Semax Nasal Spray: Uses, Evidence and Safety
Semax nasal spray vs the licensed Russian drops: what it's used for, how much reaches the brain, what human studies found, FDA's 2026 concerns and safety.
Russian-developed peptides studied for brain health, focus and anxiety, including Semax and Selank: the clinical research, dosing studied and legal status.
Semax 0.1% (Russia) · Semax 1% (Russia) · ACTH(4-7)PGP · ACTH(4-10) analog · MEHFPGP · Семакс · N-Acetyl Semax Amidate (modified form)
Synthetic heptapeptide; nootropic (ATC N06BX in Russia)
A 7-amino-acid nasal peptide developed in Moscow and prescribed in Russia for stroke and cognitive problems. Human studies are small, Russian and mostly unblinded.
Read moreSelank 0.15% (Russia) · TP-7 · Selank acetate · Селанк · N-Acetyl Selank Amidate (modified form)
Synthetic heptapeptide; anxiolytic (ATC N05BX in Russia)
A 7-amino-acid nasal peptide sold over the counter in Russia for anxiety. Small Russian trials compared it with benzodiazepines; it has no Western clinical trials.
Read moreDelta sleep-inducing peptide · Emideltide · Delta sleeping inducing peptide · Deltaran (Russian DSIP preparation)
Synthetic nonapeptide (neuropeptide)
A 9-amino-acid peptide found in rabbits in 1977 and sold today for sleep. Small 1980s insomnia trials gave mixed results, and FDA advisers reportedly voted against allowing it in compounding in 2026.
Read morePNB-0408 · N-hexanoic-Tyr-Ile-(6) aminohexanoic amide · Dihexa acetate
Angiotensin IV-derived peptide analog (modified dipeptide); proposed HGF/c-Met modulator
A small angiotensin IV-derived molecule from Washington State University that improved memory in rats. It has never been tested in a published human trial, and a key mechanism paper was retracted.
Read moreCerebrolysin · Церебролизин · Porcine brain peptide preparation
Peptide preparation derived from pig brain; nootropic (ATC N06BX)
An injectable mixture of peptides from pig brain, used for stroke, dementia and brain injury in Russia, China and parts of Europe. Not FDA-approved; trial results are mixed.
Read morePE 22-28 · Mini-spadin · GVSWGLR · Spadin analog
Synthetic heptapeptide; TREK-1 potassium channel blocker (spadin analog)
A 7-amino-acid fragment of the antidepressant peptide spadin, made by a French CNRS team. It blocked the TREK-1 channel and eased depression-like behavior in mice; it has never been tested in people.
Read moreP021 · Peptide 021 · P21 · Ac-DGGLAG-NH2 · CNTF peptide mimetic
Neurotrophic peptide mimetic (adamantane-modified CNTF-derived tetrapeptide)
A small CNTF-derived compound from a New York State lab that boosted new brain cells and memory in Alzheimer's model mice and aged rats. It has never been tested in people.
Read morecGPMAX (New Zealand blackcurrant supplement) · cGP · cyclo(Gly-Pro) · Cyclo-prolylglycine · Cycloprolylglycine (CPG) · Циклопролилглицин
Endogenous cyclic dipeptide (diketopiperazine); IGF-1 metabolite
A tiny ring-shaped dipeptide made in the body from IGF-1 and found in New Zealand blackcurrants. Human studies link it to stroke recovery and cognition, but no placebo-controlled trial has tested it.
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Semax nasal spray vs the licensed Russian drops: what it's used for, how much reaches the brain, what human studies found, FDA's 2026 concerns and safety.
Semax dosage on the Russian label (200 mcg to 20 mg a day as nasal drops), the doses used in stroke, ALS and volunteer studies, and why injections are untested.
The best peptides for anxiety, ranked by evidence: Selank's small Russian trials, DSIP's weak data, oxytocin's mixed results, and the proven care to try first.
DSIP dosage in published studies: 25 to 35 nmol/kg by slow IV injection in small 1980s trials, one nasal study, and why online injection doses lack evidence.
Peptides for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, graded by evidence: failed GLP-1 trials, the small LIXIPARK signal, Cerebrolysin's limits and unproven Dihexa.
Semax side effects: the Russian label lists only mild nasal irritation, but studies rarely tracked safety. EEG changes, FDA concerns and who should avoid it.
DSIP side effects in human studies: headache, sweating, nausea, dizziness and low blood pressure, plus FDA's concerns about immune reactions and missing data.
Best peptides for sleep ranked by evidence: CBT-I first, tirzepatide for sleep apnea, orexin-blocking pills, then weak evidence for DSIP and GH peptides.
DSIP vs melatonin for sleep: 1980s DSIP insomnia trials vs melatonin meta-analyses, how each works, side effects, product quality and 2026 legal status.
Peptides for ADHD have almost no human evidence. See what Semax, Selank, Cerebrolysin and oxytocin studies found, and why proven ADHD care comes first.
Peptides for depression, graded by evidence: what GLP-1 mood and suicidality data show, why Selank and Semax lack trials, and why proven care comes first.
Selank nasal spray vs the licensed Russian drops: what it's used for, how it's absorbed, what the small anxiety trials found, side effects and FDA status.
Peptides for PTSD, graded by evidence: what oxytocin trials with prolonged exposure therapy found, why no peptide is approved, and where to get help now.
The best peptides for cognition, graded: Semax and Selank's small Russian data, Cerebrolysin's dementia trials, and Dihexa and P21 with no human trials.
Selank dosage on the Russian label: 2 drops of 0.15% per nostril 3 times a day for 14 days. What trials used, mcg per drop, and why injections are untested.
Selank vs Semax: how the two Russian nasal peptides differ in origin, anxiety vs stroke evidence, label doses, side effects, stacking and 2026 FDA status.
Dihexa vs Semax vs Selank compared: rat-only data vs small Russian trials, mechanisms, side effects, a retracted paper and 2026 FDA status for each.
Peptides for TBI and concussion, graded by evidence: small Cerebrolysin CAPTAIN trials, the failed EPO-TBI trial, and why emergency care comes first.
Peptides for autism, graded by evidence: the negative SOARS-B oxytocin trial, failed secretin trials, and why unproven peptides are risky for children.
Peptides for stroke recovery, graded by evidence: nerinetide's failed ESCAPE trials, Cerebrolysin's mixed CARS and Cochrane data, and why 911 comes first.
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