Selank

Tuftsin analog · B-tier (Dr. Alex Tatem) · Limited evidence

A calming, non-sedating peptide from Russia. The effect is subtle but real.

Dr. Tatem’s take

B-tier: a subtle but real calming effect, and not a sedative.

In Dr. Tatem’s tier list

• Part of his interest in rest and recovery: “if you want to have a great day, it starts with a great night’s sleep.”
• Selank is designed to boost GABA-related signaling that produces a calm, relaxed state, aiming for more reliable relaxation, better sleep and recovery.
• There is “a decent amount of clinical data” in the research context. It is not a sedative, not Ambien, not a benzodiazepine.
• The effect is subtle — not a light switch — but it does a decent job. Verdict: B tier.

History & background

Selank was developed at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences as a stabilized analog of tuftsin, a natural immune-modulating peptide. It is approved in Russia as an anti-anxiety nasal spray but not in the US or EU.

Its published human data are mostly small Russian studies, including an open-label comparison with the benzodiazepine phenazepam.

Benefits

• Reduced anxiety in a Russian comparison with a benzodiazepine.

Risks

• Few reported; data is sparse.

Dosing protocols (informational, labeled by evidence)

• Clinical trial / label: Russian approved nasal drops (0.15%) — ~250–300 mcg per dose, Intranasal, 3x daily, 14 days, then ~1 month off
• Clinical trial / label: GAD clinical study — 2700 mcg/day (900 mcg single doses), Intranasal, Split daily, ≥14 days
• Community (bro science): Community nasal/subQ — Nasal 200–400 mcg; SC 200–500 mcg, Intranasal or SubQ, Nasal 2–3x daily; SC once daily, ~1 month on/1 month off

Status: Not approved in the US. Removed from FDA Category 2 in April 2026.

Grade and commentary: Dr. Alex Tatem. Watch: Truth About More Popular Peptides (What Works, What’s Overhyped) | Peptide Tier List pt.2, Peptide Expert: What Do Peptides Actually Do? (EXPLAINED) - Dr Alex Tatem. Subscribe: @DrAlexTatem.