Comparison
L-Theanine vs Selank
Side-by-side of L-Theanine 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.
L-Theanine
L-theanine is a non-protein amino acid found in tea leaves. The most-replicated nootropic; pairs with caffeine at 1:1 (100-200 mg each) for acute focus.
Selank
Selank peptide benefits: tuftsin analog heptapeptide, intranasal anxiolytic and nootropic. Russian clinical data, dosing, half-life, safety.
Effects at a glance
L-Theanine
- •Non-protein amino acid in tea; the most-replicated nootropic in the human RCT literature
- •Caffeine + theanine at 1:1 (100-200 mg each) is the gold-standard acute focus stack
- •Solo doses of 200-400 mg reduce subjective stress and improve sleep quality
- •Increases alpha-wave EEG activity within 30-45 minutes of 200 mg oral dose
- •Crosses blood-brain barrier; bioavailability high, half-life 60-90 minutes
- •Clean safety record; minimal interactions at supplement doses
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 | L-Theanine | Selank |
|---|---|---|
| Category | supplement | peptide |
| Also known as | theanine, gamma-glutamylethylamide | TP-7, Tuftsin analog |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 1.5 | 0.5 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 200 | 0.4 |
| Dosing frequency | as needed (with caffeine) or daily | 2-3x daily (intranasal) |
| Routes | oral | intranasal, subcutaneous |
| Onset (hr) | 0.5 | 0.25 |
| Peak (hr) | 1 | 1 |
| Molecular weight | 174.2 | 751.85 |
| Molecular formula | C7H14N2O3 | C33H57N11O9 |
| Mechanism | Crosses BBB; modulates GABA/dopamine/serotonin (modest); increases alpha-wave EEG activity; dampens stress-induced sympathetic response without sedation. | 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 | OTC dietary supplement | Approved as a prescription anxiolytic in Russia; not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market in most other jurisdictions |
| WADA status | allowed | unknown |
| DEA / Rx | OTC supplement | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status outside Russia |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient supplement-dose data; tea-source intake safe | Not recommended; insufficient data |
| CAS | 3081-61-6 | 129954-34-3 |
| PubChem CID | 439378 | 11765600 |
| Wikidata | Q909931 | Q4416793 |
Safety profile
L-Theanine
Common side effects
- mild GI upset (rare)
- headache (rare)
Contraindications
- pregnancy / lactation (insufficient data at supplement doses)
- concurrent strong GABAergics without caution
Interactions
- caffeine: synergistic for acute focus; dampens jitter without blunting alertness(minor)
- benzodiazepines / alcohol: potential additive sedation(minor)
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?
L-Theanine comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, OTC dietary supplement, oral dosing, with a Tier-A outcome catalogued. Selank is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is stress and HPA-axis regulation, pick L-Theanine.
- → If your priority is sleep onset or sleep quality, pick L-Theanine.
- → If your priority is anxiety reduction, pick Selank.
- → If your priority is mood, pick Selank.
Edge case: If you want to avoid research-only / gray-market sourcing, L-Theanine is the more accessible choice.
Default choice: L-Theanine. Lower friction to source, a Tier-A evidence outcome catalogued, 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 L-Theanine and Selank?
L-Theanine and Selank differ in category (supplement vs peptide), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, L-Theanine or Selank?
L-Theanine half-life is 1.5 hours; Selank half-life is 0.5 hours.
Can you stack L-Theanine 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