Semax: Practical Research and Usage Guide

This guide provides practical information for researchers working with Semax, compiling dosage protocols, administration techniques, and handling recommendations from published clinical and preclinical literature. Semax is primarily administered intranasally, and understanding the nuances of this delivery route is essential for achieving consistent and reproducible results. Semax is commercially available in Russia as an intranasal solution in two concentrations: 0.1 percent (1 mg per ml) for cognitive enhancement and nootropic use, and 1 percent (10 mg per ml) for acute neurological conditions such as ischemic stroke. For research purposes outside Russia, Semax is available as a lyophilized powder, typically in quantities of 5 mg, 10 mg, or 25 mg vials, requiring reconstitution before intranasal administration. Reconstitution of lyophilized Semax for intranasal use requires bacteriostatic water or sterile saline. For a 10 mg vial, adding 1.0 ml of bacteriostatic water yields a concentration of 10 mg per ml (the equivalent of the 1 percent clinical formulation), where each spray from a standard nasal spray device delivers approximately 100 microliters or 1 mg of Semax. For a milder nootropic concentration, adding 10 ml to a 10 mg vial produces 1 mg per ml (equivalent to the 0.1 percent formulation). The reconstitution process should be gentle: direct the water against the vial wall, then roll the vial between your palms rather than shaking vigorously. The resulting solution should be clear and colorless. For subcutaneous injection (an alternative administration route used in some research protocols), standard peptide reconstitution with bacteriostatic water applies. A 10 mg vial reconstituted with 2 ml of bacteriostatic water yields a concentration of 5 mg per ml, where 100 micrograms equals 0.02 ml (2 units on a standard insulin syringe). Intranasal administration technique significantly affects bioavailability and reproducibility. Before administering, gently blow the nose to clear nasal passages. Tilt the head slightly forward rather than backward—this counterintuitive position actually promotes better contact with the nasal mucosa rather than dripping down the throat. Insert the spray device or dropper tip just inside the nostril, aiming toward the lateral wall (away from the septum) to target the highly vascularized turbinate region. Administer the dose and inhale gently through the nose. Avoid forceful sniffing, which can propel the solution past the nasal mucosa into the throat, reducing absorption. Alternate between nostrils for successive doses. After administration, remain upright for at least 2 minutes and avoid blowing the nose for 15 to 20 minutes. Dosage protocols from clinical research span a considerable range depending on the indication. For cognitive enhancement and nootropic use in healthy or mildly impaired individuals, the standard Russian clinical protocol employs 200 to 600 micrograms per day, divided into two to three intranasal administrations. This corresponds to 2 to 3 drops of the 0.1 percent solution per nostril, two to three times daily. Treatment courses typically last 10 to 14 days, with the option of repeating after a rest period. For moderate cognitive impairment of vascular or degenerative origin, doses of 600 to 1200 micrograms per day have been used in clinical trials, again divided into multiple daily administrations over 10 to 14 day courses. For acute ischemic stroke (the highest-dose indication), clinical trials employed 6 mg twice daily (12 mg total per day) intranasally during the acute phase, initiated within 6 to 12 hours of stroke onset and continued for 5 to 10 days. A practical starting protocol for cognitive enhancement research would begin with 100 micrograms per nostril (200 micrograms total) administered once in the morning. After assessing tolerability over 2 to 3 days, the dose can be increased to 200 micrograms per nostril twice daily (800 micrograms total). The most commonly recommended protocol for nootropic use is 200 to 300 micrograms per nostril, twice daily (morning and early afternoon), for courses of 10 to 14 days. Timing of administration matters for optimal results. Semax can have mildly stimulating effects on alertness and focus, making morning and early afternoon dosing preferable. Administration after 3 to 4 PM may interfere with sleep onset in sensitive individuals. For stroke and acute neuroprotective applications, dosing is distributed evenly throughout waking hours to maintain consistent peptide levels. Cycling is recommended to maintain efficacy and align with the neurotrophic mechanism of action. The standard cycling approach involves 10 to 14 days of active administration followed by equal or longer rest periods. Neurotrophic effects, particularly BDNF elevation, persist beyond the active treatment period due to the cascade nature of neurotrophic signaling. Some protocols employ a 2-weeks-on, 2-weeks-off pattern, while others use 10 days on followed by 20 days off. Continuous long-term daily use is not typically recommended in clinical guidelines, though safety data from extended use have not revealed significant concerns. Storage of Semax requires attention to temperature and light sensitivity. Lyophilized (unreconstituted) Semax should be stored at minus 20 degrees Celsius in sealed vials protected from light, where stability is maintained for years. Reconstituted intranasal solution should be refrigerated at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius and used within 2 to 4 weeks. The Russian commercial formulation (preserved with methylparaben) has a longer shelf life at room temperature, but research-grade reconstituted solutions lack these preservatives and should be refrigerated and used promptly. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles of reconstituted solution. Regarding safety, Semax has an extensive safety record from over two decades of clinical use in Russia. The most commonly reported side effects include mild nasal mucosa irritation or dryness with prolonged intranasal use, transient headache (typically mild and resolving within hours), mild dizziness, and occasional restlessness or irritability, particularly at higher doses. No serious adverse events have been reported in published clinical trials. Semax does not affect cortisol levels, blood pressure, or heart rate at therapeutic doses, confirming the absence of steroidogenic effects despite its ACTH-derived structure. Contraindications include known hypersensitivity to the peptide, active nasal infections or severe nasal mucosal damage (which would impair intranasal absorption), and pregnancy or breastfeeding due to lack of safety data. Theoretical caution is advised in patients with convulsive disorders, as enhanced excitatory neurotransmission could theoretically lower seizure threshold, though no such events have been documented. Drug interactions have not been extensively characterized in formal interaction studies. However, Semax's effects on dopaminergic and serotonergic systems suggest caution when combining with monoamine oxidase inhibitors, serotonergic antidepressants, or dopaminergic medications. Concurrent use with other nootropics (racetams, Noopept) appears to be well tolerated based on anecdotal clinical experience, but formal interaction data are lacking. Quality assurance for research-grade Semax should include verification of peptide identity by mass spectrometry, purity assessment by HPLC (minimum 98 percent purity recommended), and amino acid analysis to confirm correct sequence. Reputable suppliers provide certificates of analysis with these parameters documented.