MELANOTAN: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Melanotan is a lab-made chemical. It is similar to a hormone found in the body. It was originally made as a drug to help treat certain skin conditions. It is also sold over the internet as a supplement.

Melanotan is commonly used for skin tanning. It is also used to produce erections in men with erectile dysfunction (ED), for rosacea, for fibromyalgia, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses. There is also concern that melanotan might not be safe when used as a shot under the skin.

Be careful not to confuse melanotan with melatonin.

How does it work ?

Melanotan is similar to a substance in our bodies, called "melanocyte-stimulating hormone." This hormone increases the production of skin-darkening pigments. Melanotan might also work in the brain to stimulate erections of the penis.

Uses & Effectiveness

Possibly Effective for

Erectile dysfunction (ED). Most early research suggests that giving melanotan as a shot under the skin helps men with erectile dysfunction achieve and keep an erection. However, side effects like nausea mean that this is not the best product to use. Also, melanotan is now only available as an unregulated product over the internet.

Insufficient Evidence for

Tanning of the skin.
Preventing skin cancers due to sun exposure, when given as a shot under the skin.
Rosacea.
Fibromyalgia.
Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of melanotan for these uses.

Side Effects

When given as a shot: Melanotan is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when given as a shot. It can causes nausea, stomach cramps, decreased appetite, flushing, tiredness, yawning, darkened skin, spontaneous erections of the penis, and other side effects. In some people, especially those with light skin, a change in the shape of moles, new moles, and skin cancer, have all occurred in people using melanotan.

When sprayed in the nose: There isn't enough reliable information to know if melanotan is safe or what the side effects might be.

Special Precautions and Warnings

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if melanotan is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Interactions

We currently have no information for MELANOTAN overview.

Dosing

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

BY INJECTION UNDER THE SKIN:

For erectile dysfunction (ED): the typical dosage of melanotan is 0.025 mg/kg.

View References

REFERENCES:

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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;58:1777-84. View abstract.

Dreyer BA, Amer T, Fraser M. Melanotan-induced priapism: a hard-earned tan. BMJ Case Rep 2019;12(2):e227644. View abstract.

Evans-Brown M, Dawson RT, Chandler M, McVeigh J. Use of melanotan I and II in the general population. BMJ. 2009;338:b566. View abstract.

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Hadley ME, Hruby VJ, Blanchard J, et al. Discoverdevelopment of novel melanogenic drugs. Melanotan-I and -II. Pharm Biotechnol 1998;11:575-95.

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Lan EL, Ugwu SO, Blanchard J, et al. Preformulation studies with melanotan II: a potential skin cancer chemopreventive peptide. J Pharm Sci 1994;83:1081-4. View abstract.

Langan EA, Ramlogan D, Jamieson LA, Rhodes LE. Change in moles linked to use of unlicensed "sun tan jab". BMJ. 2009;338:b277. View abstract.

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