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The plain-English version
Standard protocol is 250 to 500 micrograms (a few drops in each nostril) two to three times per day, for about 14 days. Selank is intranasal (a nose spray), not an injection. Always with a doctor familiar with Russian peptide protocols.
Route: intranasal spray. Evidence tier for the dose: Strong clinical. Multiple human studies support the dosing protocol; not yet FDA-labeled for this exact indication but close.
The dose at a glance
| What's typical | What's the max in research |
|---|---|
| Starting dose: 250 mcg intranasal (split between both nostrils) twice daily for the first 3 days. | Max observed in research: Russian protocols cap at 900 mcg per day total. Higher doses do not improve the anxiolytic effect. |
| Maintenance dose: 250 to 500 mcg, 2-3 times per day during a 14-day cycle. | |
| Frequency: 2 to 3 times per day. Most protocols use morning, midday, and afternoon doses. | Half-life: Plasma half-life is short (estimated under 30 minutes). Effects on GABA modulation are believed to last 4-6 hours, which is why thrice-daily works. |
Titration (how to ramp the dose)
Most users skip formal titration (slow ramp-up). Some start at 100 mcg per dose to test tolerance.
Cycle length and time off
On cycle: 14 days per cycle is the canonical Russian protocol.
Off cycle: 1 to 2 weeks off between cycles. No tolerance buildup at the standard dosing in published work.
Timing notes: Morning, midday, and (if 3x) afternoon. Avoid the last dose late at night - can disrupt sleep onset in some users. Spray with head tilted slightly back, alternate nostrils between doses.
What's commonly prescribed (per published protocols and clinical write-ups)
Selank is a prescription anxiolytic in Russia (sold as Selank by Innovative Pharmacy Technologies). Not FDA-approved in the US - sold as a research peptide by US peptide vendors, typically as a 0.15% intranasal spray bottle (about 5 mL). Russian-trained psychiatrists in the US sometimes write off-label scripts. Compounding pharmacies will fill it as an intranasal solution (3 mg/mL is typical).
Source: prescribing labels, published protocols, and clinical write-ups. We have not independently tested each prescriber pattern.
Reconstitution (mixing the vial)
Selank intranasal spray ships pre-mixed (already liquid) at a labeled concentration like 3 mg/mL. At 3 mg/mL, one full pump (about 100 microliters) delivers around 300 mcg. If your pharmacy filled the bottle with a different concentration, recalculate from the mg/mL printed on your bottle label - not from this page. Lyophilized (freeze-dried) injectable forms exist but are rarely used - intranasal is the route Selank was designed for.
Reconstitution = mixing freeze-dried (lyophilized) powder with bacteriostatic water (sterile water with preservative) so you can draw a dose into a syringe.
Drug interactions to watch
- Benzodiazepines - additive effect; coordinate with prescriber.
- SSRIs and SNRIs - no documented interaction, but report any changes to your prescriber.
- Alcohol - additive sedation possible; avoid heavy drinking during cycles.
Who should not take this (contraindications)
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding (no safety data).
- Known hypersensitivity to the peptide.
- Severe nasal congestion (the route does not work).
Common side effects
- Mild nasal irritation in the first few days.
- Brief headache after the first 1-2 doses.
- Sneezing right after the spray.
Serious side effects (call a doctor)
- No serious side effects documented in published Russian research.
- Allergic reaction (nasal swelling, rash) - rare.
What to monitor while you're on it
- Subjective anxiety scale (GAD-7, SUDS) at baseline and end of cycle.
- Sleep diary - rule out late-day dosing disrupting sleep.
- Watch for rebound anxiety in the days after stopping.
How to stop
Just stop at the end of the 14-day cycle. No taper needed.
Where this dosing comes from
- Zozulya et al., Selank vs medazepam in generalized anxiety (2008)
- Kost et al., Selank pharmacology review (2001)
- Russian Federation prescribing information for Selank
- US compounding and research peptide vendor protocols (2020-2025)
Where these doses come from
These doses come from human trials and prescribing protocols used by clinicians. Not FDA-approved at this exact dose, but well-supported by published data.
Always work with a real prescriber. Don't self-prescribe.
Safety reminder: None of this replaces a doctor. Peptides are gray-market in the US for most uses. Talk to a real prescriber before you change anything.
Where to go next
- Full Selank directory entry - status, sourcing, studies, what to skip
- Selank for anxiety
- Selank for stress resilience
- Selank for focus
- What are peptides - if you skipped the foundation
- How peptides actually work - mechanism in plain English
- Subscribe to the dispatch
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Last reviewed · 2026-05-07 · Page generated by Protocol One matrix engine. None of this replaces a doctor. Peptides are gray-market in the US for most uses. Talk to a real prescriber before you change anything.