Selank (10 mg)

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At a Glance

Selank (TKPRPGP) is a synthetic tuftsin-analog heptapeptide studied for anxiolytic and nootropic effects without sedation. Research focuses on GABAergic gene modulation, BDNF normalization, enkephalinase inhibition, and immune-system balancing via the tuftsin scaffold.[1]

• Reconstitute: Add 3.0 mL bacteriostatic water → 3.33 mg/mL (3,333 mcg/mL) concentration.
• Starting dose: 300 mcg once daily (9 units / 0.09 mL) subcutaneous for the first two weeks.
• Easy measuring: At 3.33 mg/mL on a U-100 syringe, 1 unit = 0.01 mL = ~33.3 mcg.
• Cycle: 4 weeks on, 4 weeks off; optional 5-days-on / 2-days-off weekly pattern.
• Storage: Lyophilised: freeze at −20 °C; reconstituted: refrigerate at 2–8 °C; use within 30 days.

Overview

• Goal: Modulate GABAergic gene expression and BDNF levels; reduce anxiety while preserving cognition; inhibit enkephalin-degrading enzyme activity.[1]
• Schedule: Once-daily subcutaneous injection on a 4-weeks-on / 4-weeks-off cycle; intranasal administration is also documented in the literature.[2]
• Dose range: 300 mcg (weeks 1–2 ramp) → 500 mcg (weeks 3–4 maintenance).
• Reconstitution: 3.0 mL BAC water per 10 mg vial → 3.33 mg/mL.
• Storage: Lyophilised at −20 °C; reconstituted at 2–8 °C; use within 30 days.

What You'll Need

Plan based on one 4-week on-cycle (28 once-daily injections: weeks 1–2 at 300 mcg + weeks 3–4 at 500 mcg ≈ 11,200 mcg total).

• Selank Vials (10 mg each): 11,200 mcg per on-cycle → 2 vials per on-cycle (with buffer).
• Insulin Syringes (U-100, 1 mL): 1 per injection → 28 syringes per on-cycle.
• Bacteriostatic Water (10 mL bottles): 3.0 mL per vial → 1 × 10 mL bottle covers both vials per on-cycle.
• Alcohol Swabs: 2 per injection → 56 swabs per on-cycle.

How to Reconstitute

1. Allow frozen lyophilised vial to reach room temperature (10–15 minutes).
2. Draw 3.0 mL bacteriostatic water with a sterile syringe.
3. Inject slowly down the inner vial wall; do not inject directly onto the powder cake.
4. Gently swirl or roll until fully dissolved — do not shake. Solution should be clear and colourless.
5. Label with reconstitution date; refrigerate at 2–8 °C. Use within 30 days.

Dosing Schedule

Frequency: Inject once daily subcutaneously on a 4-weeks-on / 4-weeks-off cycle. The first two weeks at 300 mcg establish tolerability before advancing to the 500 mcg maintenance dose for weeks 3–4. An optional 5-days-on / 2-days-off weekly pattern may be used within each on-week. Doses are calculated at ~33.3 mcg per unit for convenient measurement on a standard U-100 insulin syringe.[1]

A conservative start of 250 mcg (7.5 units / 0.075 mL) is an option for those with heightened sensitivity; hold at 250 mcg for week 1 before advancing to the 300 mcg ramp.

Protocol Details

• Weeks 1–2: 300 mcg (9 units / 0.09 mL) once daily — ramp and tolerability.
• Weeks 3–4: 500 mcg (15 units / 0.15 mL) once daily — maintenance.[1]
• Cycle: 4 weeks on, 4 weeks off; repeat cycles as needed.
• Injection site: Abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Rotate sites between injections.

Storage

• Lyophilised: Store at −20 °C (−4 °F) or below; protect from moisture and light.
• Reconstituted: Refrigerate at 2–8 °C. Do not freeze. Use within 30 days.
• Appearance: Clear and colourless. Discard if cloudy, coloured, or particulate.

How Selank Works

Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro, TKPRPGP) derived from tuftsin, an endogenous immunomodulatory tetrapeptide. The C-terminal Pro-Gly-Pro extension substantially increases metabolic stability relative to native tuftsin, which degrades within minutes in serum. Research focuses on four mechanisms: indirect modulation of GABA-A receptor systems (gene expression studies show broad regulation of GABAergic transcripts in frontal cortex[1]); BDNF normalization in hippocampus after intranasal delivery[2]; inhibition of enkephalin-degrading enzymes, prolonging endogenous enkephalin availability; and immunomodulation inherited from the tuftsin scaffold, including cytokine-gene balancing under stress conditions. For the full mechanism and evidence base, see What Is Selank?.

Good to Know

• Selank CAS: 129954-34-3; Molecular Weight: ~751.9 g/mol. Distinct from Semax (CAS 80714-61-0), which has an ACTH-derived sequence and stronger dopaminergic signal.
• Both intranasal and SC routes appear in the research literature. Intranasal delivery is documented in hippocampal BDNF studies; SC is used in this protocol for reproducibility.[2]
• Clinical observations in generalized anxiety disorder cohorts report some patients responding within days; response timing varies.[1]
• No benzodiazepine-type tolerance or dependence signals appear in published animal or clinical data.
• Mild injection site reactions (transient redness) are the most commonly reported side effect.
• Human data originate from Russian clinical literature; no Western RCTs have been published.
• Both Selank and Semax inhibit enkephalinases (Kost et al. 2001); if studying both in parallel, Semax shows the stronger IC₅₀ (~10 µM vs ~20 µM for Selank). No published co-administration study exists.
• For mechanism and clinical evidence detail, see What Is Selank?.

Tips for Best Results

• Collect baseline anxiety or cognition measures (HAM-A, Zung, or a processing-speed battery) before the first dose to establish a comparison point.
• Time injections consistently relative to activities; day-to-day variability in timing complicates outcome tracking across the titration phase.
• Store reconstituted vials promptly; heptapeptides are stable under refrigeration but not indefinitely — adhere to the 30-day use window.
• If mild headache or injection site discomfort occurs in weeks 1–2, hold at 250 mcg for one additional week before advancing to 300 mcg.
• After completing a 4-week on-cycle, take a full 4-week washout before beginning the next cycle to prevent tolerance.

Injection Tips

• Clean the vial stopper and injection site with separate alcohol swabs; allow both to air-dry fully before proceeding.
• Using a 29–31 gauge insulin syringe (5/16″ to 1/2″ needle), draw the calculated dose precisely.
• Pinch a fold of skin and insert the needle at 45° into subcutaneous fat (90° is acceptable with a short needle into a well-pinched fold).
• Inject slowly over 2–3 seconds; do not aspirate. Withdraw the needle, apply gentle pressure, and do not rub the site.
• Rotate injection sites (abdomen, thighs, upper arms) and dispose of each syringe in a sharps container immediately after use.[4]