Days 1–3
Most nausea and flushing; skin usually unchanged.
Protocol / Research Dosing Guide
Melanotan II Dosage Guide: Loading, Maintenance and Side Effects
An evidence-organized Melanotan II reference separating small early-phase trial arms from the loading-and-maintenance frameworks used in research communities.
Last reviewed September 16, 202619 minute readResearch information only
Level 4 — Small early human trialsNon-selective melanocortin agonistNot FDA approved; illegal to sell for human use in the US, UK and Australia
Melanotan II Quick Start
Melanotan II was developed at the University of Arizona in the 1980s and 1990s as a way to trigger pigmentation without prolonged sun exposure. Unlike Melanotan I it is non-selective, hitting MC3R, MC4R and MC5R as well as MC1R, which is why the same molecule produces tanning, appetite change, nausea and sexual-function effects. Development stopped in favor of more selective successors: afamelanotide for pigmentation and bremelanotide for sexual function.
Why researchers care
Pigmentation, and sexual-function effects seen in early erectile-dysfunction studies
Class
Cyclic 7-amino-acid alpha-MSH analogue acting at MC1R, MC3R, MC4R and MC5R
Route reported
Subcutaneous injection; intranasal was tested and is less predictable
Cycle length
Reported 4–8 week loading blocks with 4–6 week breaks
Regulatory status
Not approved by FDA, EMA, MHRA or TGA for any indication
Loading supplier information
Melanotan II Dosing Protocol and Schedule
The supplied source reports a two-phase framework: daily loading beginning at 100–250 mcg for the first three days, stepping to 250–500 mcg through day 14 and 500–1,000 mcg through weeks 3–6, then maintenance at 500–1,000 mcg once or twice weekly, or 250–500 mcg weekly with regular UV exposure.
| Phase or study | Amount | Frequency / evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1–3, assessment | 100–250 mcg daily | Community reported |
| Days 4–14, low loading | 250–500 mcg daily | Community reported |
| Weeks 3–6, standard loading | 500–1,000 mcg daily | Community reported |
| Standard maintenance | 500–1,000 mcg, once or twice weekly | Community reported |
| Light maintenance | 250–500 mcg, once weekly or less | Community reported |
| Erectile-dysfunction trial arm | 0.025 mg/kg, about 1.75 mg at 70 kg | Human Phase II |
| Reported cycle structure | 4, 6 or 8 weeks on with 4–6 or more weeks off | Community reported |
No FDA-approved dose exists. Nausea is the reported reason escalation slows or stops, and the published trial arms used higher per-dose amounts with correspondingly high nausea rates. Lighter skin types are reported to respond sooner and at lower amounts.
Melanotan II Supplies Needed
Neutral research-material planning only. This does not establish an appropriate amount or route.
Research planning item
Exact labeled 10 mg vial
Research planning item
Bacteriostatic water, about 2 mL per vial
Research planning item
0.3 mL / 30-unit U-100 insulin syringes for cleaner small draws
Research planning item
Alcohol prep swabs
Research planning item
Sharps container
Research planning item
Refrigeration for the prepared vial
Research planning item
A phone camera and notes app for baseline mole photographs
Melanotan II Reconstitution Calculator
Vial-format concentration math
Concentration
5 mg/mL
Draw volume
0.1 mL
U-100 units
10
Mathematical draws
20
Arithmetic only. The entered amount is not a recommendation and does not establish suitability.
Best Time to Take Melanotan II: Morning or Night?
Morning or evening?
Bedtime administration is commonly reported so peak nausea occurs during sleep.
Daily or spaced?
Daily during the reported loading phase, then once or twice weekly for maintenance.
With food?
Not applicable to an injected product; nausea timing is the reported reason for evening use.
Missed amount?
Reported practice is to skip it and return to the schedule, because pigment builds slowly.
Melanotan II Route Comparison
| Format | What is reported | Evidence limit |
|---|---|---|
| Subcutaneous | The most studied and most commonly reported route | Community schedules are not trial validated |
| Intranasal | Tested in some studies | Described as less predictable |
| Oral | Not a viable route for this peptide | No exposure data |
| Route conversion | Not established | Amounts are not interchangeable between routes |
Routes and amounts are not interchangeable unless a verified study explicitly establishes a conversion.
Melanotan II Half-Life and Dosing Frequency
| Measure | Finding | Evidence limit |
|---|---|---|
| Reported plasma half-life | Roughly 1–2 hours | Comparative reporting |
| Pigment duration | Fades slowly without maintenance and UV exposure | Biological, not pharmacokinetic |
| Frequency logic | Weekly maintenance reflects pigment persistence rather than plasma levels | Community rationale |
| Repeat-cycle interval | Not established | Community cycle structures only |
Melanotan II Dosage Chart
| Route | Amount | Frequency | Source | Human validation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subcutaneous | 100–250 mcg | Daily, days 1–3 | Community report | No |
| Subcutaneous | 250–500 mcg | Daily, days 4–14 | Community report | No |
| Subcutaneous | 500–1,000 mcg | Daily, weeks 3–6 | Community report | No |
| Subcutaneous | 500–1,000 mcg | Once or twice weekly maintenance | Community report | No |
| Subcutaneous | 0.025 mg/kg | Phase II erectile-dysfunction study arm | Human trial | Study design only |
Published study values describe those studies. Community-reported values are not validated dosing recommendations.
Melanotan II Reconstitution Guide
Concentration: 5 mg/mL
| Entered amount | Volume | U-100 units |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 mg | 0.1 mL | 10 units |
| 1 mg | 0.2 mL | 20 units |
| 1.5 mg | 0.3 mL | 30 units |
- 1.Confirm the vial quantity, most commonly 10 mg.
- 2.Add 2 mL of bacteriostatic water for 5 mg/mL.
- 3.Clean the stopper with an alcohol swab.
- 4.Add the liquid slowly down the vial wall.
- 5.Swirl gently until clear; do not shake.
- 6.At 5 mg/mL, 500 mcg is 0.1 mL, which is 10 units on a U-100 syringe, and one 10 mg vial covers about 20 doses at that amount.
- 7.Label the vial with the concentration and preparation date.
- 8.Refrigerate between uses and protect from light.
Reconstitution does not establish identity, purity, sterility, stability, or an appropriate amount.
How Melanotan II Works
Receptor profile
Melanotan II activates MC1R, MC3R, MC4R and MC5R rather than a single receptor.
Melanotan II Human Trials and FDA Status
Current status · verified September 16, 2026
Not approved by FDA, EMA, MHRA or TGA for any indication
- Dorr et al. 1996, a Phase I healthy-volunteer study, reported clear pigmentation gains alongside frequent nausea and spontaneous erections.
- Wessells et al. 1998 and 2000 reported erection-response signals versus placebo in psychogenic and organic erectile dysfunction, with notable nausea rates.
- Dorr et al. 2004 reported stronger tanning with Melanotan II plus brief UV exposure than UV alone.
- Minakova et al. 2019 is a mouse study on social behavior and MC4R–oxytocin signaling and is not human evidence.
- No large modern trial exists, and Melanotan II was never submitted for FDA approval.
Who Should Avoid Melanotan II?
This is an evidence-gap and precaution list, not an approved prescribing label.
A personal or family history of melanoma, or many atypical moles
Mole darkening complicates skin-cancer monitoring
Pregnancy or breastfeeding
No safety data
Uncontrolled blood pressure or cardiovascular disease
Blood-pressure monitoring by a clinician is the reported precaution
Children or adolescents
No established protocol
Anyone unable to obtain a baseline skin examination
Mole monitoring is the central safety practice
Combining with Melanotan I
Reported as adding side effects without proportional benefit
Melanotan II Side Effects, Risks and Safety
NauseaFrequently reported and dose-limiting
Important limitation: Highest in the first days and at higher amounts.
Facial flushingFrequently reported
Important limitation: Most prominent early.
Mole and freckle darkeningReported
Important limitation: A changing mole warrants stopping and a dermatologist visit.
Spontaneous erections or arousalDocumented in early trials
Important limitation: A known central melanocortin effect.
Appetite suppressionReported
Important limitation: Attributed to MC4R activity.
Rhabdomyolysis case reportsRare, documented
Important limitation: Reported at amounts far above typical community ranges.
Long-term safetyUnknown
Important limitation: No modern controlled safety dataset.
Melanotan II Timeline and Monitoring
Weeks 1–2
Freckling or slight darkening is commonly reported, especially with light UV exposure.
Weeks 3–4
Pigment change is more visible; sexual and appetite effects often plateau.
Weeks 5–8
Loading typically ends and reported practice shifts to weekly maintenance; mole photographs should be compared to baseline.
Melanotan II Benefits and Results: What the Evidence Shows
| Claim | Evidence level | What research shows | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skin pigmentation | Early human research | Phase I studies plus a UV-combination study | Small, dated trials |
| Erectile function | Early human research | Phase II studies reported response signals | High nausea; never approved |
| Appetite reduction | Reported | Attributed to MC4R activation | Not a studied endpoint for this use |
| Photoprotection | Not established | Pigment is not proven sun protection here | Unsupported claim |
Melanotan II Storage and Handling
Lyophilized powder
Freezer at about -20 °C for long-term storage; refrigeration for several months is also reported.
Prepared vial
Refrigerated at 2–8 °C with a reported 2–4 week window.
Frozen aliquots
Single-use aliquots frozen at about -20 °C are reported at 3–4 months, avoiding repeat thaw cycles.
Appearance
Cloudiness or off-color suggests contamination or breakdown; discard and prepare a new vial.
Melanotan II Troubleshooting
Nausea is too strong
Persistent nausea warrants clinician review rather than self-directed dose changes.
A mole looks different
Stop, document the change and see a dermatologist.
No visible tanning after 3–4 weeks
Check vial concentration, syringe arithmetic and UV exposure.
Cloudy or off-color vial
Do not use it; prepare a new vial.
A prepared vial was left warm for hours
Treat it as compromised and do not use it.
Unexpected strong arousal
This is a documented central effect; any timing or amount change should involve a clinician.
Melanotan II Comparisons
| Compound | Class or mechanism | Evidence | FDA status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melanotan II | Cyclic 7-amino-acid, non-selective | Not approved | Strong tanning, strong sexual effect, high nausea |
| Afamelanotide (Melanotan I) | Linear 13-amino-acid, MC1R-preferring | Approved implant for EPP | Tanning and photoprotection |
| PT-141 (bremelanotide) | Cyclic derivative, MC3R/MC4R-preferring | Approved for low sexual desire in women | Primary sexual effect, minimal tanning |
| Half-life comparison | About 1–2 hours for Melanotan II | 0.8–1.7 hours for afamelanotide; about 2.7 hours for bremelanotide | Comparative reporting |
Melanotan II Frequently Asked Questions
What is Melanotan II?
A cyclic synthetic alpha-MSH analogue that activates MC1R, MC3R, MC4R and MC5R.
Is it FDA approved?
No. It is not approved by the FDA, EMA, MHRA or TGA, and selling it for human use is illegal in the US, UK and Australia.
What is the reported loading pattern?
Daily dosing starting at 100–250 mcg and stepping up to 500–1,000 mcg as nausea tolerance allows.
What is reported for maintenance?
500–1,000 mcg once or twice weekly, or 250–500 mcg weekly with regular UV exposure.
Why is bedtime dosing common?
So the peak nausea window falls during sleep.
What is its half-life?
Reported at roughly 1–2 hours.
Why does it affect arousal and appetite?
Because it is non-selective and also activates MC3R and MC4R.
What is the main safety practice?
Baseline mole photographs and a dermatologist skin examination, repeated every 2–4 weeks during use.
How does it compare to PT-141?
PT-141 is a selective successor focused on sexual function and is approved for one indication; Melanotan II is not approved.
Is a rest period validated?
No. The 4–8 week on and 4–6 week off structures are community conventions.
Sources and Research
Coverage source
1. Melanotan 2 protocol coverage source
Loading and maintenance framework, cycle structures and reconstitution math; not primary evidence.
Open direct sourceHuman research
2. Dorr et al., Evaluation of melanotan-II, a superpotent cyclic melanotropic peptide, in a pilot phase-I clinical study
Phase I healthy-volunteer study reporting pigmentation, nausea and spontaneous erections.
Open direct sourceHuman research
3. Wessells et al., Synthetic melanotropic peptide initiates erections in men with psychogenic erectile dysfunction
Placebo-controlled Phase II study.
Open direct sourceHuman research
4. Dorr et al., Increased eumelanin expression and tanning is induced by a superpotent melanotropin in humans
Phase I study combining Melanotan II with brief UV exposure.
Open direct sourceMissing information flagged for review
- Any approved dose or indication: Not established
- Modern controlled safety data: Not established
- Validated cycle and rest period: Not established
- Verified compound-specific stability study: Not established
- Long-term pigmentation and melanoma-risk data: Not established
- Drug interaction data: Not established