Semax & Selank vs Ritalin: My ADHD Experiment Starts Now
A creator who says he has childhood-diagnosed ADHD explains why he plans an 8-week trial of Semax by day and Selank at night, with his planned doses.
Key moments
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- 0:00Why Semax and SelankDay introduces both peptides and says they address two failure points in his life. He previews what they are, why he is running them and how.
- 0:31Disclaimer and ADHD backgroundDay says the video is not medical advice and is based on his own experience. He says he has childhood-diagnosed ADHD.
- 1:02Why he stopped RitalinHe says Ritalin worked but left him feeling flat and compliant, so he stopped. He describes his ADHD as a feature as well as a drawback.
- 2:36Nighttime overthinkingDay describes his mind racing at night with no specific worry. He names daytime focus and nighttime overthinking as his two targets.
- 3:38What Semax isHe describes Semax as a seven amino acid peptide from 1980s Russia. He says it raises BDNF and influences dopamine and serotonin pathways.
- 4:38Semax is not a stimulantDay says Semax is not like Adderall, modafinil or Ritalin. He says the reported effect is quieter, more sustained focus.
- 5:08What Selank isHe describes Selank as a tuftsin analog originally made for anxiety. He says it modulates GABA and the HPA axis without sedation or dependency.
- 6:40Timing and injection routeDay explains why Semax goes in the morning and Selank at night. He prefers subcutaneous injection to nasal sprays for more consistent absorption.
- 7:12His protocol and dosesHe plans 500 micrograms a day of each, Semax before his first work block and Selank one to two hours before bed. He may raise the Selank dose over time.
- 7:43Side effects and evidence limitsDay lists reported side effects for both peptides. He says Western clinical data is limited and outlines what he will track over about 8 weeks.
What the video says
William Day, a fitness and peptide creator, uses this video to set up a personal experiment rather than report results. He says he was diagnosed with ADHD as a child and took Ritalin, which he stopped because he felt flat and compliant even though it worked. He describes two problems he wants to address: trouble holding focus on tasks that do not grip him, and a mind that keeps running at night when he wants to sleep. He states that nothing in the video is medical advice and that viewers should consult a medical practitioner.
Day then describes the two compounds. He calls Semax a seven amino acid peptide developed in Russia in the 1980s, first used for stroke recovery, cognitive impairment and optic nerve damage. He says it raises BDNF, affects dopamine and serotonin signaling, and may reduce neuroinflammation. He stresses that it is not a stimulant and that, going by reports, the focus is quieter and more sustained. He describes Selank as a Soviet-era peptide made as an analog of tuftsin, originally studied for anxiety. He says it acts on GABA and the HPA stress axis and, in his words, calms internal noise without sedation or dependency.
His plan is to use Semax in the morning before his first work block and Selank one to two hours before bed, so the two are not working against each other. He says most people use nasal sprays, but he will inject subcutaneously because he considers absorption more consistent. He plans 500 micrograms a day of each to start, possibly raising the Selank dose, for about 8 weeks. He lists side effects he has read about: overstimulation, irritability, restlessness and headaches with Semax at higher doses, and mild drowsiness with Selank.
Day admits that much of the research dates from the Soviet era and that Western clinical data is limited, consisting mostly of preclinical studies and anecdotes. He says he will track focus, sleep onset and quality, mood, stress response and adverse effects, and report back in a later video.
On each compound
Semax3:38
Day says Semax is a seven amino acid peptide developed in Russia in the 1980s that upregulates BDNF and affects dopamine and serotonin pathways. He plans 500 micrograms a day by subcutaneous injection in the morning, and says higher doses are reported to cause overstimulation, irritability, restlessness or headaches.
See how your DNA reads SemaxSelank5:08
Day describes Selank as a tuftsin analog that he says modulates GABA and calms the HPA stress axis without sedation or dependency. He plans 500 micrograms by subcutaneous injection in the evening, and says some users report mild drowsiness.
See how your DNA reads SelankWhat this video doesn’t settle
- This is a setup video with no results, so it does not show whether either peptide helped Day's focus or sleep.
- It is one person's planned experiment, with no control group and no blinding.
- Claims about mechanisms, such as BDNF, GABA and HPA axis effects, are stated by Day without citing specific studies.
Questions this video answers
Why does William Day combine Semax and Selank?
Day says the two peptides target different problems. He plans Semax in the day for focus and Selank at night to quiet his racing thoughts. He says taking them together would be redundant.
What dose and route does William Day plan for Semax and Selank?
He says he will start with 500 micrograms a day of each by subcutaneous injection. Semax goes in before his first work block and Selank one to two hours before bed. He says he may raise the Selank dose.
Does Day say Semax is a stimulant like Ritalin?
No. Day says Semax is not a stimulant and is not like Adderall, modafinil or Ritalin. He says it is reported to give quieter, more sustained focus without the 20 minute kick of coffee.
What side effects of Semax and Selank does the video mention?
Day says some people report overstimulation, irritability, restlessness and headaches with Semax at higher doses. For Selank he mentions mild drowsiness, and says he knows of no hormonal impact, dependency or withdrawal.
How strong is the evidence for Semax and Selank according to this video?
Day says much of the research dates from the Soviet era and Western clinical data is limited. He says what exists is mostly preclinical studies and anecdotes.
Video by William Day on YouTube, embedded as published. The summary is written by PeptidesDNA from the video; every claim in it is the speaker’s. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the creator. Not medical advice.
