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STACK · Focus, stress modulation, and post-stress recovery

Cognition stack

Semax plus Selank for focus and stress modulation.

Last reviewed April 27, 2026 by Editorial team · 2 compounds

Information on this page is sourced from community use patterns and published research on each component. Educational only — not medical advice.

TL;DR

  • What it is: Semax and Selank are Russian-developed intranasal peptides historically used in clinical settings in Russia for post-stroke recovery (Semax) and anxiety disorders (Selank).
  • Best for: Focus, stress modulation, and post-stress recovery
  • Evidence level:limitedBoth compounds have published Russian-language clinical literature with limited Western peer review. The stacked combination has not been studied in any controlled trial.

CYCLE

2-4 weeks, 5 days on / 2 off

CompoundRoleDoseScheduleRoute
Semax

Intranasal in the morning.

Focus300-600 mcg intranasal1-2x daily (5 days on / 2 off)Intranasal
Selank

Intranasal as needed during the day for stress.

Anxiolytic250-500 mcg2-3x dailyIntranasal

Why it works

Semax is a fragment of ACTH and acts on melanocortin receptors with downstream effects on BDNF expression. Selank is a synthetic analog of tuftsin with effects on the GABAergic system. Used together, the reported subjective effect is sustained focus without anxiety -- though no controlled human study has tested the combination.

Cautions

Intranasal peptides are not FDA-approved in the US. Reconstitute carefully and refrigerate. Cycle off to avoid tolerance. Discontinue if you notice mood changes.

Compounds in this stack

Sources

Stacks are synthesized from community use patterns plus the published evidence on each component compound. See each compound's page for citations.

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