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Melanotan II Dosage Guide: Protocols, Timing & How Much to Take (2026)

From Peptidepedia, the trusted peptide wiki.

Dosage Protocols

No FDA-approved dosing guidelines exist for MT-II. The following protocols are derived from clinical research and community reports:

Loading Phase:

  • Initial dose: 0.1 mg (for tolerance assessment)
  • Escalating to 0.25 mg daily for 2–4 weeks. The Phase I trial (Dorr et al.) tested doses up to 0.025 mg/kg, which corresponds to approximately 0.2 mg for an 80 kg individual

Maintenance Phase:

  • 0.5–1 mg once or twice weekly after desired pigmentation is achieved

Important: This loading/maintenance protocol has no published clinical trial basis. The only clinical studies (Dorr 1996, Wessells 1998) used weight-based dosing in very small groups of 3 male volunteers. The protocol above is derived entirely from community use and has not been validated in controlled research.

UV Exposure: MT-II enhances the tanning response but does not eliminate the need for sun or sunbed exposure. Users typically combine the peptide with 10–20 minutes of UV exposure. MT-II does not provide complete UV protection and should not be used as a substitute for sunscreen.

Cycling: Some users implement 4–8 week breaks after 3–6 month periods to maintain receptor sensitivity, though clinical data supporting specific cycling protocols is limited.

Frequently Asked Questions

Starting with lower doses (0.1–0.25 mg), administering before bedtime, and ensuring adequate hydration reduce nausea. Antihistamines taken 30 minutes before injection may help. Nausea typically diminishes after the first week.

Without maintenance dosing, enhanced pigmentation typically fades over 1–3 months as skin naturally renews. Weekly maintenance doses can sustain results indefinitely.

This content is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making any health-related decisions.

References

  1. Dorr RT, et al. Evaluation of melanotan-II, a superpotent cyclic melanotropic peptide in a pilot phase-I clinical study. Life Sciences. 1996;58(20):1777-84.
  2. Wessells H, et al. Synthetic melanotropic peptide initiates erections in men with psychogenic erectile dysfunction: double-blind, placebo controlled crossover study. Journal of Urology. 1998;160(2):389-93.
  3. Hadley ME, Dorr RT. Melanocortin peptide therapeutics: historical milestones, clinical studies and commercialization. Peptides. 2006;27(4):921-30.
  4. Fan W, et al. Role of melanocortinergic neurons in feeding and the agouti obesity syndrome. Nature. 1997;385(6612):165-8.
  5. Brennan R, et al. Melanotan II: a review of the evidence for efficacy and safety. Dermatology Online Journal. 2019.
  6. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Tainted Sexual Enhancement Products. FDA Consumer Updates.
  7. World Anti-Doping Agency. The 2024 Prohibited List. WADA.
  8. Hruby VJ, et al. Cyclic lactam alpha-melanotropin analogues with bulky aromatic amino acids at position 7 show high antagonist potency and selectivity at specific melanocortin receptors. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 1995;38(18):3454-61.

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