Theacrine vs Selank
Side-by-side comparison of Theacrine and Selank: mechanism, half-life, dose range, safety profile, and vendor pricing.
Price snapshot
Theacrine
Selank
Theacrine
Theacrine (1,3,7,9-tetramethyluric acid) is a purine alkaloid structurally related to caffeine, found naturally in Camellia assamica var. kucha — a tea cultivar grown in southern China and northern Vietnam — and in…
No vendor price on file.
Full Theacrine 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 | Theacrine | Selank |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Nootropics | Nootropics |
| Research Stage | Dietary Supplement (Food Ingredient) | Approved (Russia, as anxiolytic and nootropic medication) |
| Mechanism of Action | Theacrine's primary pharmacodynamic signature is dual adenosine A1/A2A receptor antagonism, the same mechanism caffeine exploits to reduce perceived fatigue and suppress sleep drive. The 9-methyl and 2,6,8-trione modifications to the xanthine core shift its… | 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 | 16-20 hours (plasma); Tmax 60-90 minutes | ~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 | Oral | Intranasal |
| Side Effects | At studied doses (100-300 mg/day), theacrine has a favorable side-effect profile in the controlled human trials — clinical chemistry and cardiovascular markers remained unchanged vs placebo across 8 weeks. That said, real-world reports identify several… | 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 | 224.22 g/mol | 751.9 Da |
| Common Vial Sizes | — | 5mg, 10mg |
Price History
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Theacrine: 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 Theacrine and Selank?
Theacrine is a nootropics that theacrine's primary pharmacodynamic signature is dual adenosine a1/a2a receptor antagonism, the same mechanism caffeine exploits to reduce perceived fatigue and suppress sleep…. 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 (16-20 hours (plasma); Tmax 60-90 minutes 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, Theacrine or Selank?
Theacrine has a half-life of 16-20 hours (plasma); Tmax 60-90 minutes. 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 Theacrine and Selank?
Stacking depends on mechanism overlap, safety profile, and goals. Theacrine 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 Theacrine 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.