Selank 30 mg — Quick Chart
Dosing & Reconstitution Overview
Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide derived from the endogenous immunomodulator tuftsin, studied for its anxiolytic and anti-asthenic activity in Russian clinical and preclinical work. The figures below are compiled strictly for laboratory and educational reference — they describe how the compound was handled and dosed in the published literature, not a recommendation for use in humans or animals.
For a 30 mg vial, adding 6.0 mL of bacteriostatic water yields a concentration of 5 mg/mL (5,000 mcg/mL). At that concentration every 0.02 mL drawn on a U-100 insulin syringe equals 2 units and delivers 100 mcg of material, so a 300 mcg amount is 6 units and a 500 mcg amount is 10 units — small, measurable volumes that keep the daily arithmetic simple.
Standard (Gradual) Titration Schedule
Because Selank carries a wide therapeutic margin and no documented dependence signal, the published model starts at the lower end of the research band and steps up after roughly two weeks to confirm tolerability before settling at the working amount.
| Phase | Daily Dose | Units (U-100) | Volume | Vials / Cycle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1–2 | 300 mcg (0.3 mg) | 6 units | 0.06 mL | — |
| Weeks 3–4 | 500 mcg (0.5 mg) | 10 units | 0.10 mL | — |
| Weeks 5+ | 500 mcg (0.5 mg) | 10 units | 0.10 mL | — |
Reconstitution Steps
- Let the sealed lyophilized vial and the bacteriostatic water reach room temperature, then wipe both stoppers with an alcohol swab.
- Draw 6.0 mL of bacteriostatic water (in two passes if your syringe holds less) and inject it slowly down the inside wall of the vial — never directly onto the powder pellet.
- Swirl gently until fully dissolved. Do not shake; aggressive agitation can shear the peptide.
- The solution should be clear and colourless. Label the vial with the concentration (5 mg/mL) and the reconstitution date.
- Store upright under refrigeration between uses and draw each subsequent volume with a fresh sterile syringe.
Advanced (Cycled) Schedule
Continuous 14-day courses showed efficacy in the clinical trials, but the broader research convention cycles administration to avoid blunting the response (tachyphylaxis). Two patterns appear in the literature, both holding the same 500 mcg working amount.
| Pattern | Daily Dose | Units (U-100) | Volume | Cadence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 weeks on / 4 weeks off | 500 mcg (0.5 mg) | 10 units | 0.10 mL | Daily during "on" block |
| 5 days on / 2 days off | 500 mcg (0.5 mg) | 10 units | 0.10 mL | Weekday cadence, weekend break |
| Continuous (trial model) | 300–500 mcg | 6–10 units | 0.06–0.10 mL | 14-day course |
The 14-day continuous course is the format used in the published neurasthenia and generalized-anxiety studies; the cycled patterns are research conventions intended to preserve responsiveness over longer windows.
Supplies Needed
- Selank vials (30 mg): a single 30 mg vial covers ~60 daily doses at 500 mcg; one vial spans roughly an 8-week continuous course, two vials a 16-week course.
- Insulin syringes (U-100, 1 mL): one fresh syringe per draw — about 56 for an 8-week course, ~112 for a 16-week course.
- Bacteriostatic water (10 mL): one bottle reconstitutes a 30 mg vial with margin to spare.
- Alcohol swabs: two 100-count boxes comfortably cover a 16-week schedule with daily dosing.
Protocol Overview
- Research goal: model anxiolytic and anti-asthenic activity through tuftsin-analog neuromodulation.
- Schedule: once-daily subcutaneous administration in the reconstituted model; clinical-era data used an intranasal formulation.
- Dose band: 300–500 mcg daily.
- Fill: 30 mg lyophilized, reconstituted to 5 mg/mL with 6 mL diluent.
- Storage: −20 °C dry; 2–8 °C once reconstituted.
Dosing Protocol Notes
- Begin at the 300 mcg step and hold for about two weeks before moving to the 500 mcg working amount.
- Keep administration on a fixed daily cadence; Selank is non-sedating, so daytime timing fits the published anti-asthenic profile.
- Consider a cycled pattern (4-on/4-off or 5-on/2-off) for runs longer than the 14-day trial format.
- The wide therapeutic window means small measurement variance at these low volumes has limited impact, but accurate units still matter for reproducibility.
Storage Instructions
Keep sealed lyophilized vials at −20 °C, protected from light, where stability extends for many months; brief periods at 2–8 °C are acceptable short-term. Once reconstituted, refrigerate at 2–8 °C and use within about one month. Allow refrigerated solution to warm slightly before drawing and avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles, which degrade the peptide.
Important Handling Notes
- Use a sterile syringe for every draw and never re-enter the vial with a used needle.
- Rotate sampling/handling technique to keep the stopper intact.
- Given the large number of small draws from one vial, aliquot if practical to limit stopper punctures.
- Document each draw — date, volume, remaining material — for reproducibility.
How Selank Works
Selank (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro) is a stabilized synthetic analog of tuftsin, an endogenous immunomodulatory peptide. Research attributes its anxiolytic effect to modulation of the GABAergic and serotonergic systems alongside changes in the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and inflammatory cytokines, rather than direct benzodiazepine-receptor binding. The added proline residues slow enzymatic breakdown relative to native tuftsin, extending its activity. Notably, the Russian trial literature reported anxiolytic activity comparable to benzodiazepines but without sedation, motor impairment or a dependence signal, which is the property that distinguishes it from classical anxiolytics in the comparative work.
Reported Benefits & Side Effects
Benefits observed in studies
- Anxiolytic activity described as comparable to benzodiazepines, without the accompanying sedation.
- Anti-asthenic ("energy-restoring") effects supporting daytime use.
- Longer-term stabilizing influence on neurobehavioral measures across continuous courses.
- No documented dependence or withdrawal liability, and a wide therapeutic range.
Side effects reported
- Occasional mild injection-site reactions — redness or minor irritation — reduced by rotating sites.
- Generally well tolerated across the 14-day continuous trial courses.
- Absence of the sedative and cognitive-dulling effects typical of classical anxiolytics.
Supporting Lifestyle Factors (Research Context)
- Consistent sleep and stress-management routines, which the anti-asthenic studies used as baseline controls.
- Stable daily timing to keep neurobehavioral measurements comparable across a course.
- Adequate hydration and nutrition as standard trial conditions.
Injection Technique (Reference Only)
- Prepare the vial and site with alcohol swabs and let them dry.
- Insert subcutaneously at a 45–90° angle depending on needle length; aspiration is not required for subcutaneous work.
- Because daily volumes are small (0.06–0.10 mL), a single site per administration is sufficient.
- Rotate sites systematically and dispose of sharps in an approved container.
References
- Zozulia AA, et al. Efficacy and safety of Selank in generalized anxiety disorder and neurasthenia. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr (2008). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18454096
- Medvedev VE, et al. Selank in the treatment of anxiety and asthenia — 14-day clinical course. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr (2008). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18577961
- Kolomin T, et al. The temporary dynamics of Selank's effect on gene expression — intranasal peptide review. BioMed Research International (2017). hindawi.com/journals/bn/2017/5091027
- Kozlovskaya MM, et al. Selank and short peptides of the tuftsin family — primate behavioral studies. J Evol Biochem Physiol (2008). link.springer.com/article/10.1134/S0022093008030101
- Subcutaneous drug delivery — physiology and absorption review. PMC (2019). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6822791