Melanotan I

Melanotan I is a synthetic α-MSH analog primarily utilized off-label for skin tanning and photoprotection, though it is also FDA-approved for treating erythropoietic protoporphyria. Users typically run doses ranging from 100 µg to 2 mg, with 100 µg administered three times per week being the most common protocol. While reports of nausea and injection-site reactions occasionally surface, the primary tradeoff is that the evidence base for its off-label applications remains significantly thinner than the community discourse suggests, and there is no insurance pathway for these uses outside of its specific clinical indication.

Half-life~30 min

Data last updated

ClinicalResearchDepthClinicalResearchEfficacyClinicalResearchSideEffectsAnecdotalEfficacyAnecdotalSideEffectsPrice3.82.91.93.43.33.0

Research Evidence

Evidence shape

Melanotan I possesses high-tier clinical evidence specifically for the treatment of erythropoietic protoporphyria, where it has demonstrated efficacy in reducing symptom-prone days. While the research base includes 23 registered trials and seven blinded studies across three sponsors, the breadth of evidence remains narrow, with only one indication supported by robust results. The remaining 13 mapped indications, including vitiligo and xeroderma pigmentosum, rely on thin or single-trial data, signaling that the clinical application of this peptide is largely restricted to its primary validated use case.

Depthhow much
23 registered trials
18 completed · 12 with posted results · 1 recruiting / active · combined n=471
Breadthhow many areas
14 indications mapped
1 with results · 12 thin / exploratory · 1 animal-only · 9 single-trial long-tail
Qualityhow rigorous
Highest tier: Phase 3
7 blinded with results · 3 distinct sponsors · AE rows aggregated from 12 trials · 3 linked publications on registered trials
Breadth and depth40 rows captured
Human
direct clinical signal
24
Animal
translational support
12
In vitro
mechanistic support
4
HighMediumLow

Anecdotal efficacy

Melanotan I side effects

Clinical research side effects

Anecdotal side effects

Price

Full buying guide →
1
Mrbeetoe
--
100 mg
$65.00
$0.65/mg
2
peptidesourcehub.com
--
100 mg
$79.90
$0.8/mg
3
Pepclub Usa
--
100 mg×10
$170.00
$1.7/mg
4
Bulk Peptide Supply
unknown
100 mg×10
$175.00
$1.75/mg
5
Prestigesciences
US
10 mg
$19.00
$1.9/mg
6
Novavitality
GB
10 mg
$20.13
$2.01/mg

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Melanotan I dosing & protocol

How Melanotan I is dosed across research, clinician, and community sources — each evidence tier kept separate so the dose range, frequency, timing, and cycling stay visible without flattening different levels of evidence.

Research trials
Published clinical-trial protocols · n = 18
Typical dose
16 mg
typical
0
5 mg
10 mg
15 mg
20 mg
distribution of 12 reported doses · darker = more
Frequency
once
Route
subQ

Across the registered trials captured here, 16 mg subcutaneous is the consistent dose, appearing in every trial that specified an amount.

18 sources
Clinician practice
Doctor & published-protocol guidance
Typical dose
—
0
5 mg
10 mg
15 mg
20 mg
no dose captured for this tier yet

No structured protocol details captured for this tier yet.

Anecdotal
Community-reported real-world use · n = 1
Typical dose
100 µg
typical
0
5 mg
10 mg
15 mg
20 mg
across 1 dosed source · darker = more agree
Frequency
unspecified
Route
subQ

Across 10 community reports, doses range from 100 mcg to 2 mg subQ, with 100 mcg the most frequently cited figure; most reporters gave no schedule, while two described three-times-weekly dosing at around 250 mcg and one reported 100 mcg daily.

1 source

Regulatory safety notes

Warnings and precautions
  • • Hypersensitivity: Serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, have been reported. If a serious hypersensitivity reaction occurs, initiate appropriate therapy and remove the SCENESSE implant if needed. The patient should not receive any further…
  • • Skin Monitoring: May induce darkening of pre-existing nevi and ephelides due to its pharmacological effect. A full body skin examination (twice yearly) is recommended to monitor pre-existing nevi and new skin pigmentary lesions .
Contraindications
  • • CONTRAINDICATIONS SCENESSE is contraindicated in
  • • patients with a history of severe hypersensitivity reaction to afamelanotide or to any of the excipients in SCENESSE . Known hypersensitivity to afamelanotide or to any of the excipients in SCENESSE .

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