Semax
Russian heptapeptide derived from ACTH, linked to BDNF
Experimental material. Read before using anything from here.
Nothing on this page is a medical recommendation, prescription or treatment plan. It is an organized translation of protocols circulating in research communities and, where it exists, of what published trials tested. The two are marked differently — and they are not equivalent.
Most of the compounds here have no FDA approval for human use. Several are sold labeled "research use only", which means they have not gone through purity, sterility or dosage controls for human consumption. A community-reported dose is not a validated dose: it is what someone reported having done.
Talk to a licensed health professional before considering any of these compounds. If you already use one and feel anything unexpected, seek care — do not wait for the next routine test.
Summary
Synthetic seven-amino-acid peptide, sequence Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro. It was designed in Russia from a fragment of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) plus a stabilizing Pro-Gly-Pro tail. It is registered in Russia for ischemic stroke and neurology. The plasma half-life is extremely short, but the effect on BDNF is delayed and prolonged — which explains the morning dose.
Quick reference
- Route
- Intranasal solution is the most studied format. Subcutaneous from a reconstituted vial also appears.
- Schedule
- Daily administration, with frequency split between morning and afternoon to avoid a late dose.
- Measure (nasal)
- Vials come labeled in mcg per spray or per drop. Read the label, don't count drops by eye.
- Cycle
- Russian clinical references describe courses of a few weeks followed by a break, not continuous use.
- Status
- Not approved by the FDA. Left 503A Category 2 on April 23, 2026.
Dosing guide
| Context | Reported amount | Notes | Source type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal pharmacology (rodent) | Up to ~1 mg/kg | Not human-applicable; for context only | Animal pharmacology summaries |
| Human research-community planning (subQ) | Below 1 mg per administration | Sparse direct human data | Community research planning, not formal trials |
Semax Reconstitution Guide
| Vial size | BAC water added | Final concentration | Example draw (0.5 mg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 mg | 2.0 mL | 10.0 mg/mL | 0.05 mL = 5 units on U-100 |
| 20 mg | 4.0 mL | 5.0 mg/mL | 0.10 mL = 10 units on U-100 |
| 20 mg | 5.0 mL | 4.0 mg/mL | 0.125 mL = 12.5 units on U-100 |
Semax Timeline & What to Monitor
| Window | What is reported | What not to overread |
|---|---|---|
| Same day (intranasal) | Faster task initiation, sharper attention, reduced cognitive drag in some users | A single good work session does not validate the molecule; placebo and novelty are real |
| First week | Pattern of focus, mental stamina, and tolerability becomes more readable | Overstimulation, sleep disruption, or irritability appearing here is a stop-and-reassess signal |
| 2–4 weeks | Cognitive consistency and any neuroprotective / immunomodulatory signals are described in this window in the literature | Daily-life subjective improvement does not equal evidence of neuroprotection |
| End of cycle | Whether baseline performance holds without continued use | Feeling unable to work without it is a tool-dependency signal, not a Semax success |
Semax vs Selank vs Common Nootropics
| Option | Main research focus | Typical route | Subjective profile | Main caution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semax | Cognitive activation, neuroprotection, ischemia/stress models | Intranasal (most studied); subQ less common | More activating, drive-leaning | Overstimulation; FDA immunogenicity flag for compounded forms |
| Selank | Anxiolytic / GABAergic gene expression, stress modulation | Intranasal (most discussed) | Calmer, anxiety-reducing | FDA Category 2 history (separate listing) |
| Caffeine + L-theanine | Alertness + smoothing | Oral | Stimulant + relaxation | Tolerance, sleep disruption |
| Modafinil | Wakefulness promotion | Oral, prescription | Strong wakefulness, less direct cognition | Prescription-only; interactions |
Storage and handling
The rules below apply to practically every lyophilized peptide in this reference. Where a compound has its own requirement, it appears in the table in the previous section.
- Lyophilized powder, sealed: refrigerator, between 2 and 8 °C, protected from light. Many tolerate room temperature for short transport periods, but that is tolerance, not a recommendation.
- After reconstitution: always refrigerated, between 2 and 8 °C. The stability window drops to days or a few weeks, depending on the compound.
- Never freeze after reconstituting. The freeze–thaw cycle degrades the peptide.
- Do not shake. Swirl the vial slowly. Shaking breaks the peptide chain.
- Bacteriostatic water down the wall of the vial, in a slow stream, not squirted directly onto the powder.
- Cloudy solution, with particles or a color change: discard. There is no recovery.
Lab tests and monitoring
This list is the one that appears recurrently in the source, with small variations by compound. It serves as a starting point for a conversation with a professional — not as a substitute for that conversation.
- Before starting: complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, lipid panel, fasting glucose and HbA1c, TSH and free T4, blood pressure and resting heart rate.
- Depending on the compound: IGF-1 (GH axis), lipase and amylase (VIP and the incretin agonists), serum copper and ceruloplasmin (GHK-Cu and blends containing it), CRP.
- Reassessment: most protocols review between week 4 and week 8, and then every 8–12 weeks.
- Do not wait for the routine lab test in the face of abdominal pain, visual changes, a change in a mole, shortness of breath, asymmetric swelling or any new and persistent symptom. That is a reason to seek care, not a spreadsheet item.
Evidence limits
Data source: peptidedosingprotocols.com, accessed on September 3, 2026. Translation and organization in Portuguese are original work. No primary source (PubMed, trial registry, package insert) was checked in building this page — the check was against the secondary source, and that alone.