Comparison
Bromantane vs Semax
Side-by-side of Bromantane and Semax. 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.
Semax
Semax peptide benefits: nootropic ACTH(4-10) analog without corticotropic activity. Cognitive enhancement, neuroprotection, intranasal dosing, Russian stroke.
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
Semax
- •Synthetic heptapeptide analog of ACTH(4-10) developed in Russia in the 1980s
- •Approved in Russia for ischemic stroke, cognitive impairment, and cerebrovascular disorders
- •Lacks the corticotropic activity of native ACTH due to the Pro-Gly-Pro stabilizing tail
- •Russian RCTs report improved cognitive recovery in acute ischemic stroke versus standard care
- •Modulates BDNF and NGF expression and dopaminergic signaling in preclinical models
- •Standard route is intranasal; not FDA approved; research-use-only outside Russia
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Bromantane | Semax |
|---|---|---|
| Category | nootropic | peptide |
| Also known as | Ladasten, ADK-709, N-(4-bromophenyl)adamantan-2-amine | Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro, ACTH(4-10) Pro-Gly-Pro analog |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 11 | 0.5 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 75 | 0.6 |
| Dosing frequency | daily, morning | 2-3x daily (intranasal) |
| Routes | oral | intranasal |
| Onset (hr) | 3 | 0.5 |
| Peak (hr) | 168 | 2 |
| Molecular weight | 280.21 | 813.94 |
| Molecular formula | C16H20BrN | C37H51N9O10S |
| Mechanism | Indirect dopaminergic and serotonergic actogenic activity via induction of tyrosine hydroxylase and selective increases in serotonin synthesis in hippocampus and hypothalamus. | Modulates BDNF and NGF expression in hippocampus and cortex, enhances dopaminergic and serotonergic signaling, and reduces oxidative stress markers in preclinical ischemia models. Lacks corticotropic activity of native ACTH. |
| Legal status | Approved in Russia (Ladasten); unscheduled and unapproved in US, EU, UK | Approved in Russia for stroke and cognitive disorders; not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market elsewhere |
| 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 | 80714-61-0 |
| PubChem CID | 9576456 | 9811102 |
| Wikidata | Q4093816 | Q4413083 |
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)
Semax
Common side effects
- mild nasal irritation
- transient mild headache
- rare mild euphoria or activation
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- lactation
- acute psychotic disorder
- severe hypertension (caution due to mild activating effect)
Interactions
- stimulants (caffeine, amphetamines): potential additive activation; monitor for overstimulation(minor)
- antipsychotics: theoretical antagonism via dopaminergic modulation(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. Semax 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 long-term neuroprotection, pick Semax.
- → If your priority is stroke recovery, pick Semax.
Edge case: Half-lives differ materially (Bromantane ~11 hr vs Semax ~0.5 hr). Bromantane reaches steady state faster; Semax is easier to dial in if tolerability is uncertain.
Default choice: Bromantane. Wider use case, and broader goal coverage. Reach for Semax 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 Semax?
Bromantane and Semax 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 Semax?
Bromantane half-life is 11 hours; Semax half-life is 0.5 hours.
Can you stack Bromantane with Semax?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
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