The Russian nootropic peptide used for focus, cognition, and neuroprotection — sister peptide to Selank with a stronger stimulating profile.
Semax is a synthetic 7 amino acid peptide developed at the Russian Academy of Sciences in the 1980s as a fragment analog of ACTH (4-10). In Russia it’s approved for stroke recovery, TIA, and cognitive disorders.
It’s considered a sister peptide to Selank — similar Russian origin and intranasal administration — but with a more stimulating, focus-enhancing profile rather than anxiolytic. Many users stack the two: Semax for cognition, Selank for stress buffering.
Not FDA approved. Not WADA prohibited. Available as research chemical or nasal spray formulation.
Strong upregulation of BDNF and nerve growth factor in animal studies — the core mechanism for neuroplasticity, learning, and neuroprotection.
Modulates dopamine and serotonin tone in cortical and limbic regions — contributes to the focus, motivation, and mood-lifting effects.
Like Selank, inhibits enkephalin breakdown — contributes to stress tolerance and mild analgesic properties.
Reduces ischemic damage in stroke models; this is why it’s approved in Russia for acute stroke and TIA protocols.
| Benefit | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Focus & attention | Most-reported effect; improvements on sustained attention and working memory |
| Learning / memory | BDNF-mediated enhancement; benefits in cognitive decline and TBI models |
| Stroke recovery | Russian clinical use; reduced neurological deficit in ischemic stroke |
| ADHD-like symptoms | Anecdotal improvements in focus, task-switching, motivation |
| Mood | Mild mood elevation; not an antidepressant but a useful adjunct |
| Eye strain / recovery | Used in Russia for optic nerve protection and post-surgical eye recovery |
Build your protocol, log every dose, monitor your body's response, and get reminders so you never miss a dose.
Start Tracking FreeTypical use is 10–30 day cycles followed by 1–2 week breaks. Some users run longer continuous cycles without tolerance issues.
30 mg vial + 5 mL BAC water = 6 mg/mL. Nasal pump ~100 µL/spray = 600 mcg per spray.
For 600 mcg dose: 1 spray. For 1.2 mg: 2 sprays. For 300 mcg: halve the concentration or accept less precision.
Pre-filled with a typical Semax setup. Edit any field — the draw updates live.
Insulin syringe — 100 units = 1 mL
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Build your protocol, log every dose, monitor your body's response, and get reminders so you never miss a dose.
Start Tracking FreeNo. Semax is a Russian-developed synthetic heptapeptide (a Pro-Gly-Pro–extended fragment of ACTH(4-10)) that has never been approved by the FDA, EMA, or any Western regulatory authority. Russia approved it as a nootropic (0.1% intranasal) and for acute ischemic stroke (1% intranasal). In the US it is sold only as a research chemical.
Russian-clinic protocols: 0.1% intranasal drops (1 mg/mL) for cognitive/asthenia use; 1% drops (10 mg/mL) for acute stroke at 6000 mcg/day in 10-day courses with 20-day washouts. Western community usage is 250–1000 mcg per dose, 1–3 times daily — total 500 mcg–2 mg/day. The high end starts overlapping with the Russian stroke-indication dose.
Primary route is intranasal. A 5 mg lyophilized vial + 2 mL bacteriostatic water yields 2.5 mg/mL — at 100 mcL per spray, that delivers 250 mcg per spray. Subcutaneous administration (300–600 mcg/day) is community practice with no clinical-evidence base behind it.
Onset is reported within 15–30 minutes intranasally; subjective effects (focus, mental clarity) sustain 3–6 hours per dose. Animal data (Shadrina 2006 PMID 16523722) shows brain detection within ~2 minutes of intranasal dosing, with downstream gene-expression effects within ~30 minutes (glial culture) peaking ~1.5 hours in vivo.
Both are Russian Pro-Gly-Pro–stabilized peptides, but they hit different physiology. Semax is derived from ACTH(4-10) and is reported as more stimulant/focus-promoting — closer to a "smart drug" profile. Selank is derived from tuftsin and is reported as more anxiolytic/calming. Community users often stack the two. Neither has Western clinical-trial validation in any of these uses.
Not specifically named on the WADA Prohibited List as of 2025–2026. WADA reserves discretion to sweep peptides under broad class language (S0 — Non-Approved Substances). Competitive athletes should verify the current-year list before use.
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StackTrax guides cover peptides and compounds that are not FDA-approved for the uses discussed. The dosing, reconstitution, and safety information is compiled from published research and community protocols for educational purposes only.
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