Semax
Semax acetate, ACTH(4-7)PGP, ACTH 4-10 analogue, Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro, MEHFPGP
Forms: Nasal drops (the form registered in Russia, prescription-only there), gray-market nasal sprays and injectable 'research' powder.
A synthetic seven-amino-acid peptide: a fragment of ACTH (4-7) plus Pro-Gly-Pro. A medicine in Russia, used there for ischemic stroke; not approved in most other countries and sold online as a nootropic.
Legal status: A medicine in Russia; unapproved in most countries and sold as a 'research' peptide; varies by country. The US military supplement program (OPSS) lists it as banned in sport (WADA S2).
What it gives
What people use it for and what the sources report. Strength is a general category from the literature: mild, clear or strong.
Purpose
Used as a nasal spray or injection for focus, memory and mental clarity under stress. An official medicines lab found it in seized products, and it is sold online. Most evidence comes from rat stroke models; benefits for healthy athletes are unproven.
What people seek and what studies show
People hope for sharper focus, memory and stress resistance. In rats with stroke it damped inflammatory genes in the brain, and in cell cultures it helped cholinergic neurons survive. A brain-scan study in 52 healthy people (Semax, Selank or placebo) found changes in amygdala connectivity, but no well-controlled trial shows better thinking or performance in healthy people.
Effects
Evidence: Limited human data — some human studies, small or short
Sought effects by goal (as reported)
Possible side effects
Possible does not mean certain: whether they appear depends on dose, duration, individual response and monitoring. Below — what to watch for and how to notice it early.
3 possible side effects
level · how often it is reportedWhat the levels mean
Level: general category from the literature, not your personal risk
How often
- common
- reported often
- possible
- reported in some people
- rare
- reported occasionally
How to lower the risks
General ways to lower the chance of each side effect. No measure removes a risk completely.
Products obtained without a prescription are often fake, mislabeled or non-sterile, and there is no way to check at home. For legal supplements, look for third-party testing (Informed Sport, NSF).
What is unknown cannot be lowered, only avoided; tell your doctor what you have taken.
Low-level side effects
Check-ups and blood tests
Which tests and check-ups to do and when. This is a guide — agree the exact schedule with your doctor.
Which doctors can help
For women
The Russian label lists pregnancy and breastfeeding as contraindications because clinical data are lacking.
Myth & fact
“Semax is a proven brain booster for training and competition.”
It is used in Russia after stroke; in healthy people no solid trial shows better focus, memory or performance.
Combinations
No specific combination notes for this substance yet. The stack check still adds up side effects that several substances share.
Sources
Possible side effects by body system, combinations, how to lower the risks and which tests to do — free.
Open the stack check