Selank and Semax both come as lyophilized powders in 10 mg vials. You reconstitute Selank with 2 ml saline for nasal sprays that deliver 200 to 500 mcg per dose. Semax typically needs 1 to 3 ml for sprays that deliver 300 to 900 mcg.
Selank Dosing Protocols
Start with a Selank nasal dose of 200 mcg per nostril once in the morning. Tilt your head back, insert the tip of your nasal sprayer about 1 cm into one nostril, and spray half the dose while breathing in gently. Repeat in the other nostril. Wait at least 1 minute before blowing your nose.
For protocols focused on anxiety, you can increase to 300 mcg per nostril twice daily, in the morning and early evening, after 3 days. Run this for 10 to 14 days, then take a 7-day break. If you're reconstituting a 10 mg vial, add 2 ml of bacteriostatic water to get a concentration of 5 mg/ml. This means 0.04 ml (4 units on an insulin syringe) gives you 200 mcg.
The standard daily total is 400 mcg. The maximum daily dose is 1 mg, split into 2 or 3 doses. Use our Selank calculator to dial in your vial concentration and syringe draws.
A subcutaneous option exists if nasal administration causes irritation. Inject 100 to 200 mcg into belly fat once daily, but note that nasal absorption is faster for nootropic effects.
Semax Dosing Protocols
Semax requires higher initial doses: 300 mcg per nostril, 2 to 3 times daily. Take a dose in the morning after waking, another around noon, and a third before 6 PM if using three times. Each spray delivers about 0.05 ml from a 6 mg/ml solution. A common reconstitution is 10 mg in 1.6 ml of water for precision, but 2 ml works to give 5 mg/ml, where 0.06 ml provides 300 mcg.
For an acute cognitive boost, take 600 mcg total on day 1 (300 mcg x 2), and increase to 900 mcg (300 mcg x 3) by day 3. Cycle for 10 days on, then 5 days off. For learning tasks, a preload of 600 mcg about 30 minutes before study sessions can be effective.
Nasal administration is preferred for Semax. Its BDNF upregulation peaks 20 to 40 minutes after dosing. A subcutaneous alternative is 150 to 300 mcg once daily, but effects take about an hour to appear.
Use the Semax calculator to determine the exact volume per mcg based on your vial size.
Selank vs Semax: Key Differences in Research Use
Selank is effective in stress models at lower doses, with 200 to 400 mcg daily reducing cortisol analogs without sedation. Semax supports memory and focus at 600 to 1,200 mcg daily, mimicking NGF/BDNF spikes.
| Aspect | Selank | Semax |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Nasal Dose | 200 mcg/ nostril 1x/day | 300 mcg/ nostril 2x/day |
| Daily Total Range | 400 to 1,000 mcg | 600 to 1,800 mcg |
| Cycle Length | 10-14 days on/7 off | 10 days on/5 off |
| Primary Research Angle | Anxiety, mood stabilization | Cognition, neuroprotection |
| Reconstitution Volume (10 mg vial) | 2 ml (5 mg/ml) | 1.5-2 ml (5-6.7 mg/ml) |
| Onset Time | 15-30 min | 20-40 min |
| Duration per Dose | 4-6 hours | 3-5 hours |
Selank feels subtler, like a baseline calm. Semax feels sharper, similar to coffee without the jitters. Both are nasal peptides, but Semax scales higher for intensity.
Stacking Selank and Semax
You can stack them for balanced nootropic coverage: Selank handles the emotional side, Semax the cognitive drive. A basic protocol: Days 1-10, take 250 mcg Selank nasally in the AM and 400 mcg Semax nasally in the PM. The total daily dose is 650 mcg. Take 5 days off.
An advanced stack: Add 300 mcg Semax and 200 mcg Selank in the morning, and another 300 mcg Semax in the evening. This hits 1,000 mcg total. Monitor for nasal dryness and increase saline rinses to twice daily if needed.
You can also pair Semax in the morning with DSIP at 200 mcg subQ in the evening for sleep-memory synergy. Selank midday with GHK-Cu at 1 mg subQ may support neuro repair. Avoid stacking more than 3 peptides; start with one.
Timing matters: space doses 4 to 6 hours apart. Reconstitute each peptide separately, using 2 ml for Selank and 2 ml for Semax. Use 0.3 ml nasal sprayers and refill them fresh each week.
Nasal Peptide Dosing Methods
Nasal administration is standard for both. Prime the sprayer with 2-3 pumps before first use. Dose one nostril, wait 30 seconds, then dose the other. Avoid sniffing hard; a gentle inhale is enough. Store opened vials in the fridge at 2 to 8°C, where they remain stable for about 30 days.
For a DIY sprayer: mix a 10 mg vial with 2 ml BAC water for a 5 mg/ml concentration. Fill a 10 ml bottle with 2 mg of the peptide solution (0.4 ml of concentrate plus 9.6 ml saline). Each 0.1 ml spray delivers 50 mcg, so 2 sprays per nostril gives 200 mcg.
If you experience irritation, mix with a 0.9% saline buffer. Rotate nostrils daily. If burning persists, switch to subQ: 100 mcg Selank or 150 mcg Semax with a 30G needle at a 45-degree angle.
Cognitive Peptide Protocols
Protocol 1: Focus and Learning (Semax Heavy)
- Days 1-5: Semax 300 mcg/nostril 2x daily (1,200 mcg total)
- Days 6-14: Semax 400 mcg/nostril 2x (1,600 mcg) + Selank 200 mcg AM
- Off 7 days
- Pre-session: 600 mcg Semax 30 minutes before tasks
- Track with daily digit span tests
Protocol 2: Stress and Mood (Selank Heavy)
- Days 1-10: Selank 300 mcg/nostril 2x (1,200 mcg total)
- Add Semax 300 mcg PM on days 4-10
- Off 5 days, repeat for up to 3 cycles
- Evening wind-down: Selank solo at 400 mcg
Protocol 3: Stack with Recovery Peptides
- AM: Semax 300 mcg nasal + BPC-157 250 mcg subQ
- Midday: Selank 250 mcg nasal
- PM: Semax 300 mcg + TB-500 2 mg 2x/week subQ
- 14 days on/7 off. This is useful for high-stress cognition.
Scale doses based on body weight: reduce by 20% if under 70 kg, increase by 20% if over 90 kg. Women may need 10 to 20% less due to higher nasal absorption.
Advanced Stacking: Nootropic Peptide Combos
Incorporate sleep and repair peptides: Semax 600 mcg AM + Selank 300 mcg midday + Sermorelin 200 mcg subQ PM. This can boost GH for overnight brain repair.
For a fat loss angle, add AOD-9604 300 mcg AM subQ with Semax to clear mental fog during calorie deficits.
For social confidence, try Semax 400 mcg pre-socially + PT-141 500 mcg nasal 2 hours prior.
For metabolic nootropics, combine Semax with MOTS-c 5 mg weekly subQ for endurance brain support.
Always space doses 4-6 hours apart. Limit total peptides to 3 per day. Log your doses in an app.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Nasal drip? Use a saline spray 10 minutes after dosing. Headaches from Semax? Halve the dose and add 100 mg of theanine. No effects? Check your concentration and recalculate with the Selank calculator.
Tolerance can develop. Rotate protocols every 4 weeks. Off periods help reset receptors.
Storage: freeze stock vials at -20°C for up to 2 years. Refrigerate working solutions for up to 4 weeks.
Sourcing and Purity
Source lyophilized peptides from reputable labs with 99%+ purity verified by HPLC. Test with an insulin syringe draw; it should flow smoothly with no clumps after reconstitution.
This information is for educational purposes. Consult a healthcare professional before using any peptides, as they are not FDA-approved for human use and research is ongoing. Individual results vary.