Piracetam vs Selank
Side-by-side comparison of Piracetam and Selank: mechanism, half-life, dose range, safety profile, and vendor pricing.
Price snapshot
Piracetam
Selank
Piracetam
Piracetam is the prototypical nootropic — the compound that inaugurated an entire class of cognitive enhancement drugs and gave the category its name. It was synthesized in 1964 by Romanian-born Belgian chemist Corneliu…
No vendor price on file.
Full Piracetam profileSelank
Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro, 750 Da molecular weight) developed in the 1990s at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences as a synthetic analog of tuftsin…
Lowest listed price: $25.00 across 6 listings
Full Selank profileSide-by-side comparison
| Attribute | Piracetam | Selank |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Nootropics | Nootropics |
| Research Stage | Preclinical | Approved (Russia, as anxiolytic and nootropic medication) |
| Mechanism of Action | Piracetam's mechanism of action is the subject of 50+ years of research that has identified several pharmacologic effects without converging on a single primary mechanism. The compound is a cyclic derivative of GABA but has minimal direct GABAergic activity —… | Primary Mechanism: Multi-System Neurochemical Modulation Selank does not have a single clean receptor-binding mechanism. Unlike benzodiazepines (GABA-A positive allosteric modulators), SSRIs (serotonin reuptake inhibition), or buspirone (5-HT1A partial… |
| Half-Life | — | ~2-3 minutes plasma half-life (functional anxiolytic and nootropic effects persist 12-24 hours due to gene expression and neurotransmitter modulation) |
| Typical Dose Range | — | 250-750 mcg intranasal daily (0.15% solution: 2-3 drops per nostril 2-3x daily); typical course is 14-21 days |
| Dosing Frequency | — | Intranasal 1–3 times daily |
| Administration | — | Intranasal |
| Side Effects | Piracetam's side effect profile is among the most favorable in all of pharmacology, which is one of the reasons Giurgea identified it as the prototype for a new class of cognitive enhancement drugs with high safety margins. In 50+ years of clinical use across… | Overall Safety Profile Selank has one of the best safety profiles in the anxiolytic space. Over 15+ years of Russian clinical use and research, the compound has been associated with essentially no serious adverse events at therapeutic doses. This compares… |
| Molecular Weight | — | 751.9 Da |
| Common Vial Sizes | — | 5mg, 10mg |
Price History
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Piracetam: potential benefits
- No structured benefit list published.
Selank: potential benefits
- Anxiolytic effects comparable to benzodiazepines but without sedation or dependence in Russian clinical trials (PMID: 18454096)
- Positive allosteric modulation of brain GABA receptors through a non-benzodiazepine binding site (PMID: 30255741)
- Immunomodulation via Th1/Th2 cytokine balance and IL-6 regulation in patients with anxiety-asthenic disorders (PMID: 18577961)
- Cognitive and memory support linked to BDNF upregulation in the hippocampus in preclinical models (PMID: 18841804)
- Modulation of the endogenous enkephalin-opioid system supporting mood and stress tolerance (PMID: 22550852)
- Anti-inflammatory and adaptogenic effects through normalization of stress-induced cytokine dysregulation
- Non-addictive anxiolytic profile - no tolerance, withdrawal, or dependence reported across years of Russian clinical use
Frequently asked
What's the difference between Piracetam and Selank?
Piracetam is a nootropics that piracetam's mechanism of action is the subject of 50+ years of research that has identified several pharmacologic effects without converging on a single primary mechanism. the…. Selank is a nootropics that primary mechanism: multi-system neurochemical modulation selank does not have a single clean receptor-binding mechanism. unlike benzodiazepines (gaba-a positive allosteric…. The two differ in mechanism, half-life (not reported vs ~2-3 minutes plasma half-life (functional anxiolytic and nootropic effects persist 12-24 hours due to gene expression and neurotransmitter modulation)), and typical dose range.
Which has the longer half-life, Piracetam or Selank?
Piracetam has a half-life of not reported. Selank has a half-life of ~2-3 minutes plasma half-life (functional anxiolytic and nootropic effects persist 12-24 hours due to gene expression and neurotransmitter modulation). Longer half-lives generally mean less frequent dosing but slower on/off kinetics.
Can you stack Piracetam and Selank?
Stacking depends on mechanism overlap, safety profile, and goals. Piracetam and Selank should only be stacked after reviewing each compound's individual protocol page, side effect profile, and any published interaction data. Use the BodyHackGuide stack builder for a structured review before combining research compounds.
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Before you buy Piracetam or Selank
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Related comparisons
Research use only. BodyHackGuide is a research and price-comparison reference. The compounds discussed on this page are not approved by the FDA for human consumption and are sold strictly for laboratory research. Prices shown are pulled from vendor listings tracked on BHG and are subject to change. We earn an affiliate commission on some outbound clicks, and every vendor is ranked on the same public, reproducible methodology. See editorial standards and affiliate disclosure.