PeptideCalculations
non-selective melanocortin agonist · studied for skin tanning, sexual arousal (the PT-141 precursor)

Melanotan II dosage

Melanotan II is a cyclic alpha-MSH analog that darkens skin and, as a side effect, triggers erections and nausea. The only human dosing study used 0.01 to 0.03 mg/kg subcutaneously (0.7 to 2.1 mg for a 70 kg person) and recommended 0.025 mg/kg. Community dosing is lower: 0.25 to 0.5 mg a day during a loading phase, then 0.5 to 1 mg once or twice a week to hold the color. Nausea at most doses is the norm. It has no approval anywhere.

By the Peptide Calculations editors · Updated 2026-10-19

0.01 mg/kg to 0.03 mg/kg (0.7 mg to 2.1 mg at 70 kg)per day

Basis: clinical trial (Dorr et al. 1996, Life Sciences, pilot phase 1, 3 men, weekday injections for 2 weeks). 0.025 mg/kg was recommended for later studies; 0.03 mg/kg caused somnolence and fatigue

How often
daily or every other day while loading, then 1 to 2 times a week
When
evening or before bed, so the nausea and flushing happen while you sleep
How long
loading 1 to 3 weeks, then maintenance for the season; many stop for months at a time
Route
subcutaneous, abdomen
Storage
lyophilized: fridge or freezer; reconstituted: fridge, dark, use within 4 weeks (commonly reported)

Dose ranges by source

RangePerBasisNote
0.01 mg/kg to 0.03 mg/kg (0.7 mg to 2.1 mg at 70 kg)dayclinical trial (Dorr et al. 1996, Life Sciences, pilot phase 1, 3 men, weekday injections for 2 weeks)0.025 mg/kg was recommended for later studies; 0.03 mg/kg caused somnolence and fatigue
0.25 mg to 0.5 mg per daydaycommonly reportedloading phase, 1 to 2 weeks, with sun or UV exposure; some go to 1 mg
0.5 mg to 1 mg per dosedosecommonly reportedmaintenance, 1 to 2 times a week

Melanotan II dose to units chart

10 mg vial + 4 mL bacteriostatic water = 2.5 mg/mL (25 mcg per unit on a U-100 insulin syringe). 10 mg + 4 mL = 2.5 mg/mL, so 250 mcg = 0.1 mL = 10 units, 500 mcg = 20 units and 1 mg = 40 units. With 2 mL of water the same doses are 5, 10 and 20 units.

DosemLUnits (U-100)Doses per vial
0 mcg001000000
0 mcg00500000
0 mcg00400000
0 mcg00333333

Different vial or water? Full 10 mg + 4 mL table or set your own numbers below.

mL
Draw to
—units
— mL on a U-100, 1 mL barrel
Concentration
—mg/mL
— mcg per unit
Doses in the vial
—
of

Side effects

  • nausea (most doses in the trial)
  • facial flushing
  • spontaneous erections lasting 1 to 5 hours (men)
  • fatigue and yawning
  • darkening of moles and freckles
  • new moles
  • appetite loss
Before you start. No regulator has approved MT-2 and the sole human study had 3 subjects. It darkens existing moles and reports of new or changed moles are common; anyone with a history of melanoma or many atypical moles should not use it. Nausea is dose-linked, so start at 0.25 mg. Not medical advice. Talk to a clinician and start low.

Melanotan II dosage questions

How much melanotan 2 should I take to start?

0.25 mg (250 mcg) the first few days, moving to 0.5 mg if nausea is tolerable. The human study dosed by weight at 0.01 to 0.03 mg/kg and found nausea at almost every level, so there is no reason to start high.

Melanotan 2 maintenance dose?

Once you have the color you want, 0.5 to 1 mg once or twice a week holds it for most users. Keep some sun or UV exposure; MT-2 amplifies tanning, it does not replace light.

How many units is 0.5 mg of melanotan 2?

At 2.5 mg/mL (10 mg in 4 mL) 0.5 mg is 20 units. At 5 mg/mL (10 mg in 2 mL) it is 10 units. Write the concentration on the vial.

Why does melanotan 2 make me nauseous?

It hits several melanocortin receptors, including the ones that control nausea and appetite. The 1996 study saw mild nausea at most doses. Dosing before bed, on a full stomach, and keeping the dose at or under 0.5 mg are what users do about it.

Sources

  1. Dorr RT et al., Life Sciences 1996, Evaluation of melanotan-II, a superpotent cyclic melanotropic peptide, in a pilot phase I clinical study (PubMed 8637402)
  2. Peptide Protocol Wiki, Melanotan 2 dosing (community loading and maintenance ranges)

Brands we recommend for Melanotan II. We are independent and have no affiliation with any brand: no affiliate links, no referral codes, no paid placements. These are the suppliers whose testing and certificates hold up when we check them.

This page is an educational summary of published labels, trials and commonly reported use. It is not medical advice and does not replace a clinician.