PEPTIDE: Selank

What makes Selank a departure from traditional anxiolytics is its nuance. While benzodiazepines act as direct agonists of the GABA-A receptor — essentially forcing the 'off' switch and risking amnesia or sedation — Selank functions as a positive allosteric modulator. It does not override the system; it fine-tunes it.

Specifically, Selank rapidly upregulates the expression of the alpha-2, alpha-3, and gamma-2 subunits of the GABA-A receptor. This increases the binding affinity of the body's endogenous GABA, strengthening natural inhibitory signals while preserving mental clarity. Furthermore, Selank provides a second layer of anxiolysis by acting as an enkephalinase inhibitor. By inhibiting enzymes like aminopeptidase N and DPP-IV, it prevents the degradation of endogenous enkephalins, sustaining the body's natural opioid tone without the risks of exogenous opioids.

In a clinical comparison of 62 patients with generalized anxiety disorder, Selank demonstrated anxiolytic efficacy comparable to medazepam on standard rating scales — but without sedation, cognitive impairment, or withdrawal symptoms. 40% of patients were rapid responders, with Hamilton Anxiety scores dropping from 20.3 to 7.0 within the first 1-3 days.

Beyond its mood-stabilising effects, Selank acts as a powerful nootropic by facilitating synaptic plasticity. It rapidly upregulates the expression of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) in the hippocampus. These proteins are essential for the survival of existing neurons and the birth of new ones.

What is particularly elegant about Selank's nootropic profile is its impact on neurotransmitter dynamics. It increases serotonin turnover (measured by the 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio) in the hypothalamus. Combined with increased memory trace stability, this allows for faster learning speeds even when the brain is navigating a high allostatic load. It also drives a remarkable 25-fold increase in hypocretin (orexin) expression, which prevents the lethargy and mental fog associated with traditional anxiolytics.

Selank does not just lower anxiety; research by Medvedev (2007) showed it actually improves attention and working memory specifically when the user is under high cognitive load or performance-related stress.