Comparison
Bromantane vs Selank
Side-by-side of Bromantane and Selank. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
Bromantane
Bromantane, the Russian nootropic sold as Ladasten (ADK-709), acts on dopamine to cut fatigue and anxiety without classical stimulant rebound.
Selank
Selank peptide benefits: tuftsin analog heptapeptide, intranasal anxiolytic and nootropic. Russian clinical data, dosing, half-life, safety.
Effects at a glance
Bromantane
- •Russian RCT base (Voznesenskaya 2010, n=728) supports 50 mg daily for asthenia and fatigue over 4 weeks
- •Atypical actogenic mechanism: induces tyrosine hydroxylase rather than direct monoamine release
- •Subjective profile is anxiolytic plus mildly motivating, distinct from classical stimulants
- •Long half-life of around 11 hours supports once-daily morning dosing
- •WADA-banned since 1996; relevant for tested athletes
- •Western evidence base is thin; most published trials are Russian-language and not independently replicated
Selank
- •Synthetic heptapeptide analog of tuftsin developed in Russia in the 1990s
- •Approved in Russia for generalized anxiety disorder and asthenic conditions
- •Russian RCTs report anxiolytic effects comparable to medazepam without sedation or dependence
- •Modulates GABAergic and serotonergic signaling and BDNF expression in preclinical models
- •Most commonly administered intranasally; subcutaneous use is anecdotal
- •No Western-validated trials; not FDA approved; research-use-only outside Russia
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Bromantane | Selank |
|---|---|---|
| Category | nootropic | peptide |
| Also known as | Ladasten, ADK-709, N-(4-bromophenyl)adamantan-2-amine | TP-7, Tuftsin analog |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 11 | 0.5 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 75 | 0.4 |
| Dosing frequency | daily, morning | 2-3x daily (intranasal) |
| Routes | oral | intranasal, subcutaneous |
| Onset (hr) | 3 | 0.25 |
| Peak (hr) | 168 | 1 |
| Molecular weight | 280.21 | 751.85 |
| Molecular formula | C16H20BrN | C33H57N11O9 |
| Mechanism | Indirect dopaminergic and serotonergic actogenic activity via induction of tyrosine hydroxylase and selective increases in serotonin synthesis in hippocampus and hypothalamus. | Modulates GABAergic, serotonergic, and dopaminergic signaling. Increases BDNF expression in hippocampal neurons in preclinical models. Modulates enkephalin levels and immune cytokine signaling via tuftsin-like activity. |
| Legal status | Approved in Russia (Ladasten); unscheduled and unapproved in US, EU, UK | Approved as a prescription anxiolytic in Russia; not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market in most other jurisdictions |
| WADA status | banned | unknown |
| DEA / Rx | Not scheduled in the US | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status outside Russia |
| Pregnancy | Not recommended | Not recommended; insufficient data |
| CAS | 87913-26-6 | 129954-34-3 |
| PubChem CID | 9576456 | 11765600 |
| Wikidata | Q4093816 | Q4416793 |
Safety profile
Bromantane
Common side effects
- mild GI upset
- headache
- skin rash
- occasional insomnia at higher doses
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- lactation
- severe hepatic impairment
- severe renal impairment
- pediatric use
Interactions
- MAOIs: theoretical additive dopaminergic and serotonergic activity(major)
- levodopa and dopamine agonists: additive dopaminergic activity(moderate)
- SSRIs and other serotonergic drugs: theoretical serotonergic additivity(moderate)
- classical stimulants: theoretical additive activity, undocumented(moderate)
Selank
Common side effects
- mild nasal irritation (intranasal)
- transient drowsiness (uncommon)
- mild headache
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- lactation
- severe psychiatric disorder (insufficient data)
Interactions
- benzodiazepines: additive anxiolytic effect; potential for over-sedation when stacked(moderate)
- SSRIs: no documented adverse interaction; co-administration described in Russian protocols(minor)
Which Should You Take?
Bromantane comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, controlled substance, oral dosing, with a Tier-C outcome catalogued. Selank is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is fatigue resistance, pick Bromantane.
- → If your priority is stress and HPA-axis regulation, pick Bromantane.
- → If your priority is anxiety reduction, pick Selank.
- → If your priority is mood, pick Selank.
Edge case: If you cannot self-administer injections, Bromantane is the only oral option in this pair.
Default choice: Bromantane. Wider use case, and broader goal coverage. Reach for Selank only if your priority sits squarely in the goals it owns above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between Bromantane and Selank?
Bromantane and Selank differ in category (nootropic vs peptide), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, Bromantane or Selank?
Bromantane half-life is 11 hours; Selank half-life is 0.5 hours.
Can you stack Bromantane with Selank?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper