Melanotan II: dosage in studies
Not a recommendation, not treatment guidance. This page shows only what published human studies used, with sources. This site does not say how much anyone should use of any substance. Fimea warns against using injectable peptides bought online: Fimea warning.
Melanotan II doses in humans have been reported in three small studies from 1996-2000. All three come from the same University of Arizona research group and included 23 men in total [1, 2]B [3]A.
The dose was calculated from body weight. In the pilot study and the 2000 erection study it was injected under the skin; the abstract of the 1998 study only mentions injections [1, 2]B [3]A.
Doses used in studies
| Study | Participants | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Source and level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorr et al. 1996 (pilot study) | 3 healthy men | Starting at 0.01 mg/kg under the skin, raised in 0.005 mg/kg steps to 0.025-0.03 mg/kg | Every other weekday, with saline on the days in between (single-blind) | 2 weeks | [1]B |
| Wessells et al. 1998 | 10 men with psychogenic erectile dysfunction | 0.025 mg/kg by injection | Melanotan II and placebo on separate occasions (double-blind crossover) | Erections monitored for 6 hours after the dose | [2]B |
| Wessells et al. 2000 | 10 men with erectile dysfunction and organic risk factors | 0.025 mg/kg under the skin | Twice, plus two placebo injections (double-blind crossover) | Monitored for 6 hours after each injection | [3]A |
Evidence levels: A = randomised human trial or meta-analysis · B = observational human study or case series · C = animal study · D = cell or laboratory study · E = not peer-reviewed
Notes
In the erection studies each dose was a single dose whose effect was followed at the study site for six hours. In the pilot study there were five doses over two weeks [1, 2]B [3]A.
What points the other way or is uncertain
In the pilot study mild nausea occurred at most dose levels, and the highest dose, 0.03 mg/kg, caused somnolence and fatigue (WHO grade II) in one of two subjects [1]B.
In the 2000 study, 4 of 19 injections at 0.025 mg/kg were followed by severe nausea, and nausea as well as stretching and yawning were more frequent than with placebo [3]A.
According to a dermatology review, case reports have linked unregulated melanotan use to changes in moles, and four cases described melanoma. Conclusive evidence of cause and effect is lacking [4]B.
- Melanotan II: the full substance page
- Melanotan II: reconstitution and unit calculator
- Are peptides legal in Finland?
- All dose pages and calculators
Read the research yourself: sources
- Dorr RT, Lines R, Levine N, et al. Evaluation of melanotan-II, a superpotent cyclic melanotropic peptide in a pilot phase-I clinical study. Life Sci. 1996;58(20):1777-1784. PMID 8637402
- Wessells H, Fuciarelli K, Hansen J, et al. Synthetic melanotropic peptide initiates erections in men with psychogenic erectile dysfunction: double-blind, placebo controlled crossover study. J Urol. 1998;160(2):389-393. PMID 9679884
- Wessells 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;56(4):641-646. PMID 11018622
- Habbema L, Halk AB, Neumann M, et al. Risks of unregulated use of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone analogues: a review. Int J Dermatol. 2017;56(10):975-980. PMID 28266027
Sources checked in PubMed on 12 Oct 2026; none has been retracted. Doses are from the study abstracts. The level A of the 2000 study rests on its PubMed publication type (randomised controlled trial). The 1998 study was double-blind and placebo-controlled, but its abstract does not mention randomisation, so its level is B.
Content is general information about research, not medical advice. If you have symptoms, contact a healthcare professional.