What Is Semax?

Semax is a synthetic fragment of ACTH (4-10) with an added stabilizing tail — developed at Moscow State University and approved in Russia since the 1990s for stroke recovery, cognitive impairment and optic-nerve conditions. It carries hormonal ancestry but no hormonal activity; its effects are neurological.

Mechanistically it elevates BDNF (the brain's growth-and-plasticity factor) and modulates dopamine and serotonin systems. Nootropic users report sharper focus and processing under fatigue, typically via nasal administration.

What is Semax studied for?

Side effects & safety

Russian clinical literature reports strong tolerability; community reports occasional overstimulation, irritability or sleep disruption with late-day dosing. Nasal administration adds mild nostril irritation.

Legal & approval status

Approved prescription medicine in Russia/CIS; unapproved research compound in the West. Legal to possess in most Western countries, unregulated as a drug.

Typical dosing at a glance

Commonly reported protocols use 200 mcg–600 mcg, daily, via intranasal or subcutaneous. For the mixing math — how much bacteriostatic water, exact syringe units, doses per vial — see the Semax reconstitution calculator →

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Educational overview based on published research and commonly reported community protocols — not medical advice, and not an endorsement of any compound. Consult a licensed healthcare provider.