Does Semax Need To Be Refrigerated?
One of the most common questions about Semax relates to its needs regarding temperature sensitivity.
Does Semax need to be stored in the fridge? You should store Semax in the fridge. While it's probably fine in most cases if you don't due to the methylparaben in it, storing it in the fridge can act as an extra layer of protection to keep the quality intact.
We'll get into why exactly this is, how long it can last at room temperature, as well as whether it needs special packaging when shipped.
Semax and Refrigeration
The first thing to understand is that Semax is a peptide, which is a string of amino acids held together by a peptide bond. The proteins are sensitive to low and high temperatures, as well as large quick swings in temperatures, which causes them to denature by changing their shape.
The amino acid chain isn't (likely) affected, but the shape can change enough to cause a loss of function- leading to the nootropic no longer working.
Along with temperature, peptides are also sensitive to light. It's one of those things that you hear that need to be stored in a "cool dark place" (though in this case, extra cool is ideal). Fortunately, keeping it in a dark place is as easy as keeping it in its original bottle, so there's nothing to worry about.
Therefore, keep it stored in the fridge. The cold doesn't cause denaturing of proteins until well below freezing, so there's no real need to worry if your refrigerator is too cold.
Is Russian Semax Safe?
Semax is produced in Russia, where it's most commonly used and prescribed. While some nootropic sellers have imported large amounts to a US warehouse (I'll get to that in a minute), any bottle you obtain will have been made in Russia.
It's important to note that the legal status varies from country to country, and sometimes can depend on whether it's the 1% or 0.1% version. I recommend double-checking before ordering online, but otherwise, you shouldn't have much problem receiving the 0.1% type in most places in the US and Canada.
Now if you're reading this while the Russian- Ukraine war is still going on, know that there haven't been any notable disruptions to the supply itself or the timeline for customers to receive it. The suppliers I've reached out to have confirmed this to be the case, but I'll keep this updated if anything changes.
Won't Temperature Affect Packaging?
The good thing to know is most Semax contains methylparaben, which helps keep it stable and extends the shelf life a bit. It's used in many medications, food and cosmetics to serve this exact purpose.
This preservative helps ensure the quality keeps stable for around a month or so. That's enough time (in most cases) for you to receive your package once it's shipped.
Fortunately, some vendors like CosmicNootropic have opened warehouses in the US where they import nootropics like Semax. This means less time being shipped and more time stored properly in a colder environment.
Irrelevant but mildly interesting- methylparaben is a pheromone produced in wolves. It acts as a deterrent for competing males to mount females in heat. Queen honey bees produce it as well, yet for the opposite reason of attracting drones for mating.
What is The Shelf Life of Semax?
Unopened, you can expect a bottle of Semax to last around 2 years before beginning to degrade. If it's opened, it should last around 6 months. Since many use Semax for its nootropic effects and don't take it that frequently (weekly or on occasion), it makes it that much more important to keep it properly stored to last until it's used up.
Does Selank Follow Same Protocols?
You should largely follow the same protocol for Selank as you do for its cousin Semax.
It's a bit more susceptible to heat damage, so keep that in mind if you're choosing one over the other.
In addition, whether you're using either, make sure to not shake the bottle. It can be easy to forget when most other nose sprays (like decongestants) advise you to do it. It's not as important as keeping it cool, as it's still fairly durable overall, but it's best to play it safe as it is a peptide.
Clearing Up Confusion
I hope this helps clear up any confusion. Semax is still relatively unknown out west. As the nootropic industry and interest in it continue to grow, questions like these will keep popping up.
Hopefully you have a good spot for it in your fridge, and do not get any confused looks from roommates or family members as they stumble upon it during some late-night grazing.
If you're looking for more information, I have my Semax review. I go into the effects, uses and my overall experience with using the nootropic. There are also some good breakdowns and guides on reddit if you do some searching. If you have any questions, send me a message anytime.
