Compound · semax
T2Peptide

Semax

Synthetic analog of ACTH fragment 4-10 with a Pro-Gly-Pro C-terminal extension. Enhances BDNF and TrkB expression, modulates dopaminergic and serotonergic systems, and provides neuroprotection via suppression of nitric oxide overproduction. Approved in Russia for stroke recovery and cognitive enhancement.

Half-life
Several minutes (extended by Pro-Gly-Pro stabilization)
Bioavailability
High (intranasal)
Route
intranasal, subcutaneous
Evidence tier
T2 — Single-RCT or mechanistic
Optimization pillars
recovery
References
2 peer-reviewed
Dose ranges

Three tiers ordered by aggressiveness. Tier chips on every OPTIMIZE intervention let you filter the catalog by your evidence tolerance.

conservative
100–200 mcg/day intranasal
Cognitive support
moderate
200–600 mcg/day intranasal
Nootropic protocol
aggressive
600–1000 mcg/day intranasal
Neurological recovery
Monitoring
  • cortisol
  • thyroid-panel
Contraindications
  • pregnancy
  • seizure-disorders
  • acute-psychosis
References
  • PMID:17369778Semax, an analog of ACTH(4-10), regulates expression of immune response genesBull Exp Biol Med, 2006
  • PMID:16996037Nootropic and analgesic effects of Semax following different routes of administrationRegul Pept, 2006
Notes

Semax is the cognitive peptide with stroke-recovery origins. The Russian clinical data is extensive but poorly translated into Western clinical frameworks. The BDNF upregulation is the same mechanism that makes exercise neuroprotective — except delivered as a nasal spray. The ACTH fragment origin raises cortisol questions, but at clinical doses, adrenal stimulation is negligible. Semax and Selank are frequently stacked. Different receptor targets, complementary cognitive and anxiolytic profiles.

This is not medical advice

Discuss with a licensed clinician before starting, stopping, or changing any compound. This page documents what the research literature describes — it is not a prescription.

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