Peptides / Sexual health and hormones

Synthetic analog · 7 amino acids · 1,024.2 Da

Melanotan II

Not approvedBanned in sport

Melanotan 2 (Melanotan II) is a synthetic peptide related to alpha-MSH that acts on several melanocortin receptors, and it is not approved. The FDA cites reports of serious side effects, it is banned in sport as an unapproved substance, and most studies are in animals. PepBank shows 43 results on Melanotan 2 from 12 studies in people, and 871 from animal and lab studies. The strongest evidence is a randomized trial in people. Data as of 2026-10-30.

Also known as MT-2, MT-II, MT2, MTII, Melanotan, Melanotan 2 and 2 more

7 amino acids, from first to lastXDHFRWK

Evidence level: Mostly animal studies871 of 914 results come from studies in animals and lab cells. 12 studies in people.

Results in people

5% of 914 results

Results in animals

773

85% of 914 results

Results in lab cells

11% of 914 results

From computer models

0% of 914 results

Overview

Melanotan II at a glance

What it is	Synthetic analog, 7 amino acids
Approval	Not approved for any use
In sport	Banned in sport (WADA S0)
Studies	324 studies with results. 272 of them gave Melanotan 2, with 914 results. 43 in people773 in animals98 in lab cells
Best study in people	Randomized controlled trial with 20 people (2000)
Clinical trials	1 registered: 1 active or planned, 0 with posted results
Community use	Skin tanning, often before sun holidays or fitness competitions; Libido and sexual desire (a side effect some users look for); Appetite suppression (a side effect some users look for)

The science

What is Melanotan 2?

Synthetic cyclic analog of alpha-MSH that activates several melanocortin receptors. Not approved by FDA or EMA; FDA cites serious adverse event case reports.

Amino acids in one chain

The history of Melanotan 2

1992
The oldest paper on Melanotan 2 in PepBank is from 1992.
2026February
A registered trial of Melanotan 2 started (NCT07437560).

Melanotan II structure and chemistry

The key facts about the molecule. Long codes are in the closed section below.

Sequence, 7 amino acidsFrom the first amino acid to the last

X1−DHF+R5W+K

Darker means more water-repelling+ and − show charge in the bodyOutlined: changed amino acid

Structure

Melanotan II is a synthetic analog of 7 amino acids, with a ring, 5 changed amino acids.

Formula

C₅₀H₆₉N₁₅O₉

Molecular weight

1,024.2 g/mol

CAS number

121062-08-6

Targets

Melanocyte-stimulating hormone receptor (gene MC1R): agonistEvidence: primary literatureMelanocortin receptor 3 (gene MC3R): agonistEvidence: primary literatureMelanocortin receptor 4 (gene MC4R): agonistEvidence: primary literature

Development

No developer holds an approval. Trial sponsor: Hudson Biotech (NCT07437560). Highest phase: phase 2.

Identifiers

PubChem 92432, ChEMBL CHEMBL430239, UNII UPF5CJ93X7, IUPHAR 1323

Full sequence, SMILES and InChIKey

Three-letter sequence
Ac-Nle-cyclo[Asp-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys]-NH2

InChIKey
JDKLPDJLXHXHNV-MFVUMRCOSA-N

SMILES
CCCC[C@@H](C(=O)N[C@H]1CC(=O)NCCCC[C@H](NC(=O)[C@@H](NC(=O)[C@@H](NC(=O)[C@H](NC(=O)[C@@H](NC1=O)CC2=CN=CN2)CC3=CC=CC=C3)CCCN=C(N)N)CC4=CNC5=CC=CC=C54)C(=O)N)NC(=O)C

See charge, composition and 3D structure on the Scientific page

The evidence

What Melanotan 2 studies show

Results grouped by what the studies measured. Each card shows where its results come from.

Mostly animal studies871 of 914 results come from studies in animals and lab cells. 12 studies in people.

Sexual and women's health

37 results · 10 in people · 26 animal · 1 lab

In men with erectile dysfunction, Melanotan II led to an erection in 17 of 20 men without sexual stimulation. International journal of impotence research, 2000

Top results

In men with erectile dysfunction, Melanotan II led to an erection in 17 of 20 men without sexual stimulation. (International journal of impotence research, 2000)
In men with erectile dysfunction of no known organic cause, 8 of 10 men treated with Melanotan II had clear erections. (The Journal of urology, 1998)
In men with erectile dysfunction, Melanotan II led to reported erections after 12 of 19 injections, compared with 1 of 21 placebo doses. (Urology, 2000)

Skin, hair and wounds

8 results · 7 in people · 1 animal

In healthy men, two of three had darker skin on the face, upper body and buttock a week after Melanotan II dosing ended. Life sciences, 1996

Top results

In healthy men, two of three had darker skin on the face, upper body and buttock a week after Melanotan II dosing ended. (Life sciences, 1996)
In one man who injected melanotan II, moles changed in a way that made them hard to tell apart from skin cancer. (Der Hautarzt; Zeitschrift fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und verwandte Gebiete, 2012)
A woman who used melanotan II had very dark skin all over when examined. (Dermatology, 2014)

Weight and appetite

311 results · 1 in people · 306 animal · 4 lab

In men with erectile dysfunction, short-lived loss of appetite happened more often after Melanotan II than after placebo. None needed treatment. The Journal of urology, 1998

Top results

In men with erectile dysfunction, short-lived loss of appetite happened more often after Melanotan II than after placebo. None needed treatment. (The Journal of urology, 1998)
In rats, melanotan II reduced weight gain compared with pair-fed and saline-treated rats. (Physiology & behavior, 2003)
In rats, MTII given into the brain caused a learned dislike of taste, which leptin did not. (The American journal of physiology, 1998)

Metabolism and nutrition

64 results · 64 animal

In mice, Melanotan II injection raised the temperature of brown fat, a sign of higher sympathetic nerve activity. The Journal of neuroscience, 2011

Top results

In mice, Melanotan II injection raised the temperature of brown fat, a sign of higher sympathetic nerve activity. (The Journal of neuroscience, 2011)
In rats, melanotan II in a brain area increased heat given off by a leg muscle. (The Journal of physiology, 2016)
In rats, MTII injected into the fourth brain ventricle raised body temperature. (American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology, 2005)

Brain and nerves

50 results · 50 animal

In mice with one working copy of the Sim1 gene, Melanotan II did not switch on brain cells that it activated in normal mice. Molecular endocrinology, 2006

Top results

In mice with one working copy of the Sim1 gene, Melanotan II did not switch on brain cells that it activated in normal mice. (Molecular endocrinology, 2006)
In rats, Melanotan II given into a vein caused grooming behavior. (European journal of pharmacology, 1999)
In mice with Alzheimer-like disease, the melanocortin agonist D-Tyr MTII, given into the brain, lowered amyloid-beta build-up. (Scientific reports, 2021)

Mood, stress and behavior

48 results · 48 animal

In female prairie voles, melanotan II given early in life protected against the effect of early isolation on bonding with a partner. Translational psychiatry, 2015

Top results

In female prairie voles, melanotan II given early in life protected against the effect of early isolation on bonding with a partner. (Translational psychiatry, 2015)
In mice, Melanotan II given into the brain reduced alcohol drinking. (Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research, 2011)
In mice that prefer alcohol, MTII given into the brain reduced the amount of ethanol they drank. (Neuropeptides, 2003)

All 324 Melanotan 2 studies by area Open the Scientific page

Key Melanotan 2 studies

Studies in people come first, then studies in animals and in the lab.

People
Melanocortin receptor agonists, penile erection, and sexual motivation: human studies with Melanotan II
Wessells et al. 2000 · International journal of impotence research · 20 people · cited by 66
6 results
People
Synthetic melanotropic peptide initiates erections in men with psychogenic erectile dysfunction: double-blind, placebo controlled crossover study
Wessells et al. 1998 · The Journal of urology · 10 people · cited by 115
5 results
People
Effect of an alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone analog on penile erection and sexual desire in men with organic erectile dysfunction
Wessells et al. 2000 · Urology · 10 people · cited by 98
7 results
People
Evaluation of melanotan-II, a superpotent cyclic melanotropic peptide in a pilot phase-I clinical study
Dorr et al. 1996 · Life sciences · 3 people · cited by 93
5 results
People
Melanotan II injection resulting in systemic toxicity and rhabdomyolysis
Nelson et al. 2012 · Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.) · 1 person · cited by 21
9 results

All 324 Melanotan II studies

Melanotan 2 clinical trials

ClinicalTrials.gov lists 1 trial of Melanotan 2. 1 is active or planned, and 0 have posted results. PepBank does not show trial results.

Solid bars are dates that happened. Hatched bars are planned dates. Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

Melanotan II (MT-II) as an Adjunct to NB-UVB Phototherapy for Repigmentation in Stable Nonsegmental Vitiligo

Phase 2recruiting60 planned

Status and safety

Is Melanotan 2 approved?

FDA

United States

Not approved

No approved medicine contains it.

EMA

European Union

Not approved

No approved medicine contains it.

WADA

Sport

Banned

On the 2026 Prohibited List, section S0.

No. Not approved for any use. Its most advanced trial is in phase 2. The FDA, the EMA and the other sources we use show no approval (as of 9 Oct 2026). Banned in sport (WADA S0).

Laws and labels change, so check the regulator for the current status.

Melanotan 2 side effects and safety

PepBank has 39 safety results from studies of Melanotan 2. 31 of them come from studies in people.

Safety results from studies (39)

In men with erectile dysfunction, nausea was often reported as a side effect of Melanotan II. (International journal of impotence research, 2000)
In men with erectile dysfunction, short-lived nausea happened more often after Melanotan II than after placebo. None needed treatment. (The Journal of urology, 1998)
In men with erectile dysfunction, nausea happened more often with Melanotan II than with placebo. (Urology, 2000)
In healthy men, mild nausea needing no treatment was reported at most Melanotan II doses. (Life sciences, 1996)
A man who injected 6 mg of melanotan II had a fast heart rate, up to 146 beats per minute. (Clinical toxicology, 2012)
A young woman who injected melanotan II and used sunbeds was found to have melanoma. The report does not prove melanotan II caused it. (Dermatology, 2014)
In one patient, a prolonged erection that cut off blood flow (ischemic priapism) followed a melanotan II injection under the skin. (Sexual medicine, 2021)
In one reported case, a kidney infarction was most likely linked to melanotan II use. (CEN case reports, 2020)
In one man who injected melanotan II, moles changed in a way that made them hard to tell apart from skin cancer. (Der Hautarzt; Zeitschrift fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und verwandte Gebiete, 2012)
One young woman who used Melanotan II nasal spray developed a mouth melanoma. This single case does not show that the spray caused it. (International journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery, 2025)
In one patient who injected Melanotan II, brown patches appeared on the gums. (Life, 2026)
A 27 year old man had stimulant-like symptoms after injecting Melanotan II himself and needed emergency care. (Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde, 2022)
In men with erectile dysfunction, yawning was often reported as a side effect of Melanotan II. (International journal of impotence research, 2000)
In men with erectile dysfunction, 12.9% had severe nausea at a Melanotan II dose of 0.025 mg/kg. (International journal of impotence research, 2000)
In men with erectile dysfunction, short-lived stretching and yawning happened more often after Melanotan II than after placebo. None needed treatment. (The Journal of urology, 1998)
In men with erectile dysfunction, short-lived loss of appetite happened more often after Melanotan II than after placebo. None needed treatment. (The Journal of urology, 1998)
In men with erectile dysfunction, stretching and yawning happened more often with Melanotan II than with placebo. (Urology, 2000)
In men with erectile dysfunction, 4 of 19 Melanotan II injections were linked to severe nausea. (Urology, 2000)
In healthy men, stretching and yawning appeared after Melanotan II doses. (Life sciences, 1996)
In healthy men, Melanotan II at 0.03 mg/kg caused moderate sleepiness and tiredness in one of two men. (Life sciences, 1996)
A man who injected 6 mg of melanotan II had a blood pressure of 151/85 mmHg two hours later. (Clinical toxicology, 2012)
A man who injected melanotan II had body aches, sweating and anxiety about two hours later. (Clinical toxicology, 2012)
A man who injected melanotan II was restless, with wide pupils, heavy sweating, a fast heartbeat and muscle tremors. (Clinical toxicology, 2012)
A man who injected melanotan II developed muscle breakdown, with the blood marker CPK rising sharply. (Clinical toxicology, 2012)

See every safety result on the Scientific page

Doses studied (40 shown)

The doses that these studies used. They are not recommendations.

Dose as reported	Class	Species	Route	Duration	Design	Source
0.025 mg/kg	Human	human	Not reported	Not reported	Randomized trial in people · n = 20	Wessells 2000
0.025 mg/kg	Human	human	Not reported	Not reported	Randomized trial in people · n = 10	Wessells 1998
0.025 mg/kg	Human	human	subcutaneous	Not reported	Randomized trial in people · n = 10	Wessells 2000
0.01-0.03 mg/kg	Human	human	subcutaneous	2 consecutive weeks	Trial in people without random groups · n = 3	Dorr 1996
0.03 mg/kg	Human	human	subcutaneous	2 consecutive weeks	Trial in people without random groups · n = 2	Dorr 1996
6 mg	Human	human	subcutaneous	Not reported	Reports of single patients · n = 1	Nelson 2012
2 mg/kg once daily	Animal	rat	intraperitoneal	4 days	Study in live animals · n = 8	Choi 2003
10 ng/h	Animal	rat	intracerebroventricular	14 days	Study in live animals · n = 7	Kuo 2003
1 and 3 mg/kg	Animal	rat	intravenous	Single injection 10 min before each 30-min paced mating test	Study in live animals · n = 7	Rössler 2006
10 ng/h	Animal	rat	intracerebroventricular infusion	10 days	Study in live animals · n = 6	Silva 2006
200 to 600 pmol	Animal	rat	intracerebroventricular	Not reported	Study in live animals	Haynes 1999
0.01, 0.1, 0.3, and 1.0 nmol/2 microl	Animal	rat	Not reported	Not reported	Study in live animals	Clegg 2003
0.5 nmol	Animal	rat	intracerebroventricular	Not reported	Study in live animals	Lu 2003
100 microg q.i.d.	Animal	mouse	intraperitoneal	4 days	Study in live animals	Pierroz 2002
10 nmol/day	Animal	mouse	central	4 days	Study in live animals	Pierroz 2002
1.0 nmol	Animal	rat	third ventricle infusion	Not reported	Study in live animals	Thiele 1998
0.1 nmol	Animal	rat	third ventricle infusion	Not reported	Study in live animals	Thiele 1998
10 mg/kg	Animal	prairie vole	subcutaneous	Not reported	Study in live animals	Barrett 2015
1 pmol	Animal	rat	intra-PVN	Not reported	Study in live animals	Wirth 2001
10 microg/h	Animal	sheep (ewe)	lateral ventricular infusion	Not reported	Study in live animals	Backholer 2009
100 µg four times daily	Animal	mouse	intraperitoneal	24 h	Study in live animals	Blüher 2004
10 ng/h	Animal	rat	intracerebroventricular	11 days	Study in live animals	Kuo 2004
0.05 ng	Animal	rat	intracerebroventricular (third ventricle)	Not reported	Study in live animals	Murphy 2000
>50 ng	Animal	rat	intracerebroventricular (third ventricle)	Not reported	Study in live animals	Murphy 2000
0.01-1.0 nmol	Animal	rat	intracerebroventricular	Not reported	Study in live animals	Azzara 2002
0.1 and 1.0 nmol	Animal	rat	intracerebroventricular	Not reported	Study in live animals	Azzara 2002
3 nM	Animal	rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)	intracerebroventricular injection	Not reported	Study in live animals	Schjolden 2009
1 nm	Animal	rat	third ventricle injection	Not reported	Study in live animals	Baird 2009
5 ng	Animal	ring dove	intracerebroventricular	Not reported	Study in live animals	Strader 2003
1.0 microg	Animal	mouse	intracerebroventricular	Not reported	Study in live animals	Navarro 2003
150 microg	Animal	mouse	intraperitoneal	Not reported	Study in live animals	Navarro 2003
10 ng/h, then 50 ng/h	Animal	rat	intracerebroventricular infusion	12 days at 10 ng/h, then 7 days at 50 ng/h	Study in live animals	da 2009
0.1 and 1.0 nmol	Animal	rat	fourth ventricle	Not reported	Study in live animals	Skibicka 2008
10 pmol	Animal	rat	medullary raphe	Not reported	Study in live animals	Skibicka 2008
10 mg/kg intraperitoneal; 1.0 microg intracerebroventricular	Animal	mouse	intraperitoneal; intracerebroventricular	Not reported	Study in live animals	Navarro 2005
0.1, 0.3, and 1.0 nmol	Animal	rat	third cerebral ventricle	Not reported	Study in live animals	Clegg 2003
1 nmol/rat	Animal	rat	intracerebroventricular	Not reported	Study in live animals	Ploj 2002
0.025, 0.05 and 0.075 nmol	Animal	Siberian hamster	microinjection into the subzona incerta	Not reported	Study in live animals	Vaughan 2011
1.0 microg	Animal	rat	intracerebroventricular (lateral ventricle)	Not reported	Study in live animals	Cabeza 2002
0.1, 0.33 and 1.0 nmol	Animal	rat	ICV	Not reported	Study in live animals	Williams 2002

From the community

How people use it

What people report online. It comes from forums and guides, not from studies.

Community-reported. Not tested in trials.

Sources report that people inject melanotan II under the skin to get a tan, often with some sun or sunbed use, in a daily loading phase and then a weekly maintenance phase. It is not approved as a medicine, and sources warn about mole changes and melanoma.

Reported routines and cautions

What people use it for

Skin tanning, often before sun holidays or fitness competitionsS1S2S6
Libido and sexual desire (a side effect some users look for)S1S3
Appetite suppression (a side effect some users look for)S1

Reported regimens

Regimens that community sources report for Melanotan II. Community-reported, not tested in trials.
Context	Route	Amount	How often	How long	Agreement	Sources
Tanning, loading phase	subcutaneous injectionSome sources also mention nasal sprays; no nasal amounts were found in a checkable source.	0.25 to 0.5 mg per dose	once daily	2 to 4 weeks (two sources); 4 to 8 weeks (one source)	sources differ: S1 and S3 give 0.25 to 0.5 mg daily; S2 gives 0.25 mg daily after a first dose of 0.1 mg. Loading length is 2 to 4 weeks in S1 and S2 and 4 to 8 weeks in S3. S1 and S2 are wikis that carry seller links, and the wikis may copy each other.	S1S2S3
Tanning, maintenance phase after loading	subcutaneous injection	0.25 to 1 mg per dose	once or twice weekly (S1, S2); 2 to 3 times weekly (S3)	ongoing, for example during the sun season	sources differ: maintenance amount is 0.25 to 0.5 mg in S1 and 0.5 to 1 mg in S2 and S3; frequency is once or twice weekly in S1 and S2 and 2 to 3 times weekly in S3. S1 and S2 carry seller links, and the wikis may copy each other.	S1S2S3
Low-dose start, reported as a way to limit nausea and flushing	subcutaneous injection	0.1 to 0.25 mg per dose	once daily (S1); every other day (S3)	3 to 4 weeks, then biweekly maintenance (S1)	sources differ: S1 and S3 give 0.1 to 0.25 mg, and S2 gives only a first dose of 0.1 mg; S1 says once daily and S3 says every other day. S1 and S2 carry seller links.	S1S2S3

Reported side effects

nausea, most often in the loading phaseS1S3
facial redness or flushingS1S4
headache, vomitingS4
new moles, and growth or darkening of existing molesS1S4 S7
reduced appetite and spontaneous erectionsS1S3
prolonged erection (priapism), kidney infarction and muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis); listed as severe effects and described in case reportsS4 S7

Reported benefits (claims, not shown in trials)

darker skin tone (the effect users seek)S1S2

Cautions

Case reports describe melanoma after melanotan II use and rapid mole changes that can make skin cancer harder to find. Case reports cannot show cause. The Skin Cancer Foundation, quoted in the article, urges people to talk to a dermatologist about changing moles.S4
WebMD states that people who have, or have had, skin cancer should not use melanotan.S5
A community wiki reports that experienced users photograph their moles before they start and watch for asymmetric changes. It says visits to a dermatologist are recommended but not always made.S1
Products from online and gray-market sources are not regulated. They have not been tested to confirm what they contain.S4 S5
Melanotan II also acts on receptors that affect appetite, sexual arousal and blood pressure, so effects reach beyond the skin. A tan does not give full protection from UV light.S2S4 S5
Sources report that starting with a low dose is a way to limit nausea.S1S2

Status notes

Melanotan II is not approved by the FDA for tanning or any other use. The FDA has sent warning letters to companies that sell it. Melanotan I (Scenesse) is a different drug, approved by the FDA in 2019 for adults with erythropoietic protoporphyria.S4
A trade article from August 2026 describes melanotan II as the 'vacation peptide' or 'Barbie drug' and reports growing pharmacy and dermatology concern.S7

Community sources

S1Melanotan-2: Community Protocols & Reportspeptideprotocolwiki.comcarries seller links, not linked
S2Melanotan II Dosage Guide: Protocols, Timing & How Much to Takepeptidepedia.orgcarries seller links, not linked
S3Melanotan II (MT-II) (opens in a new tab)peptide-db.com
S4Melanotan Exposed: Facts, Fiction, and Safety Concerns (opens in a new tab)thedermdigest.com
S5Melanotan: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions (opens in a new tab)webmd.com
S6Melanotan II user experience: a qualitative study of online discussion forums (Dermatology 2021, abstract) (opens in a new tab)drugsandalcohol.ie
S7The 'Vacation Peptide' Raises New Alarms Across Pharmacy (opens in a new tab)drugtopics.com

Gaps

No checkable nasal-spray amounts were found; the one guide with nasal detail is a seller page and was not used. The 2021 forum study (S6) was read as an abstract only, so it gives no numbers. The TGA, MHRA and DermNet pages could not be fetched, so there are no regulator quotes. The three wikis may copy from each other and from forum posts, so they may not be fully independent. S1 and S2 carry seller rankings or seller ads. S3 gives its 250 to 500 mcg plan as an older forum plan. Reddit was not used.

Questions and more

Ask a question about Melanotan 2

The answer links to every study it uses.

What does the evidence say about Melanotan 2?Is Melanotan 2 tested in people?Compare with Oxytocin Compare with Kisspeptin-10

Sources

Database: PepBank data for Melanotan 2 (data version 308560)
Regulator: FDA status record
Regulator: EMA status record
Regulator: WADA status record
Trial registry: ClinicalTrials.gov
Community: community sources (forums and guides), as summarized in the PepBank community file

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.

Ask your AI about Melanotan 2

Curo is a peptide shop. PepBank and Curo have the same owner. See the Curo catalog (opens in a new tab).

Melanotan II

Not approvedBanned in sport

Also known as MT-2, MT-II, MT2, MTII, Melanotan, Melanotan 2 and 2 more

What it is

Synthetic analog, 7 amino acids

Approval

Not approved for any use

In sport

Banned in sport (WADA S0)

Studies

324 studies with results. 272 of them gave Melanotan 2, with 914 results.
43 in people773 in animals98 in lab cells

Best study in people

Randomized controlled trial with 20 people (2000)

Clinical trials

1 registered: 1 active or planned, 0 with posted results

Community use

Skin tanning, often before sun holidays or fitness competitions; Libido and sexual desire (a side effect some users look for); Appetite suppression (a side effect some users look for)

Dose as reported

Class

Species

Route

Duration

Design

Source

0.025 mg/kg

Human

human

Not reported

Randomized trial in people · n = 20

Wessells 2000

0.025 mg/kg

Human

human

Not reported

Randomized trial in people · n = 10

Wessells 1998

0.025 mg/kg

Human

human

subcutaneous

Not reported

Randomized trial in people · n = 10

Wessells 2000

0.01-0.03 mg/kg

Human

human

subcutaneous

2 consecutive weeks

Trial in people without random groups · n = 3

Dorr 1996

0.03 mg/kg

Human

human

subcutaneous

2 consecutive weeks

Trial in people without random groups · n = 2

Dorr 1996

6 mg

Human

human

subcutaneous

Not reported

Reports of single patients · n = 1

Nelson 2012

2 mg/kg once daily

Animal

rat

intraperitoneal

4 days

Study in live animals · n = 8

Choi 2003

10 ng/h

Animal

rat

intracerebroventricular

14 days

Study in live animals · n = 7

Kuo 2003

1 and 3 mg/kg

Animal

rat

intravenous

Single injection 10 min before each 30-min paced mating test

Study in live animals · n = 7

Rössler 2006

10 ng/h

Animal

rat

intracerebroventricular infusion

10 days

Study in live animals · n = 6

Silva 2006

200 to 600 pmol

Animal

rat

intracerebroventricular

Not reported

Study in live animals

Haynes 1999

0.01, 0.1, 0.3, and 1.0 nmol/2 microl

Animal

rat

Not reported

Study in live animals

Clegg 2003

0.5 nmol

Animal

rat

intracerebroventricular

Not reported

Study in live animals

Lu 2003

100 microg q.i.d.

Animal

mouse

intraperitoneal

4 days

Study in live animals

Pierroz 2002

10 nmol/day

Animal

mouse

central

4 days

Study in live animals

Pierroz 2002

1.0 nmol

Animal

rat

third ventricle infusion

Not reported

Study in live animals

Thiele 1998

0.1 nmol

Animal

rat

third ventricle infusion

Not reported

Study in live animals

Thiele 1998

10 mg/kg

Animal

prairie vole

subcutaneous

Not reported

Study in live animals

Barrett 2015

1 pmol

Animal

rat

intra-PVN

Not reported

Study in live animals

Wirth 2001

10 microg/h

Animal

sheep (ewe)

lateral ventricular infusion

Not reported

Study in live animals

Backholer 2009

100 µg four times daily

Animal

mouse

intraperitoneal

24 h

Study in live animals

Blüher 2004

10 ng/h

Animal

rat

intracerebroventricular

11 days

Study in live animals

Kuo 2004

0.05 ng

Animal

rat

intracerebroventricular (third ventricle)

Not reported

Study in live animals

Murphy 2000

>50 ng

Animal

rat

intracerebroventricular (third ventricle)

Not reported

Study in live animals

Murphy 2000

0.01-1.0 nmol

Animal

rat

intracerebroventricular

Not reported

Study in live animals

Azzara 2002

0.1 and 1.0 nmol

Animal

rat

intracerebroventricular

Not reported

Study in live animals

Azzara 2002

3 nM

Animal

rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

intracerebroventricular injection

Not reported

Study in live animals

Schjolden 2009

1 nm

Animal

rat

third ventricle injection

Not reported

Study in live animals

Baird 2009

5 ng

Animal

ring dove

intracerebroventricular

Not reported

Study in live animals

Strader 2003

1.0 microg

Animal

mouse

intracerebroventricular

Not reported

Study in live animals

Navarro 2003

150 microg

Animal

mouse

intraperitoneal

Not reported

Study in live animals

Navarro 2003

10 ng/h, then 50 ng/h

Animal

rat

intracerebroventricular infusion

12 days at 10 ng/h, then 7 days at 50 ng/h

Study in live animals

da 2009

0.1 and 1.0 nmol

Animal

rat

fourth ventricle

Not reported

Study in live animals

Skibicka 2008

10 pmol

Animal

rat

medullary raphe

Not reported

Study in live animals

Skibicka 2008

10 mg/kg intraperitoneal; 1.0 microg intracerebroventricular

Animal

mouse

intraperitoneal; intracerebroventricular

Not reported

Study in live animals

Navarro 2005

0.1, 0.3, and 1.0 nmol

Animal

rat

third cerebral ventricle

Not reported

Study in live animals

Clegg 2003

1 nmol/rat

Animal

rat

intracerebroventricular

Not reported

Study in live animals

Ploj 2002

0.025, 0.05 and 0.075 nmol

Animal

Siberian hamster

microinjection into the subzona incerta

Not reported

Study in live animals

Vaughan 2011

1.0 microg

Animal

rat

intracerebroventricular (lateral ventricle)

Not reported

Study in live animals

Cabeza 2002

0.1, 0.33 and 1.0 nmol

Animal

rat

ICV

Not reported

Study in live animals

Williams 2002

Context

Route

Amount

How often

How long

Agreement

Sources

Tanning, loading phase

subcutaneous injectionSome sources also mention nasal sprays; no nasal amounts were found in a checkable source.

0.25 to 0.5 mg per dose

once daily

2 to 4 weeks (two sources); 4 to 8 weeks (one source)

sources differ: S1 and S3 give 0.25 to 0.5 mg daily; S2 gives 0.25 mg daily after a first dose of 0.1 mg. Loading length is 2 to 4 weeks in S1 and S2 and 4 to 8 weeks in S3. S1 and S2 are wikis that carry seller links, and the wikis may copy each other.

S1S2S3

Tanning, maintenance phase after loading

subcutaneous injection

0.25 to 1 mg per dose

once or twice weekly (S1, S2); 2 to 3 times weekly (S3)

ongoing, for example during the sun season

sources differ: maintenance amount is 0.25 to 0.5 mg in S1 and 0.5 to 1 mg in S2 and S3; frequency is once or twice weekly in S1 and S2 and 2 to 3 times weekly in S3. S1 and S2 carry seller links, and the wikis may copy each other.

S1S2S3

Low-dose start, reported as a way to limit nausea and flushing

subcutaneous injection

0.1 to 0.25 mg per dose

once daily (S1); every other day (S3)

3 to 4 weeks, then biweekly maintenance (S1)

sources differ: S1 and S3 give 0.1 to 0.25 mg, and S2 gives only a first dose of 0.1 mg; S1 says once daily and S3 says every other day. S1 and S2 carry seller links.

S1S2S3

Melanotan II

Melanotan II at a glance

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The history of Melanotan 2

Melanotan II structure and chemistry

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Related peptides

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Melanotan II

Melanotan II at a glance

What is Melanotan 2?

The history of Melanotan 2

Melanotan II structure and chemistry

What Melanotan 2 studies show

Sexual and women's health

Skin, hair and wounds

Weight and appetite

Metabolism and nutrition

Brain and nerves

Mood, stress and behavior

Key Melanotan 2 studies

Melanotan 2 clinical trials

Is Melanotan 2 approved?

Melanotan 2 side effects and safety

How people use it

What people use it for

Reported regimens

Reported side effects

Reported benefits (claims, not shown in trials)

Cautions

Status notes

Community sources

Ask a question about Melanotan 2

Related peptides

Sources