Early human melanogenesis studies
- Reported quantity
- 0.01 mg/kg per administration
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Study duration
- 10 consecutive days in the published arms
Melanin density was measured by reflectance spectroscopy.
Protocols · Cosmetic
Melanotan II: literature-reported ranges
Melanotan II has a small early human literature on melanogenesis from the 1990s, after which development stopped. It is also the compound in this list with the most substantial case-report literature describing harms, and that context belongs alongside any figure.
Read this first
Every figure on this page is a range reported in published literature or in a publicly documented study protocol. It is a record of what researchers used, not a recommendation, a therapeutic protocol, or advice. Peptide Intel Hub is an independent publication, sells nothing, and describes these compounds as in-vitro research reagents only.
Compound at a glance
- Class
- Cyclic α-MSH analogue
- Reported half-life
- Approximately 1 hour
- Routes used in the literature
- Subcutaneous in the published studies
- Also written as
- —
What the published studies reported
Each row below describes one body of work. The model and population are part of the figure — a rodent per-kilogram quantity and a human trial quantity are not comparable.
Extended tanning-response arms
- Reported quantity
- Around 0.025 mg/kg
- Frequency
- Every other day
- Study duration
- Up to 4 weeks
Nausea and facial flushing were reported as dose-limiting.
Dosage chart
These figures match the published chart for this compound on peptidedosages.com, including the reconstitution volume, resulting concentration, insulin-syringe units and the staged schedule. Educational reference only — not instructions, and not medical advice.
Melanotan II · 10 mg Vial
Melanotan II is dosed at 250 mcg–1 mg daily via subcutaneous injection in educational protocols. A 10 mg vial reconstituted with bacteriostatic water yields about 3.33 mg/mL. This information is for research and educational use only.
- Reconstitute
- Add 3.0 mL bacteriostatic water → 3.33 mg/mL concentration.
- Typical daily range
- 250–1000 mcg once daily (gradual titration over 8–12 weeks).
- Easy measuring
- At 3.33 mg/mL, 1 unit = 0.01 mL ≈ 33.3 mcg on a U-100 insulin syringe.
- Storage
- Lyophilized: freeze at −20 °C (−4 °F) or below; after reconstitution, refrigerate at 2–8 °C (35.6–46.4 °F); use within 1–2 weeks.
Standard / Gradual Titration (3 mL = 3.33 mg/mL)
| Week / Phase | Daily Dose | Units (per injection) (mL) |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 250 mcg (0.25 mg) | 7.5 units (0.075 mL) |
| Week 2 | 500 mcg (0.5 mg) | 15 units (0.15 mL) |
| Week 3 | 750 mcg (0.75 mg) | 22.5 units (0.225 mL) |
| Weeks 4–8 | 1000 mcg (1 mg) | 30 units (0.30 mL) |
| Maintenance<br>(after Week 8) | 500–1000 mcg<br>(1–2× weekly) | 15–30 units<br>(0.15–0.30 mL) |
Mixed with 3 ml of bacteriostatic water
The same arithmetic for every vial size Melanotan II is supplied in, using a fixed 3 ml of bacteriostatic water. One unit on a U-100 insulin syringe is 0.01 ml, so the unit column below is simply the volume that carries the reported amount. Educational arithmetic only — not instructions, and not medical advice.
Melanotan II · 3 ml bacteriostatic water
| Vial size | Concentration | Per 1 unit | 250 mcg = | 1 mg = |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 mg | 3.33 mg/ml | 33 mcg | 7.5 units | 30 units |
Unit columns use the range reported for this compound (250 mcg–1 mg). Only the vial sizes this compound is actually supplied in are shown, and every figure assumes exactly 3 ml of bacteriostatic water. For any other volume, use the reconstitution calculator.
Reconstitution maths
A 10 mg vial in 2 mL of bacteriostatic water gives 5 mg/mL.
Open the reconstitution calculatorHow to read these figures
- Published case reports link this compound to changes in melanocytic naevi and to rhabdomyolysis; several regulators have issued warnings.
- Unregulated supply chains for this compound are widely documented.
- Melanocortin receptor selectivity is poor compared with PT-141.
Sources and citations
These are the published records the figures on this page are drawn from. Each one describes what researchers administered, in which model or population, and over what period. Quantities reported in a study are specific to that study's design and are not transferable guidance.
- [1]Synthetic Melanotropic Peptide Initiates Erections in Men With Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction: Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Crossover Study
Wessells H, Fuciarelli K, Hansen J, et al. · J Urol · 1998 · DOI 10.1016/S0022-5347(01)62903-3
Ten men with psychogenic erectile dysfunction received subcutaneous Melanotan-II at doses of 0.025 mg/kg or 0.5-4 mg per dose in a crossover trial to evaluate erectogenic effects.
View the record - [2]Evaluation of melanotan-II, a superpotent cyclic melanotropic peptide in a pilot phase-I clinical study
Dorr RT, Lines R, Levine N, et al. · Life Sci · 1996 · PMID 8637402
Phase I dose-escalation study in human volunteers administering subcutaneous Melanotan-II (doses from 0.005 to 0.157 mg/kg) to assess tanning, safety, and pharmacokinetics.
View the record - [3]Melanocortin receptor agonists, penile erection, and sexual motivation: human studies with Melanotan II
Wessells H, Levine N, Hadley ME, Dorr RT, Hruby V. · Int J Impot Res · 2000 · PMID 11035391
Review of studies in which Melanotan II was administered subcutaneously to 20 men with erectile dysfunction using double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover designs to assess penile rigidity and sexual motivation.
View the record
Search the databases yourself
Read the Melanotan II research briefOther cosmetic compounds
AHK-CuCopper-binding tripeptide (Ala-His-Lys)Melanotan ILinear α-MSH analogue, selective MC1R agonistPT-141Selective MC4R agonistSnap-8SNAP-25 mimetic octapeptide
All research protocolsPeptide Intel Hub is an independent publication and has no affiliation, ownership or commercial relationship with the suppliers listed. We sell nothing and take no payments — links are editorial references only.