Peptides for focus, memory and anxiety: what the evidence says
Semax and Selank were developed in Russia, where they are used as medicines. Online they are sold as "nootropics" for focus, memory and anxiety.
This page has not yet been reviewed by a credentialed medical professional. It is educational and is not medical advice.
Both have some human studies, mostly from Russia and of mixed quality. Neither is approved in the US or Canada, and independent trials are scarce.
What people use, ranked by evidence
Strongest evidence first. The numbers come live from PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov.
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Semax
Human trialsWhat people use it for: Focus, memory and stroke recovery. Developed in Russia and used there as a medicine.
What the evidence says: Human studies exist, mostly from Russia and of mixed quality. Not approved in the US or Canada.
1 randomized trial 0 registered trials Approved for: Approved in Russia; not authorized in the US or Canada Sport: Check listSemax profile → -
Selank
Human trialsWhat people use it for: Anxiety and stress. Also developed in Russia.
What the evidence says: Limited human studies, mostly from Russia. Not approved in the US or Canada.
2 randomized trials 2 registered trials Approved for: Used in Russia; not authorized in the US or Canada Sport: Check listSelank profile →
Common questions
Is Semax approved?
It is used as a medicine in Russia but is not authorized in the US or Canada.
Does Selank work for anxiety?
A few small studies, mostly published in Russian, report benefits. There are no large independent trials.
Other goals
"What people use it for" describes common claims, not recommendations. Educational only, not medical advice.