Peptide
Melanotan II
Melanotan II is used or studied for tanning; libido and related sexual wellness, pigmentation and cosmetic use goals. Potential benefits and safety depend on indication, formulation, dose, and medical supervision.
In depth
How it works
Melanotan II is a synthetic cyclic peptide that non-selectively activates melanocortin receptors (MC1R, MC3R, MC4R, MC5R), structurally related to the FDA-approved compound bremelanotide (PT-141) but never developed into an approved pharmaceutical. Activation of MC1R on skin melanocytes triggers melanin production, producing a tan independent of UV exposure.
Safety concerns
Because it activates melanocortin receptors non-selectively, Melanotan II's effects extend beyond tanning to appetite suppression and sexual arousal — and its safety record includes multiple published case reports of new or changing moles, dysplastic nevi, and priapism (including a case requiring surgical decompression after a single 2 mg dose), along with reports of rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury.
Melanotan II has no approved medical indication anywhere in the world and is sold as an unregulated research chemical, meaning purity and labeled dose are not independently verified.
Detail
Overview
Melanotan II is used or studied for tanning; libido and related sexual wellness, pigmentation and cosmetic use goals. Potential benefits and safety depend on indication, formulation, dose, and medical supervision.
Benefits, side effects, and protocols
Benefits list
- Tanning
- libido
Side effects
- Nausea
- flushing
Vendor protocol
- None listed
Clinical protocol
- None listed
Evidence
- Low
- Not approved
Regulatory
- Not Fda Approved
Research
Mechanisms
Evidence notes
- Low
- Not approved
Administration
Research links
Contraindications
- None listed
Components
- None listed
Regulatory data
- Not Fda Approved
Aliases
- None listed
Related compounds
Half-life
How long does Melanotan II stay in your system?
No human pharmacokinetic study of this compound has been published, so no half-life can honestly be stated. Here is why.
Terminology on this page
Concepts from the glossary that come up around Melanotan II.
Frequently asked questions
Is Melanotan II safe?
Case reports document serious adverse events including priapism, rhabdomyolysis, and acute kidney injury. It has no approved medical indication and is not subject to pharmaceutical quality control.
Is Melanotan II FDA approved?
No. It has no approved use in the United States and is sold as an unregulated research or grey-market compound.
What is the difference between Melanotan II and PT-141 (bremelanotide)?
Bremelanotide is a related, FDA-approved compound with a defined pharmaceutical formulation and a specific approved indication. Melanotan II is unregulated and has a larger body of published safety case reports.
Can Melanotan II cause skin cancer?
Case reports have linked its use to new or changing moles, which is a documented concern, though a direct causal link to melanoma has not been established in controlled studies.
Educational reference only. Pepperz does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, prescribing guidance, or dosing recommendations. Sourcing Melanotan II? Check your source before you use anything.