Decided to post this since I’ve been getting DMs on how to calculate this. The math seems complicated, but the idea is simple:

Total peptide ÷ total sprays = mcg per spray

Simple example

This is the one I always use to explain since it's pretty easy to understand and lots of vials come in 10mg sizes.

Let’s say you have:

• 10 mg peptide vial
• 5 mL total liquid (saline preferred)
• 0.1 mL per spray

First, convert mg to mcg:

10 mg = 10,000 mcg

Then figure out total sprays:

5 mL ÷ 0.1 mL = 50 sprays

Then divide total peptide by total sprays:

10,000 mcg ÷ 50 sprays = 200 mcg per spray

So the answer is:

200 mcg per spray

Common examples using other vial sizes

Assuming 0.1 mL per spray:

Vial size	5 mL liquid	10 mL liquid
5 mg	100 mcg/spray	50 mcg/spray
10 mg	200 mcg/spray	100 mcg/spray
15 mg	300 mcg/spray	150 mcg/spray
20 mg	400 mcg/spray	200 mcg/spray

You can also use a calculator if your vial sizes are different.

Summarized in a picture:

https://preview.redd.it/szsbczcoyg5h1.png?width=1122&format=png&auto=webp&s=f83c1d5eae2b2df374273eac260be3ac6c2872a4

Roughly 2 weeks ago I posted my initial impressions of running Selank intranasally. A few people asked me to circle back once I had more time on it, so here’s my update after taking it for two and a half weeks.

Quick recap of the setup

https://preview.redd.it/5mj5x2s01i4h1.png?width=1074&format=png&auto=webp&s=82afacd3da74ec499ec7efebd23aef2e0505ed1f

Same as before: (10mg vial reconstituted to roughly 200mcg per spray), guide on how I made it here). For the first week, I was doing 200mcg (1 spray) in the morning, with an occasional second spray in the afternoon as needed. During the second week, I upped my dosage to 400mcg (2 sprays) in the morning and another 200mcg (1 spray) in the afternoon if needed. 

Only other pep I’m on is reta at 2mg/week (no changes in dosage or frequency). 

Effects

What changed from week one to week two

First of all, the dosage was pretty much doubled. The first few days felt subtle, almost placebo-like with the exception of the wedding. At the end of the second week the effect is easier to notice. I've read that this is because the physiological benefits of Selank are cumulative. Instead of the traditional anti-anxiety meds which hit hard and make me slightly forgetful and loose, it’s subtle and I have less brain fog.

Mental

The most obvious effect for me is a lower baseline anxiety and my thinking/speaking is more “sharp”. It’s hard for me to describe but it’s similar to the slight lack of inhibition when you’re drunk, it’s just easier to do things without second guessing yourself. In work meetings and social situations, I don’t overthink and don’t have to "plan out" what I’m going to say as much. 

For example, I’m the type of person to type up a whole script to read line-by-line when I have to give a Zoom presentation at work… instead I can just wing it with a few bullet points. My verbal responses also feel quicker when people ask me things. 

Focus

Re: focus, it is definitely not a stimulant and I would not expect it to replace traditional ADHD medicine. There is some benefit, more so that it takes away the overthinking so that it’s easier to actually sit down and start something. (It’s not something that makes you wired and cracked out like high dose caffeine or amphs). I’m going to explore Semax intranasally next to see how it compares.

Sleep

Sleep is slightly better when I take an extra dose in the evening (600mcg total throughout the day). I haven’t tracked this rigorously, but by better I mean sleeping through the night without waking up. Hard to say if this is exactly because of Selank or other factors (different dinner, etc)

The downsides

The noticeably calm feeling of Selank tapers off after a few hours, so if you need all day coverage you will probably have to redose. Fortunately, on the 2 days I skipped, I did not feel a crash, withdrawal, depression, or headaches. As someone who has suffered from benzo dependency and w/d before (extremely hellish - would not wish this on my worst enemy… iykyk), this is a welcome relief. 

Verdict at two weeks

Selank is a keeper in my stack. Once my nasal spray runs out, I will cycle off for a period longer than 2 days (maybe 5 days?) to see if there are any withdrawals and then either run a subq selank cycle or nasal semax cycle. I want to see how subq selank compares to intranasal, but I also want to see what the hype is around Semax for focus.

Happy to answer questions. Will report back soon with either subq selank or nasal semax!

Reposting this snippet from my other post because people keep dm'ing/commenting about how to make these!

How to Create a Peptide Nasal Spray

This will make a 10mg peptide vial into a peptide nasal spray that sprays 200mcg/spray with 50 sprays. Alternatively, following the same math with a 5 mg peptide vial will give a nasal spray with 100mcg/spray with 50 sprays.

Resources:

Peptide Nasal Spray Calculator (if using vials other than 10mg)

Equipment Needed:

• Nasal spray bottle
• Syringes
• Diluent (sterile 5mL 0.9% saline bullets preferred)
• Alcohol pads
• Peptide vial (10mg)

Steps:

1. Find a clean work surface. Turn off fans, wash your hands, and wipe the surface down with alcohol. Let it dry.
2. Open your saline container and pour the full 5mL into the nasal spray bottle.
3. Wipe the peptide vial stopper with an alcohol prep pad and allow it to dry.
4. Using a syringe, draw 1mL of saline from the nasal spray bottle.
5. Slowly inject the saline into the peptide vial and allow it to dissolve fully.
6. Flip the peptide vial over, then draw the full reconstituted solution back into the syringe.
7. Inject it into the nasal spray bottle containing the remaining saline.
8. Reattach the sprayer and gently swirl to mix.
9. Label immediately with peptide name, mcg per spray, and date prepared.
10. Refrigerate and use within ~28 days.

Disclaimer

This guide is for educational and research discussion purposes only and is not medical advice.

Started Selank intranasally last Friday when it arrived! I wanted to document this properly and run this protocol for a few weeks before switching to subq. I posted on r/biohackers and got a reply that for "cognitive effects intranasal is the way to go" and subq has "more benefits like recovery and immune support". Honestly I haven't read any literature or reports about selank having recovery or immune support but I am going to switch to subq after this protocol ends to compare.

Protocol:

• Selank from overseas vendor w/ COA (10mg vial)
  • Please do not DM me about sourcing, also dm'ing people on Reddit in general is how you get scammed!
• 200mcg per day, one nasal spray pump in the morning
• No other new compounds this cycle (currently on reta 2mg/week)

Background: I've dealt with ADHD and anxiety for years. Not debilitating, but the kind that makes me avoid social situations larger than 2-3 people, as well as hesitate before making decisions. Love to hide in the bathroom and scroll on my phone during social situations to wait out the timer for example.

I am prescribed medicine for ADHD and anxiety. When I am on my anxiety medicine, I find it much easier to just "do things" and not think about doing the action with the caveat of me being forgetful. The side effects of stimulants are too much for me after taking them for years.

Day 1 (Friday)

Selank landed and I prepped my 10mg vial as a nasal spray at 200mcg/spray. Noticed something within about 30-40 minutes. Hard to describe. I didn't have too much work since it was a Friday afternoon, so no comment on focus. Could be placebo at this point.

Day 2 (Saturday)

Same dose except I took it in the morning. I felt noticeably calmer throughout the day, and interacting in public was easier (didn't feel weird making small talk). I don't feel as forgetful as with my prescribed anti-anxiety medicine. Sleep at night was noticeably deeper with some vivid dreams.

Day 3 (Sunday)

Sunday was the real test. Took a 200 mcg dose once in the morning, and another 200 mcg dose in the afternoon before a wedding I had to attend. I honestly dread these social situations since there's always people you don't know, and then you have to sit and eat food with these people for a while. You also can't leave too early or it comes off as rude. It felt easier to talk at dinner because words came out of my mouth easier and I just felt mentally "sharper" in general. The benefits were most evident this day for me, it definitely helped with my social anxiety at dinner and even did a little dancing. I also slept well at night but not sure if this was because of the selank or being tired in general from the wedding.

Day 4 (Monday)

This was the first time I tested the "focus" aspect of selank with another 200mcg in the morning spray in the morning. I laid out all my tasks I had to do for the day beforehand and started working on them. Definitely not as big of a push as stimulant medication, but there was a quieter focus and I was able to enter a flow state for 3 hours and finish up all of my work for the day. Sleep quality was improved again.

Day 5 (Today)

Today I had a few meetings in the morning so not much time to actually focus on work, I still feel noticeably sharper when speaking. I tend to stumble over my words (I'm the type of person to type up a whole script to say if I have to give a presentation and read it off my second monitor lol). Overall I do feel more benefits on the anxiety front but still feel better focus.

Thoughts so far:

The anxiety reduction is the standout effect of Selank for me, and the nasal route definitely works! The focus is a close second... selank doesn't feel stimulating like ADHD medication but I have less trouble starting and continuing things I need to do, like household chores or tasks at work. I feel like I am getting deeper sleep and more vivid dreams.

Keeping the dose at 200mcg daily for now (with the exception of the day with the wedding where I took 2 doses).

Will check back in at the 2-week mark!!

Selank landed today!! after reading lots of threads, thinking of doing 200mcg intranasally 2x per day (one spray in the morning, one spray at night) for focus and anxiety. I heard semax is better for focus and will run this next, but wanted to try just selank first so I could be certain of the effects.

any thoughts or suggestions? I’ve also heard you need to cycle off after a few weeks. Thanks in advance.

Beginner’s Guide to Peptide Nasal Sprays

If you’re here, you probably already know what a peptide is but are curious about intranasal peptides. Since there isn’t much dedicated information focused specifically on nasal peptides, I decided to throw together this guide.

Why Intranasal Instead of Injection?

The most common way to research peptides is subcutaneous injection (“subq”). Bioavailability is well understood and most dosing protocols are built around it... so why go intranasal?

• No needles: Obviously! For protocols that require multiple doses throughout the day, not having to pin all the time can be much more convenient.
• Direct nose-to-brain pathway: The olfactory nerve runs directly from the nasal cavity to the brain, creating a pathway that bypasses the blood-brain barrier, making intranasal interesting for nootropic peptides.
• Higher bioavailability (for certain peptides): The highly vascularized mucous membrane allows certain compounds to absorb directly into systemic circulation,  bypassing first-pass metabolism in the liver.

It’s important to note that intranasal delivery has not been studied as extensively as subcutaneous or oral routes, but it is actively being explored. For example, semaglutide is currently available orally and subcutaneously, but this 2026 clinical study (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07465965) is actively recruiting participants to research semaglutide in nasal spray format.

Which Peptides Work Intranasally?

TLDR: Semax (and NA Semax), Selank, PT-141, Oxytocin for sure. BPC-157, GHK-Cu, maybe.

Molecular size, stability in mucosal tissue, and whether the compound has been specifically studied through this route all determine whether intranasal administration is viable.

These are some of the strongest candidates based on existing research and community experience:

Semax

Description: Semax was approved by the Russian Ministry of Health in 1994 and is a registered pharmaceutical there for stroke, cognitive decline, and brain trauma.

Commonly researched for: Focus, cognitive enhancement, neuroprotection

Common protocols:

• 100–300mcg per spray
• 1–3x daily
• Typical daily range: ~300–1200mcg/day
• Common cycle lengths: 10–30 days

Relevant studies:

• The Potential of the Peptide Drug Semax and Its Derivative for Correcting Pathological Impairments in the Animal Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
  • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41479572/
• Semax, an analogue of adrenocorticotropin (4-10), is a potential agent for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and Rett syndrome
  • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16996699/

Selank

Description: Selank is also approved by the Russian Ministry of Health and is a registered pharmaceutical there for generalized anxiety disorder and neurasthenia.

Commonly researched for: Anxiety reduction, stress management

Common protocols:

• 100–300mcg per spray
• 1–3x daily
• Typical daily range: ~250–900mcg/day
• Often used morning and/or evening
• Commonly stacked with Semax

Relevant studies:

• Peptide-based Anxiolytics: The Molecular Aspects of Heptapeptide Selank Biological Activity
  • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30255741/

PT-141 (Bremelanotide)

Description: PT-141 is primarily researched for sexual function via both intranasal and subcutaneous routes.

Commonly researched for: Sexual arousal/libido in both males and females

Common protocols:

• 500mcg–2mg total intranasal dose
• Usually used situationally rather than daily
• Often administered 1–4 hours before intended effects

Relevant studies:

• Double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of intranasal PT-141:
  • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15089728/
• Bremelanotide for Female Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder:
  • https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8788464/

Oxytocin

Description: One of the most studied intranasal peptides and an FDA-approved prescription medication.

Commonly researched for: Social behavior, autism, anxiety, bonding and emotional processing

Common protocols:

• 8–24 IU per administration
• Commonly used 1–2x daily in research settings
• Protocols vary heavily depending on study design and research goal

Relevant studies:

• Effects of intranasal oxytocin on the self-perception and anxiety of singers during a simulated public singing performance: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2022.943578/full

There are other peptides being researched intranasally, but these are some of the strongest contenders based on currently available information. More will be added over time.

What diluent should I use?

Sterile Saline vs BAC Saline vs BAC Water??

Some researchers report that the benzyl alcohol in BAC saline and BAC water can irritate nasal mucosa. Although sterile saline does not contain a preservative, many people prefer it for nasal sprays as long as the spray is refrigerated and used within ~28 days.

According to Janoshik, Europe barely uses bacteriostatic water for peptides. Peptides reconstituted with ultra-pure sterile water can reportedly remain refrigerated for around 28 days without major issues.

Solution	Base	Preservative	Nasal Comfort
Sterile Saline	0.9% NaCl	None	Best
Bacteriostatic Saline	0.9% NaCl	0.9% benzyl alcohol	Good
Bacteriostatic Water	Water	0.9% benzyl alcohol	Variable

How much saline should I use? How do I know how much is administered per spray?

The math becomes simple once you understand three variables:

• peptide vial mass (mg)
• diluent volume
• pump output

Standard Example Setup:

• 10mg peptide vial
• 5mL total diluent
• 100µL spray pump (0.1mL per spray)

The Math:

10mg = 10,000mcg

10,000mcg ÷ 5mL = 2,000mcg per mL

2,000mcg × 0.1mL per spray = 200mcg per spray

5mL ÷ 0.1mL = 50 total sprays

Adjusting Concentration:

Diluent Volume	mcg per spray	Total sprays
3.3mL	300mcg	33
5mL	200mcg	50
10mL	100mcg	100

For anything non-standard, there are peptide nasal spray calculators online that can help.

How to Create a Peptide Nasal Spray

Equipment Needed:

• Nasal spray bottle
• Syringes
• Diluent (sterile 5mL 0.9% saline bullets preferred)
• Alcohol pads
• Peptide vial

Steps:

1. Find a clean work surface. Turn off fans, wash your hands, and wipe the surface down with alcohol. Let it dry.
2. Open your saline container and pour the full 5mL into the nasal spray bottle.
3. Wipe the peptide vial stopper with an alcohol prep pad and allow it to dry.
4. Using a syringe, draw 1mL of saline from the nasal spray bottle.
5. Slowly inject the saline into the peptide vial and allow it to dissolve fully.
6. Draw the full reconstituted solution back into the syringe.
7. Inject it into the nasal spray bottle containing the remaining saline.
8. Reattach the sprayer and gently swirl to mix.
9. Label immediately with peptide name, mcg per spray, and date prepared.
10. Refrigerate and use within ~28 days.

Disclaimer

This guide is for educational and research discussion purposes only and is not medical advice.

I'm creating this subreddit to focus specifically on intranasal research. While there's plenty of peptide content on Reddit, there does not seem to be a space that specifically focuses on this. If you've figured something out through trial and error, post it. This only works if people share what they know!!

What this community is for:

• Reconstitution guides and prep protocols
• Dosing references for intranasal peptides (Semax, Selank, NA Semax Amidate, PT-141, BPC-157, GHK-Cu, and more)
• Equipment
• Storage, labeling, and shelf life
• Your own experiences

What this community is NOT for:

• Sourcing or vendor discussion
• Injection protocols
• Medical advice