Semax
Dosage Protocol
Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide (Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro) derived from the ACTH(4-7) fragment with a Pro-Gly-Pro extension for stability. It is approved in Russia and Ukraine for the treatment of stroke, TIA, and cognitive disorders. Its primary mechanism involves robust BDNF and NGF upregulation in the brain, making it one of the most powerful nootropic peptides in clinical use.
What is Semax?
Semax was developed at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences by Vladimir Ilyich Sebentsov and colleagues. The ACTH(4-7) core sequence (Met-Glu-His-Phe) is responsible for cognitive and neuroprotective effects of ACTH without any adrenocorticotropic activity — it cannot stimulate cortisol release. The Pro-Gly-Pro extension protects it from rapid enzymatic degradation.
Semax's primary mechanism is potent induction of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) and CNTF expression in brain tissue. BDNF drives neuroplasticity, synaptic strengthening, and neurogenesis in the hippocampus — the neurobiological substrate of learning and memory. It also modulates dopaminergic, serotonergic, and cholinergic systems, and demonstrates neuroprotective effects in ischemia models.
Dosing Schedule
Parameters documented in published preclinical and clinical research.
| Phase | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intranasal | 200–300 mcg per nostril | 1–2× daily | 4–8 weeks | Primary research route. 2–3 drops per nostril. N-Acetyl Semax Amidate preferred. |
| SubQ | 200–500 mcg | Once daily | 4–8 weeks | Subcutaneous administration for more consistent bioavailability than intranasal. |
| High dose | 600–900 mcg | Daily SubQ | 2–4 weeks | Acute cognitive or neuroprotective research protocols. |
| Off cycle | — | — | 4 weeks | Take equal time off before repeating cycle. |
Safety & Side Effects
Academic References
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[1]
Ashmarin IP, et al. (1997). Anxiolytic action of Semax on rats. Bull Exp Biol Med. 124(6):529–30. PubMed ↗
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[2]
Grigoriev VV, et al. (2016). Neuroprotective and cognition-enhancing properties of ACTH(4-7)PGP (Semax). Acta Naturae. 8(1):82–91. PubMed ↗
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[3]
Dolotov OV, et al. (2006). Semax, an analog of ACTH(4-7) with a prolonged action, protects against ischemic brain injury. Front Neuroenergetics. 2006. PubMed ↗
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[4]
Shadrina MI, et al. (2001). Expression analysis of neuroprotective effect of Semax. J Mol Neurosci. 17(2):237–44. PubMed ↗