Semax

Cognitive & neuro Approved · Russia Human trials

A seven-amino-acid peptide developed in Russia from a fragment of the hormone ACTH, with a Pro-Gly-Pro tail added for stability. It has none of ACTH's hormonal activity. It raises BDNF in the brain and is studied for stroke recovery, attention and memory.

Evidence at a glance

Evidence: Human trials — Studied in people
Status: An approved medicine in Russia
Dosing: A dose has been tested in humans

Same caveat: approved and studied almost entirely in Russia, with limited Western replication.

What studies report

Improved recovery after ischemic stroke in Russian trials
Better attention, memory and mental stamina in healthy volunteers and students
Raises BDNF in the brain

How it works

A fragment of ACTH with the hormonal activity stripped out and a Pro-Gly-Pro tail added for stability. It raises BDNF in the brain along with serotonin and dopamine.

Binds a receptor on the cell surface and signals inward

Where it acts

Brain

The library groups this compound under Cognitive & neuro. The diagram shows that target, not every tissue it reaches.

Illustrated

Cerebral cortex tissue showing a few pyramidal neurons and supporting glial cells.

AI-generated subject illustration; not a depiction of the compound or evidence of its effects.

Why people take it

Focus, memory and mental staminaStroke recoveryMood

Reasons people seek it out — not a list of proven effects.

In practice Off-label

A nootropic-community staple, usually as a nasal spray
Used during cognitively demanding periods — exam seasons, deadlines — then stopped
Commonly cycled rather than taken continuously

Reported real-world use, not evidence and not a recommendation.

Dosing

What was tested Evidence

Intranasal, in courses over 10–14 daysRussian stroke and cognitive trials→ Reported improvement in recovery measures

What people report using Not evidence

Used intranasally during cognitively demanding periods, then stopped
Cycled rather than taken continuously

Reported for reference, not as instruction. Nothing here is a recommendation to take anything, and most of these compounds are not approved for human use.

Status: Approved in Russia as a nasal medicine for stroke and cognitive disorders. Not approved elsewhere.

Route: Intranasal spray
Sequence: Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro
Formula: C37H51N9O10S
Molecular weight: 813.9 g/mol
CAS: 80714-61-0
Available as: 10 mg

View on PubChem →

Search PubMed for Semax → We link a live search rather than a fixed citation list, so it stays current and nothing here is a reference we have not checked.

Compared with

vs Selank →

Side-by-side pages for the compounds this one is most often confused with or taken alongside.

Educational information only. Nothing here is medical advice, a dosing protocol, or a recommendation to use any compound. Most entries describe substances not approved for human use. Talk to a licensed clinician before acting on anything you read here. How to read these entries.