Semax Calculator
What is Semax?
Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide derived from amino acids 4–10 of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), developed at the V.N. Orekhovich Research Institute of Biomedical Chemistry in Moscow. The molecule retains the neurotropic activity of the parent ACTH(4-10) fragment while lacking the corticotropic and melanocortin effects of full-length ACTH. Russian regulatory authorities approved Semax in 1996 for ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack, and its labeled indications have since expanded to include cognitive disorders following stroke and certain attention-related conditions. The intranasal route — most common in Russian clinical practice — uses a saline-buffered solution; injectable lyophilized formulations are also available for research use. Semax is not FDA-approved and is classified as a research compound in most Western jurisdictions.
| 5 mg | lyophilized powder |
| 10 mg | lyophilized powder |
| 0.1 mg | ≈ 5 U-100 units (at 10mg / 5mL) |
| 0.5 mg | ≈ 25 U-100 units (at 10mg / 5mL) |
| 1 mg | ≈ 50 U-100 units (at 10mg / 5mL) |
How it's typically prepared
For injectable research use, reconstitute the lyophilized powder with bacteriostatic water and store refrigerated at 2–8 °C. The intranasal route used in Russian clinical practice relies on a pre-prepared saline-based nasal solution and does not require reconstitution from powder. Semax peptide bonds are sensitive to enzymatic degradation; reconstituted solution is typically used within 2–3 weeks.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Semax FDA-approved?
- No. Semax is approved by Russian regulatory authorities (since 1996) for ischemic stroke and TIA and is registered in several CIS countries. It is not FDA-approved in the United States and is not approved by the EMA.
- What is the typical Semax dose used in research literature?
- Russian protocols cite intranasal doses in the 200–1000 µg/day range, divided across multiple administrations. Injectable doses reported in the research literature span 50–500 µg per administration. The calculator above renders math for both routes.
- How is Semax administered?
- Intranasal drops are the dominant route in Russian clinical use. Subcutaneous and intramuscular routes appear in research papers and are how the lyophilized form is studied outside of approved indications.
- What is the half-life of Semax?
- The peptide is short-acting in plasma — minutes to a few hours — but central effects are reported to outlast plasma exposure, attributed to downstream BDNF expression.
- Is Semax a CNS stimulant?
- No. Semax is not pharmacologically classified as a stimulant; its mechanism involves modulation of melanocortin signaling and BDNF rather than dopaminergic or noradrenergic stimulation.
- Is there English-language clinical evidence for Semax?
- A growing body of English-language pharmacology and animal-model work exists on PubMed, but most clinical trial publications remain in Russian-language journals indexed in eLibrary.ru rather than in MEDLINE.
Where researchers source this
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PeptideDose is an educational reference. It is not medical advice and does not replace consultation with a licensed healthcare provider. Doses shown in presets are derived from published protocols and product labels — they are not personal recommendations.