Melanotan II (MT-2)
Melanotan II is a cyclic synthetic analog of alpha-MSH studied in melanocortin receptor research.
We have not published an audit on Melanotan II (MT-2). Everything below is reference material, not our own reading of the literature, treat it as a starting point for questions, not as a grade.
How it is thought to work
Melanotan 2 works by turning on a family of receptors in your body called melanocortin receptors. These receptors sit on different cells and control different things: skin pigment, hunger, sexual signaling, and more. Most modern drugs are designed to hit only one receptor. MT-2 hits several at once. [Source: Peptide Dosing Protocols]
Melanotan II is a synthetic copy of a natural hormone (alpha-MSH) that is stronger and longer-lasting than the original, causing the body to produce more skin pigment (tanning) and also affecting brain pathways that control sexual arousal and appetite.
Reported side effects
The most common side effects are nausea and flushing, especially early in dosing, along with appetite changes, fatigue, yawning, and spontaneous erections; more serious but rarer risks include mole changes that could signal melanoma, priapism (a painful prolonged erection requiring emergency care), and rhabdomyolysis at overdose levels.
Who should avoid it
People with a history of melanoma or many moles, cardiovascular disease, risk of priapism, pregnancy or breastfeeding, or those on blood pressure or psychiatric medications should avoid Melanotan II.
What gets monitored
Photograph moles before starting and every few weeks during use; monitor for any changes in shape, color, or size. [Source: Peptide Dosing Protocols]
What sources report
These are figures published elsewhere, reproduced with their source. Peppersite does not recommend an amount for Melanotan II (MT-2) or for anything else, and nothing below has been checked against the study it came from.
| Amount | Frequency | Route | Reported by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loading: 0.25-0.5 mg daily; Maintenance: 0.5-1.0 mg 1-2 times per week | Daily during loading (1-3 weeks); 1-2 times per week for maintenanceLoading: 2-4 weeks; Maintenance: ongoing as desired | subcutaneous or oral | Peptide Protocol WikiWhat it saysHide(secondary reference; provider confirmation required). |
| Standard: 500-1000 mcg daily · Low: 100-250 mcg daily · High: 250-500 mcg daily | 1-2x per week4-6 weeks · 6 weeks | Subcutaneous (SubQ) injection | Peptide Dosing ProtocolsWhat it saysHide(secondary reference; provider confirmation required). Half-life: half-life Melanotan 2 ~1-2 hours Afamelanotide(MT-I) ~0. The standard loading dose is 500-1000 mcg daily. |
- Daily during loading (1-3 weeks); 1-2 times per week for maintenanceLoading: 2-4 weeks; Maintenance: ongoing as desired
- subcutaneous or oral
- Peptide Protocol Wiki
What it saysHide
(secondary reference; provider confirmation required).
- 1-2x per week4-6 weeks · 6 weeks
- Subcutaneous (SubQ) injection
- Peptide Dosing Protocols
What it saysHide
(secondary reference; provider confirmation required). Half-life: half-life Melanotan 2 ~1-2 hours Afamelanotide(MT-I) ~0. The standard loading dose is 500-1000 mcg daily.
- Bacteriostatic water
- 2 mL BAC water
Common questions
What is the starting dose of Melanotan 2?
Many research frameworks start between 100 and 250 mcg daily for the first 3 days.
What is Melanotan 2's half-life?
The plasma half-life is about 1-2 hours.
How fast can someone expect tanning results?
Most users see some pigment change in 1-2 weeks during loading.
How do you reconstitute Melanotan 2?
A common setup is a 10 mg vial mixed with 2 mL of bacteriostatic water.
Check 10 mg in 2 mL in the calculator →Is Melanotan 2 FDA-approved?
No, as of June 2026, MT-2 is not approved by the FDA.
What are the most common Melanotan 2 side effects?
Nausea and flushing are the most common.
Is Melanotan 2 linked to skin cancer?
Case reports have documented mole darkening and new moles after MT-2 use.
How does Melanotan 2 compare to PT-141?
MT-2 is non-selective and produces tanning, sexual, and appetite effects.
Sources
- 01Dorr RT, Lines R, Levine N, et al. Evaluation of Melanotan-II, a superpotent cyclic melanotropic peptide in a pilot phase-I clinical study. Life Sciences (1996)
- 02Wessells H, Fuciarelli K, Hansen J, et al. Synthetic melanotropic peptide initiates erections in men with psychogenic erectile dysfunction. Journal of Urology (1998)
- 03Wessells H, Gralnek D, Dorr R, et al. Effect of an alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone analog on penile erection and sexual desire in men with organic erectile dysfunction. Urology (2000)
- 04Wessells H, Levine N, Hadley ME, et al. Melanocortin receptor agonists, penile erection, and sexual motivation: human studies with Melanotan II. International Journal of Impotence Research (2000)
- 05Dorr RT, Ertl GA, Levine N, et al. Effects of a superpotent melanotropic peptide in combination with solar UV radiation on tanning of the skin in human volunteers. Archives of Dermatology (2004)
- 06Nelson ME, Bryant SM, Aks SE. Melanotan II injection resulting in systemic toxicity and rhabdomyolysis. Clinical Toxicology (2012)
- 07Hjuler KF, Lorentzen HF. Melanoma associated with the use of melanotan-II. Dermatology (2014)
- 08Schulze F, Erdmann H, Hardkop LH, et al. Eruptive naevi and darkening of pre-existing naevi 24 h after a single mono-dose injection of melanotan II. European Journal of Dermatology (2014)
- 09Mallory CW, Lopategui DM, Cordon BH. Melanotan tanning injection: a rare cause of priapism. Sexual Medicine (2021)
- 10Habbema L, Halk AB, Neumann M, Bergman W. Risks of unregulated use of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone analogues. International Journal of Dermatology (2017)
- 11Minakova E, Lang J, Medel-Matus JS, et al. Melanotan-II reverses autistic features in a maternal immune activation mouse model of autism. Translational Psychiatry (2019)
- 12Hadley ME, Dorr RT. Melanocortin peptide therapeutics: historical milestones, clinical studies and commercialization. Peptides (2006)
- 13Wikipedia contributors. Melanotan II. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia (2026)
The reference sections above are imported from our compound knowledge base, which classes the evidence for Melanotan II (MT-2) as emerging. That classification is the knowledge base’s, not ours, our own grade appears only where an audit is linked above. Research use only; nothing here is medical advice or a protocol.
5-Amino-1MQ is a small molecule studied for its potential to help the body shrink fat cells and raise NAD+ levels without cutting appetite.
AOD9604 is a modified C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone (residues 176-191), studied in lipid metabolism research models.
BPC-157 is a synthetic pentadecapeptide derived from a protective protein found in gastric juice. Studied in tissue-repair and regeneration research models.
Peptide bioregulator referenced for connective tissue support.
Peptide bioregulator referenced for nervous system support.
Combination research blend of CJC-1295 (no DAC) and Ipamorelin. Studied as a GHRH/GHRP combination in growth-hormone-axis research.