This is an unofficial archive of PsychonautWiki as of 2025-08-11T15:14:44Z. Content on this page may be outdated, incomplete, or inaccurate. Please refer to the original page for the most up-to-date information.
Talk:Semax: Difference between revisions
>Doggeaux addition of some chemistry information |
>Blackhole m 0xea moved page Semax to Talk:Semax: move to talk namespace |
||
| (3 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{SubstanceBox/Semax}} | {{SubstanceBox/Semax}} | ||
'''Semax''' (natively labeled '''Семакс''') is a Russian pharmaceutical [[Peptide|neuropeptide]] developed in the 1980s and approved for clinical use in 1996 after a 14-year-long testing period<ref>http://www.semaxint.com/history.htm</ref>. While commonly prescribed in Russia, Ukraine, and other [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Independent_States CIS] nations for a wide range of conditions including stroke/ischemic brain injury, Alzheimer's, depression, generalized anxiety, peptic ulcer disease, and weakened immune system, it has gained limited recognition elsewhere as a [[nootropic]] due to its mildly [[Stimulants|stimulating]] and [[Anxiety suppression|anxiolytic]] effects, neuroprotective properties, and limited side effect profile. | '''Semax''' (natively labeled '''Семакс''') is a Russian pharmaceutical [[Peptide|neuropeptide]] developed in the 1980s and approved for clinical use in 1996 after a 14-year-long testing period<ref>http://www.semaxint.com/history.htm</ref>. While commonly prescribed in Russia, Ukraine, and other [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Independent_States CIS] nations for a wide range of conditions including stroke/ischemic brain injury, Alzheimer's, depression, generalized anxiety, peptic ulcer disease, and weakened immune system, it has gained limited recognition elsewhere as a [[nootropic]] due to its mildly [[Stimulants|stimulating]] and [[Anxiety suppression|anxiolytic]] effects, neuroprotective properties, and limited side effect profile. | ||
Though domestic vendors outside of the CIS frequently do not carry it, Semax is otherwise fairly accessible and proportionally inexpensive in larger markets. Semax is most usually found as nasal spray due to its very low oral bioavailability as a peptide, though it may also be administered subcutaneously for somewhat higher potency. | Though domestic vendors outside of the CIS frequently do not carry it, Semax is otherwise fairly accessible and proportionally inexpensive in larger markets. Semax is most usually found as nasal spray due to its very low oral bioavailability as a peptide, though it may also be administered subcutaneously for somewhat higher potency. | ||
While Semax generally has noticeable effects within minutes of administration<ref>https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30225715/</ref>, many therapeutic effects frequently only manifest at maximum efficacy after use in a longer-term regimen<ref>https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29798983/</ref>, owed in large part to upregulation of its signaling receptor site ("reverse tolerance") after consistent usage<ref>https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6798584_Semax_an_analog_of_ACTH4-10_with_cognitive_effects_regulates_BDNF_and_trkB_expression_in_the_rat_hippocampus</ref>. Some effects are usually noted after administration of a 100µg dose, though frequent users often find doses as high as 1. | While Semax generally has noticeable effects within minutes of administration<ref>https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30225715/</ref>, many therapeutic effects frequently only manifest at maximum efficacy after use in a longer-term regimen<ref>https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29798983/</ref>, owed in large part to upregulation of its signaling receptor site ("reverse tolerance") after consistent usage<ref>https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6798584_Semax_an_analog_of_ACTH4-10_with_cognitive_effects_regulates_BDNF_and_trkB_expression_in_the_rat_hippocampus</ref>. Some effects are usually noted after administration of a 100µg dose, though frequent users often find doses as high as 1.2mg to be optimal for therapeutic effects. It is strongly advised that users start at a low dose and gradually increase to an acceptable level rather than begin at even a relatively standard dose. | ||
Semax is noted for being generally well-tolerated, with only a small percentage of subjects noting presence of any side effects<ref>https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15792140/</ref>. | Semax is noted for being generally well-tolerated, with only a small percentage of subjects noting presence of any side effects<ref>https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15792140/</ref>. | ||
| Line 46: | Line 47: | ||
}} | }} | ||
== Toxicity and harm potential == | ==Toxicity and harm potential== | ||
Though not unsafe, excessively high doses are occasionally capable of producing highly uncomfortable or undesirable effects, such as [[mania]] or [[headache]]. Anecdotal reports additionally indicate that Semax's elevation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) can precipitate hair loss, though this generally ceases within 1-3 months of the subject's final dose. | Though not unsafe, excessively high doses are occasionally capable of producing highly uncomfortable or undesirable effects, such as [[mania]] or [[headache]]. Anecdotal reports additionally indicate that Semax's elevation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) can precipitate hair loss, though this generally ceases within 1-3 months of the subject's final dose. | ||
=== Lethal dosage === | ===Lethal dosage=== | ||
A lethal dosage for Semax has not been established, though specific testing on the matter has established that even an increase of 200 times the effective dosage (about 10mg/kg) was unable to produce a fatal outcome<ref>https://patents.google.com/patent/RU2045958C1/en</ref>, likely attributable to the speed that the body eliminates peptides— Semax's half-life, the amount of time it takes for total concentration to fall to 50% of the original dose, is 4 minutes<ref name=":0" />. | A lethal dosage for Semax has not been established, though specific testing on the matter has established that even an increase of 200 times the effective dosage (about 10mg/kg) was unable to produce a fatal outcome<ref>https://patents.google.com/patent/RU2045958C1/en</ref>, likely attributable to the speed that the body eliminates peptides— Semax's half-life, the amount of time it takes for total concentration to fall to 50% of the original dose, is 4 minutes<ref name=":0" />. | ||
It is strongly recommended that one use [[responsible drug use|harm reduction practices]] when using this substance. | It is strongly recommended that one use [[responsible drug use|harm reduction practices]] when using this substance. | ||
=== Tolerance and addiction potential === | ===Tolerance and addiction potential=== | ||
As opposed to other [[stimulants]], Semax does not appear to have any significant physical or psychological dependence liability, and does not produce symptoms of withdrawal upon discontinuation. Anecdotal reports, however, indicate that tolerance to its simulating effects may develop after sustained use, though other desirable effects (i.e. its nootropic properties) seem to have the opposite effect, building with sustained use due to upregulation of its signaling site. | As opposed to other [[stimulants]], Semax does not appear to have any significant physical or psychological dependence liability, and does not produce symptoms of withdrawal upon discontinuation. Anecdotal reports, however, indicate that tolerance to its simulating effects may develop after sustained use, though other desirable effects (i.e. its nootropic properties) seem to have the opposite effect, building with sustained use due to upregulation of its signaling site. | ||
=== Dangerous interactions === | ===Dangerous interactions=== | ||
*[[Stimulants]]: Due to its significant potentiation of other dopaminergic stimulants, combining Semax with a considerable dose of substances like [[caffeine]] may produce highly unpleasant or undesirable effects like overstimulation | |||
==Legal status== | |||
*'''Russia''', '''Ukraine''', and other '''CIS nations''': Semax is a legally-regulated prescription medication in the CIS and, as such, may only legally be obtained via medical prescription. Semax entered the Russian ''List of Vital & Essential Drugs'' in 2011<ref>http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/d/Js19766ru/</ref>. | |||
*'''Australia''': No laws or reports indicate possession or consumption of Semax to be illegal in Australia. | |||
*'''China''': No laws or reports indicate possession or consumption of Semax to be illegal in China, and numerous vendors ship from/within the Chinese mainland. | |||
*'''France''': No laws or reports indicate possession or consumption of Semax to be illegal in France. | |||
*'''Germany''': Though not legally recognized nor regulated, anecdotal reports indicate that shipments of Semax from American vendors are subject to seizure by German customs due to lack of FDA approval<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Nootropics/comments/47ql5f/german_customs_seized_and_destroyed_my/</ref>. No known reports indicate domestic shipping issues. | |||
*'''United Kingdom''': While Semax may technically fall under the provisions of the Psychoactive Substances Act of 2016, numerous vendors appear to legally sell to British customers. | |||
*'''United States''': Semax is not legally recognized nor regulated in the United States. Its lack of recognition by the FDA has led some vendors to mark Semax as "not for human consumption". | |||
==See also== | |||
*[[Responsible use]] | |||
*[[Nootropic]] | |||
*[[Noopept]] | |||
*[[Bromantane]] | |||
==Further reading== | |||
*[http://www.semaxint.com/ Semax International] | |||
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semax Semax (Wikipedia)] | |||
==References== | |||
{{reflist|2}} | |||