) | 0.30 mL (30 units) |
How it works
Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro) developed at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Russia. It extends tuftsin, a natural immunomodulatory tetrapeptide, with a Pro-Gly-Pro sequence that improves stability. It is registered in Russia as an intranasal anxiolytic but is not approved by the FDA or EMA. Its mechanism is not fully defined. Studies suggest it modulates GABA-A receptor signalling (an allosteric effect without direct benzodiazepine-site binding), influences serotonin and dopamine metabolism, inhibits enzymes that break down enkephalins and increases BDNF expression in the hippocampus of rodents. It also affects expression of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, consistent with its tuftsin origin. In rodent studies, Selank reduced anxiety-like behaviour and improved learning and memory. Small clinical studies in Russia, mostly in patients with generalised anxiety disorder or neurasthenia, reported anxiety reduction comparable to some benzodiazepines without notable sedation or withdrawal, but these trials were small, not widely replicated and largely published in Russian. Subcutaneous use, as in this protocol, is less studied than the intranasal form.
Units chart for a 5 mg vial
| Water added | Strength | 1 unit = | 300 mcg | 500 mcg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | 5 mg/mL | 50 mcg | 6 units | 10 units |
| 2 mL | 2.5 mg/mL | 25 mcg | 12 units | 20 units |
| 3 mL | 1.67 mg/mL | 16.7 mcg | 18 units | 30 units |
Units on a U-100 insulin syringe (100 units = 1 mL).
Pages for each vial size and water volume
Reconstitution steps
- Draw 3.0mL bacteriostatic water with a sterile syringe
- Inject slowly down the vial wall; avoid foaming
- Gently swirl/roll until dissolved (do not shake vigorously as peptides are delicate)
- Label and refrigerate at 2–8°C, protected from light
Storage
Evidence: Common practice. What vendors and users usually do. No published stability testing supports a specific number.
- Powder or unopened: Sealed powder: freezer (about −20 °C) for long-term storage, refrigerator for weeks. Let the vial reach room temperature before opening.
- Mixed or in use: Refrigerator, 2–8 °C. Do not freeze and thaw repeatedly.
- Use within: no tested number
- Light: Keep it in the box or another dark container.
Often sold as a nasal spray; storage depends on the product.
Most reconstituted peptides are kept in the refrigerator (2–8 °C) and used within about 28 days. That is a convention, not tested data: the 28 days comes from the USP <797> limit for opened multiple-dose containers, which is about sterility, not about whether the peptide stays intact.
Sources: Crestigen: Peptide storage and handling guide; USP General Chapter <797> Pharmaceutical Compounding: Sterile Preparations
Store lyophilized at -20°C. Refrigerate after reconstitution.
Important notes
- Research use only
- Anxiolytic without sedation or dependence risk
- Often compared to low-dose Diazepam without side effects
- Improves enkephalin and BDNF levels
- N-Acetyl Selank is more potent version
Supplies
- Bacteriostatic water
- Insulin syringes (U-100)
- Alcohol swabs
- Sharps container