Comparison
PT-141 vs Selank
Side-by-side of PT-141 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.
PT-141
PT-141 peptide (bremelanotide, Vyleesi): MC4R agonist for libido and erectile dysfunction. 1.75 mg subcutaneous, 30 to 60 min onset, 2 to 4 h half-life.
Selank
Selank peptide benefits: tuftsin analog heptapeptide, intranasal anxiolytic and nootropic. Russian clinical data, dosing, half-life, safety.
Effects at a glance
PT-141
- •Cyclic 7-amino-acid synthetic peptide and melanocortin receptor agonist (MC4R-preferring)
- •FDA approved in 2019 as Vyleesi for hypoactive sexual desire disorder in pre-menopausal women
- •Acts centrally on hypothalamic sexual-desire circuits rather than peripherally on vasculature
- •On-demand dosing: subcutaneous 1.75 mg approximately 45 minutes before sexual activity
- •Common adverse effects: nausea (~40%), flushing, headache, injection-site reactions, hyperpigmentation
- •Off-label male ED use is documented but not FDA approved; mechanism is distinct from PDE5 inhibitors
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 | PT-141 | Selank |
|---|---|---|
| Category | peptide | peptide |
| Also known as | Bremelanotide, Vyleesi | TP-7, Tuftsin analog |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 2.7 | 0.5 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 1.75 | 0.4 |
| Dosing frequency | as needed (max once per 24 hours, max 8 per month) | 2-3x daily (intranasal) |
| Routes | subcutaneous | intranasal, subcutaneous |
| Onset (hr) | 0.75 | 0.25 |
| Peak (hr) | 1.5 | 1 |
| Molecular weight | 1025.18 | 751.85 |
| Molecular formula | C50H68N14O10 | C33H57N11O9 |
| Mechanism | Synthetic agonist of melanocortin receptors with preference for MC4R, expressed in hypothalamic and limbic circuits regulating sexual motivation. Engages central pathways distinct from peripheral PDE5-mediated vasodilation. | 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 | Prescription only as Vyleesi; FDA-approved 2019 for HSDD in pre-menopausal women. Compounded versions sold off-label for male sexual function are research-use-only grey market. | 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 | Rx only (not a controlled substance) for the FDA-approved Vyleesi formulation | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status outside Russia |
| Pregnancy | Not recommended; contraindicated during pregnancy per Vyleesi label | Not recommended; insufficient data |
| CAS | 189691-06-3 | 129954-34-3 |
| PubChem CID | 9941379 | 11765600 |
| Wikidata | Q422059 | Q4416793 |
Safety profile
PT-141
Common side effects
- nausea (~40%)
- flushing
- headache
- injection-site reactions
- hyperpigmentation (focal, gums, face, breasts)
- transient blood pressure increase (~6 mmHg systolic)
Contraindications
- uncontrolled hypertension
- established cardiovascular disease
- pregnancy
- naltrexone co-administration (reduces opioid efficacy due to MC receptor crosstalk)
Interactions
- naltrexone (oral): bremelanotide reduces oral naltrexone exposure significantly; avoid co-administration(major)
- antihypertensives: transient BP rise after bremelanotide can offset BP control(moderate)
- PDE5 inhibitors (sildenafil, tadalafil): no documented adverse interaction; mechanisms are non-overlapping(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?
PT-141 comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 2 catalogued goals, research-only / gray-market sourcing, with a Tier-A outcome catalogued. Selank is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is sexual function, pick PT-141.
- → If your priority is libido, pick PT-141.
- → If your priority is focus or working memory, pick Selank.
- → If your priority is anxiety reduction, pick Selank.
Edge case: PT-141 is contraindicated in pregnancy; Selank is the safer pick if that applies.
Default choice: PT-141. Wider use case, 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 PT-141 and Selank?
PT-141 and Selank differ in category (peptide vs peptide), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, PT-141 or Selank?
PT-141 half-life is 2.7 hours; Selank half-life is 0.5 hours.
Can you stack PT-141 with Selank?
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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