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Study · Case report or series · n = 1 · 2012

9 results

Melanotan II injection resulting in systemic toxicity and rhabdomyolysis.

Nelson ME, Bryant SM, Aks SE

Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.)5 Nov 2012Cited by 21 (Europe PMC)

PMID23121206 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.3109/15563650.2012.740637 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-23121206
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Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study9

9 results from studies that gave the peptide. 9 results from people.

  1. 01HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome

    In a 39-year-old man, a 6 mg subcutaneous dose of melanotan II was followed by tachycardia, with heart rate 130 bpm that peaked at 146 bpm.

    In plain wordsA man who injected 6 mg of melanotan II had a fast heart rate, up to 146 beats per minute.

    Peptide
    Melanotan II
    Outcome
    IncreaseTachycardia (heart rate)
    Study

    n = 1

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    6 mg · subcutaneousAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Heart rate
    130 bpm
    at emergency department
    Peak heart rate
    146 bpm
    peak

    Source sentences

    Summary
    HR 130 bpm that peaked at 146 bpm
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Physical exam demonstrated a restless and anxious appearing male with mydriasis, diaphoresis, tachycardia, and diffuse muscle tremors.
    Summary · context
    A 39 year-old Caucasian male injected subcutaneously 6 mg of Melanotan II purchased over the Internet in an attempt to darken his skin during wintertime.
  2. 02HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome

    In a 39-year-old man, blood pressure was 151/85 mmHg two hours after a 6 mg subcutaneous dose of melanotan II.

    In plain wordsA man who injected 6 mg of melanotan II had a blood pressure of 151/85 mmHg two hours later.

    Peptide
    Melanotan II
    Outcome
    Direction not reportedBlood pressure
    Study

    n = 1

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    6 mg · subcutaneousAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Systolic blood pressure
    151 mmHg
    emergency department
    Diastolic blood pressure
    85 mmHg
    emergency department

    Source sentences

    Summary
    BP 151/85 mmHg
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    A 39 year-old Caucasian male injected subcutaneously 6 mg of Melanotan II purchased over the Internet in an attempt to darken his skin during wintertime.
  3. 03HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome

    In a 39-year-old man, melanotan II injection was followed by diffuse body aches, sweating and a sensation of anxiety.

    In plain wordsA man who injected melanotan II had body aches, sweating and anxiety about two hours later.

    Peptide
    Melanotan II
    Outcome
    IncreaseSystemic symptoms (body aches, sweating, anxiety)
    Study

    n = 1

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Whole body
    Studied dose
    6 mg · subcutaneousAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In the emergency department two hours post injection, he complained of diffuse body aches, sweating, and a sensation of anxiety.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    A 39 year-old Caucasian male injected subcutaneously 6 mg of Melanotan II purchased over the Internet in an attempt to darken his skin during wintertime.
  4. 04HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome

    In a 39-year-old man, melanotan II injection was followed by restlessness, mydriasis, diaphoresis, tachycardia and diffuse muscle tremors.

    In plain wordsA man who injected melanotan II was restless, with wide pupils, heavy sweating, a fast heartbeat and muscle tremors.

    Peptide
    Melanotan II
    Outcome
    IncreaseSympathomimetic signs (mydriasis, diaphoresis, tremors)
    Study

    n = 1

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Whole body
    Studied dose
    6 mg · subcutaneousAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Physical exam demonstrated a restless and anxious appearing male with mydriasis, diaphoresis, tachycardia, and diffuse muscle tremors.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    A 39 year-old Caucasian male injected subcutaneously 6 mg of Melanotan II purchased over the Internet in an attempt to darken his skin during wintertime.
  5. 05HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome

    In a 39-year-old man, melanotan II injection was followed by rhabdomyolysis, with CPK rising from 1760 to 17773 IU/L at 12 hours.

    In plain wordsA man who injected melanotan II developed muscle breakdown, with the blood marker CPK rising sharply.

    Peptide
    Melanotan II
    Outcome
    IncreaseCreatine phosphokinase (rhabdomyolysis)
    Study

    n = 1

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Musculoskeletal
    Studied dose
    6 mg · subcutaneousAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    CPK
    1760 IU/L
    at emergency department
    CPK
    17,773 IU/L
    12 hours later

    Source sentences

    Summary
    He was admitted to the ICU and during hospitalization his CPK elevated to 17773 IU/L 12 hours later.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    CPK 1760 IU/L, troponin 0.23 ng/mL, WBC 19.1 k/μL.
    Summary · context
    A 39 year-old Caucasian male injected subcutaneously 6 mg of Melanotan II purchased over the Internet in an attempt to darken his skin during wintertime.
  6. 06HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome

    In a 39-year-old man, melanotan II injection was followed by renal dysfunction, with creatinine 2.25 mg/dL that improved to 1.23 mg/dL at ICU discharge.

    In plain wordsA man who injected melanotan II had signs of kidney problems that improved by the time he left intensive care.

    Peptide
    Melanotan II
    Outcome
    IncreaseSerum creatinine (renal dysfunction)
    Study

    n = 1

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Kidney and urinary
    Studied dose
    6 mg · subcutaneousAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Creatinine
    2.25 mg/dL
    at emergency department
    Creatinine
    1.23 mg/dL
    at ICU discharge

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Pertinent laboratory values were creatinine 2.25 mg/dL, CPK 1760 IU/L, troponin 0.23 ng/mL, WBC 19.1 k/μL.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    He continued to receive intravenous fluids with sodium bicarbonate for rhabdomyolysis and his CPK decreased to 2622 IU/L with improvement of creatinine to 1.23 mg/dL upon discharge from the ICU after 3 days
    Summary · context
    A 39 year-old Caucasian male injected subcutaneously 6 mg of Melanotan II purchased over the Internet in an attempt to darken his skin during wintertime.
  7. 07HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome

    In a 39-year-old man, troponin was 0.23 ng/mL after a melanotan II injection.

    In plain wordsA man who injected melanotan II had a troponin level of 0.23 ng/mL.

    Peptide
    Melanotan II
    Outcome
    Direction not reportedTroponin
    Study

    n = 1

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    6 mg · subcutaneousAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Troponin
    0.23 ng/mL
    at emergency department

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Pertinent laboratory values were creatinine 2.25 mg/dL, CPK 1760 IU/L, troponin 0.23 ng/mL, WBC 19.1 k/μL.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    A 39 year-old Caucasian male injected subcutaneously 6 mg of Melanotan II purchased over the Internet in an attempt to darken his skin during wintertime.
  8. 08HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome

    In a 39-year-old man, the white blood cell count was 19.1 k/μL after a melanotan II injection.

    In plain wordsA man who injected melanotan II had a white blood cell count of 19.1 k/μL.

    Peptide
    Melanotan II
    Outcome
    Direction not reportedWhite blood cell count
    Study

    n = 1

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Immune and inflammation
    Studied dose
    6 mg · subcutaneousAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    WBC
    19.1 k/μL
    at emergency department

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Pertinent laboratory values were creatinine 2.25 mg/dL, CPK 1760 IU/L, troponin 0.23 ng/mL, WBC 19.1 k/μL.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    A 39 year-old Caucasian male injected subcutaneously 6 mg of Melanotan II purchased over the Internet in an attempt to darken his skin during wintertime.
  9. 09HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome

    In a 39-year-old man, urinalysis after a melanotan II injection showed 3 + blood with red cell casts but 0-2 RBC/hpf.

    In plain wordsA man who injected melanotan II had blood and red cell casts in his urine, but few red blood cells under the microscope.

    Peptide
    Melanotan II
    Outcome
    Direction not reportedUrinalysis findings
    Study

    n = 1

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Kidney and urinary
    Studied dose
    6 mg · subcutaneousAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Urinalysis demonstrated 3 + blood with red cell casts but 0-2 RBC/hpf.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    A 39 year-old Caucasian male injected subcutaneously 6 mg of Melanotan II purchased over the Internet in an attempt to darken his skin during wintertime.

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

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Versions 3 to 38Current

    28 Oct 2026, 02:04 UTC

    The same notice was added 36 times, first on 9 Oct 2026, 18:17 UTC. The status did not change between them.

    Study results updated

  2. Version 2

    9 Oct 2026, 03:04 UTC

    Study data updated · source update from Europe PMC

  3. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 03:04 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

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Terms as the source lists them.

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