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Peptide vial on a warm sunlit sand-toned surface
DoseRoutine Melanotan I — Peptide vial on a warm sunlit sand-toned surface. Original DoseRoutine photography.
peptideInjectableResearch chemicalNever approved by the FDA or any medicines regulator; sold outside the US mainly as an unregulated research chemical or gray-market tanning injectable

Melanotan IBenefits, Dosage & Interactions

Also known as: MT-I, Afamelanotide

Melanotan I, also known as afamelanotide, is a synthetic peptide that mimics the naturally occurring alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). It acts as an agonist at melanocortin receptors, primarily the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R). Research on Melanotan I focuses on healthy aging.

How much Melanotan I do people take?

Early human pharmacokinetic trials used subcutaneous doses in the range of 0.08-0.16 mg/kg of melanotan-I. Route reported: Subcutaneous injection in the cited human trial. Frequency reported: Once daily dosing over short courses in the cited trial. These are amounts documented in the cited studies and labels for Melanotan I — they are reported for reference, not a recommendation. Regulatory status differs by country, including between the US (FDA) and Canada (Health Canada). Confirm any amount with a licensed clinician before you take it.

See the full reported protocol and its sources

Researched by DoseRoutine Research TeamReviewed for accuracy by Nicholas Alexander, RSE, SO, PMPLast updated Educational reference only — not medical advice. Always confirm dosing and safety decisions with a licensed clinician.

Evidence: Moderate — One published human randomized trial; results not yet replicated.
Evidence strengthModerate · 3/4
PreclinicalStrong human evidence

One published human randomized trial; results not yet replicated.

Chemical structure of Melanotan I (PubChem CID 16197727)
Structure via PubChem
Plasma half-life
0.8–1.7 h
Default unit
mg

What published protocols report

Ranges documented in the literature, shown for reference. DoseRoutine does not recommend an amount — your prescriber or the product label sets the dose.

Reported amounts
Early human pharmacokinetic trials used subcutaneous doses in the range of 0.08-0.16 mg/kg of melanotan-I[1][2]
Route studied
Subcutaneous injection in the cited human trial[1][2]
Frequency
Once daily dosing over short courses in the cited trial[1][2]
Cycle length
Trial dosing periods of up to about 10 days[1][2]
Half-life
Roughly 30-60 minutes reported in the human pharmacokinetic study[1][2]

Reported for Melanotan I in the cited sources. Published ranges are not dosing advice.

Mixing Melanotan I: bacteriostatic water and syringe units

The vial arrives as dry powder. How much water you add sets the strength, and the strength sets the mark you draw to on the syringe. The table assumes a 5 mg vial and a 250 mcg example draw on a U-100 insulin syringe, where 100 units is one millilitre. If your vial is a different size, scale it — the arithmetic is the same.

Bacteriostatic water addedResulting strength250 mcg draws to
1 mL5 mg/mL5 units
2 mL2.5 mg/mL10 units
3 mL1.67 mg/mL15 units

Units, not millilitres. Insulin syringes are marked in units, and mixing up mcg and mg on a peptide label is the single most common error people report. Check the label twice. Run your own vial through the calculator.

Storage and stability

Before mixing
Sealed and still as a dry powder, Melanotan I vials are normally kept in the fridge at 2–8 °C, out of light. Short spells at room temperature during shipping are the norm for lyophilized peptides and are not, on their own, a sign the vial is spoiled.
After mixing
Once bacteriostatic water goes in, the vial belongs in the fridge and is generally treated as good for about 28 days — that is how long the benzyl alcohol in bacteriostatic water is relied on to hold back bacterial growth. Plain sterile water has no preservative, so a vial mixed with it is a single-session vial. Never freeze a reconstituted vial.
When to throw it out
A properly mixed vial is clear. Cloudiness, floating strands, a color change or powder that will not go into solution after gentle swirling all mean the vial should be discarded rather than used. Shaking a peptide vial hard is the usual cause — swirl it, or run the water down the inside wall of the vial instead of onto the powder.

Handling and shelf-life figures describe general practice for lyophilized peptides. They are not a dose and not medical advice — your prescriber or the product label sets the amount.

References & evidence

Documents the Melanotan I entry is written from. Each number matches an inline marker above.

  1. [1]Skin pigmentation and pharmacokinetics of melanotan-I in humansUgwu SO, Blanchard J, Dorr RT, et al. · Biopharmaceutics & Drug Disposition · 1997 · Peer-reviewed · PMID 9113347
  2. [2]Discovery and development of novel melanogenic drugs. Melanotan-I and -IIHadley ME, Hruby VJ, Blanchard J, et al. · Pharmaceutical Biotechnology · 1998 · Peer-reviewed · PMID 9760697

References & Evidence

Sources on this page that document Melanotan I dosing, timing and safety.

  1. [1]National Center for Biotechnology Information View source

Educational information only — not medical advice. Dose ranges vary by person, indication and prescriber.

What is Melanotan I studied for?

Longevity

What is Melanotan I?Sources for this section: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.

Melanotan I, also known as afamelanotide, is a synthetic peptide that mimics the naturally occurring alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). It acts as an agonist at melanocortin receptors, primarily the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R). The main therapeutic use of afamelanotide is to increase melanin production in the skin, providing photoprotection. It is specifically approved in some regions for the prevention of phototoxicity in adult patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), a rare genetic disorder characterized by severe photosensitivity. Afamelanotide is administered as a subcutaneous implant (FDA label).

What does the research say about Melanotan I?

Tap a section to expand.

Afamelanotide is a synthetic analog of α-MSH. It binds to and activates melanocortin receptors, especially the MC1R located on melanocytes in the skin. Activation of MC1R initiates a signaling cascade, primarily involving cyclic AMP (cAMP) and protein kinase A (PKA), which leads to increased production of melanin. Melanin is the pigment responsible for skin color and plays a crucial role in protecting the skin from ultraviolet (UV) radiation damage. By increasing melanin synthesis, afamelanotide enhances the skin's natural photoprotective capabilities, reducing sensitivity to light (FDA label; EMA SmPC).

Source for this section: Sources for How does Melanotan I work?: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.

The primary benefit of afamelanotide is its photoprotective effect, particularly for individuals with conditions that cause extreme photosensitivity. For patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), afamelanotide significantly reduces the frequency and severity of phototoxic reactions. Clinical studies have shown that it increases pain-free sun exposure time and improves quality of life for EPP patients by allowing them to engage in more outdoor activities without experiencing severe phototoxicity (FDA label; EMA SmPC; Cochrane).

Clinical evidence supporting the efficacy of afamelanotide primarily comes from randomized, placebo-controlled trials in patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP). These trials have demonstrated that afamelanotide significantly increases the amount of time EPP patients can spend in direct sunlight without experiencing pain, burning, or itching. For example, a Cochrane review assessed multiple studies and found evidence of increased sun tolerance and improved quality of life. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved afamelanotide for the treatment of EPP based on these clinical results, which showed a reduction in sensitivity to light exposure (FDA label; Cochrane). Similarly, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) also approved it for the prevention of phototoxicity in adult EPP patients (EMA SmPC).

Common side effects associated with afamelanotide include injection site reactions (such as redness, pain, and swelling), nausea, headache, fatigue, dizziness, and cough. Hyperpigmentation (skin darkening) is an expected pharmacological effect of the medication, but in some cases, it may be uneven or more pronounced. Less common, but more serious side effects, could include upper abdominal pain and flu-like symptoms. Patients should report any persistent or severe side effects to their healthcare provider. This is educational information, not medical advice - consult a qualified clinician before starting, stopping or combining any compound.

Due to its mechanism of action, afamelanotide causes skin darkening. While this is part of its photoprotective effect, patients should be monitored for any unusual or excessive changes in skin pigmentation. Patients with EPP should continue to practice sun protection measures, such as wearing protective clothing and using sunscreens, as afamelanotide does not completely eliminate the risk of phototoxicity. The safety and efficacy of afamelanotide in pediatric patients have not been established. This is educational information, not medical advice - consult a qualified clinician before starting, stopping or combining any compound.

Afamelanotide is contraindicated in individuals with known hypersensitivity to the drug substance or to any of its excipients. It is generally not recommended for use in pregnant or breastfeeding women due to insufficient data on potential risks. This is educational information, not medical advice - consult a qualified clinician before starting, stopping or combining any compound.

Currently, there are no specific drug-drug interactions widely reported for afamelanotide. However, as with any medication, patients should inform their healthcare provider about all other medications, supplements, and herbal products they are taking to avoid potential interactions. Caution should be exercised when co-administering with other medications that may affect skin pigmentation or photosensitivity. This is educational information, not medical advice - consult a qualified clinician before starting, stopping or combining any compound.

Afamelanotide is administered as a subcutaneous implant, which is designed to release the compound slowly over time. The typical dosing regimen involves implantation by a healthcare professional. The frequency of implantation is user-directed and is determined by a licensed clinician based on the individual patient's needs and response to treatment (FDA label; EMA SmPC).

Source for this section: Sources for When should you take Melanotan I?: Jumps to this entry in the sources and references list at the end of the page.

Put it into practice

Reading about Melanotan I is the first step — DoseRoutine helps you act on it. These free tools turn what you just learned into a routine.

What interacts with Melanotan I?

Documented interactions for Melanotan I: the other compound, the severity and confidence of the interaction, what happens, and what to do.
Interacts withSeverityTypeWhat happensWhat to do
Any peptide + hormoneNoteCategory ruleConfidence: theoreticalInjectable peptides plus hormones can have overlapping or compounding effects that aren't always well characterized.Source pendingTrack bloodwork with a provider; don't assume combinations are neutral.

Frequently asked questions about Melanotan I

Melanotan I (Afamelanotide) is primarily used for photoprotection in adult patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), a rare genetic disorder that causes severe photosensitivity to light (FDA label).

Afamelanotide works by mimicking a natural hormone to stimulate melanocytes in the skin to produce more melanin, the pigment responsible for skin color and UV protection. This increased melanin provides enhanced photoprotection (EMA SmPC).

While afamelanotide does cause skin darkening, its approved use is for therapeutic photoprotection in specific medical conditions like EPP, not for cosmetic tanning. Its safety and efficacy for cosmetic use have not been established (FDA label).

Common side effects include injection site reactions, nausea, headache, fatigue, dizziness, and hyperpigmentation (skin darkening). Patients should discuss any side effects with their doctor (FDA label).

Afamelanotide is administered as a small subcutaneous implant, typically inserted by a healthcare professional, which slowly releases the medication over several months (FDA label).

As a peptide, Melanotan I can overlap with other supplements, prescription medicines, hormones and peptides. With a reported plasma half-life near 0.8 hours, separating doses can change the picture as much as removing one. Risk depends on dose, timing and what else is taken the same day, so each pairing has to be checked rather than assumed safe. The free checker at https://doseroutine.com/interaction-checker covers Melanotan I with no sign-up.

Melanotan I is administered by injection, so the measured volume — not a tablet count — is the unit that matters. The reported plasma half-life is about 0.8 hours, which is what drives how often it is redosed. Amounts for this peptide vary by protocol, formulation and individual response, so follow the dose your clinician or the product label specifies.

Whether Melanotan I fits alongside testosterone replacement therapy depends on the protocol — dose, ester and ancillaries such as HCG or anastrozole — and on current bloodwork. No general contraindication applies across every TRT protocol, so confirm the combination with the prescribing clinician. See the free TRT interaction reference: https://doseroutine.com/trt-supplement-interactions

"Peptides" is not one category — healing peptides, GLP-1 agonists, growth-hormone secretagogues and melanocortins each behave differently next to Melanotan I. Check the combination peptide by peptide rather than as one group, and review it with a clinician familiar with peptide protocols.

A short plasma half-life of roughly 0.8 hours is why protocols often split Melanotan I across the day rather than using a single dose. Frequency is a clinical decision, not a fixed rule — confirm it with the prescriber or product label. Comparison of apps that keep a schedule like this: https://doseroutine.com/best-dose-tracking-apps

Because Melanotan I clears quickly (plasma half-life around 0.8 hours), a missed dose leaves a real gap in exposure rather than being buffered by what is still in your system. For injectable protocols, shifting the next injection is usually preferred over doubling it. Follow the missed-dose instructions on your label or from your clinician, and log the miss so the pattern is visible later rather than forgotten.

For an injectable like Melanotan I the record needs more than a checkbox: vial concentration, the measured volume, and which site the last injection went into. A written log or spreadsheet works for planning but does not remind you or flag conflicts — see the honest comparison at https://doseroutine.com/vs/spreadsheet and the wider roundup at https://doseroutine.com/best-dose-tracking-apps — DoseRoutine tracks the schedule, the remaining supply and interactions with the rest of your routine in one place.

Early human pharmacokinetic trials used subcutaneous doses in the range of 0.08-0.16 mg/kg of melanotan-I. Route reported: Subcutaneous injection in the cited human trial. Frequency reported: Once daily dosing over short courses in the cited trial. These are amounts documented in the cited studies and labels for Melanotan I — they are reported for reference, not a recommendation. Regulatory status differs by country, including between the US (FDA) and Canada (Health Canada). Confirm any amount with a licensed clinician before you take it.

Which studies looked at Melanotan I?

Peer-reviewed research indexed in PubMed. Each entry links to the original record.

  1. 1.Skin pigmentation and pharmacokinetics of melanotan-I in humans(opens PubMed in a new tab)Biopharm Drug Dispos · 1997 · PMID 9113347 · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9113347/
  2. 2.Discovery and development of novel melanogenic drugs. Melanotan-I and -II(opens PubMed in a new tab)Pharm Biotechnol · 1998 · PMID 9760697 · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9760697/

Sources cited on this page

Specific documents referenced by the numbered markers above. Each number matches the marker in the text.

  1. PubChem CID 16197727(opens in a new tab)National Center for Biotechnology Information · pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/16197727

Verify at

Publisher search links for Melanotan I. These are places to check the information — they are not citations, so they are not numbered.

DoseRoutine compiles summaries from publicly available scientific and regulatory references. Always verify important decisions with a licensed clinician. How we source and review this information.

What is the short answer on Melanotan I?

Plain-text summary, safe to quote verbatim:

Melanotan I, also known as afamelanotide, is a synthetic peptide that mimics the naturally occurring alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). It acts as an agonist at melanocortin receptors, primarily the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R). Research on Melanotan I focuses on healthy aging.
Source: DoseRoutine — https://doseroutine.com/library/melanotan-i

Melanotan I cheat sheet

DoseRoutine cheat sheet · Peptide

Melanotan I

Melanotan I, also known as afamelanotide, is a synthetic peptide that mimics the naturally occurring alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). It acts as an agonist at melanocortin receptors, primarily the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R).

Evidence

Moderate

One published human randomized trial; results not yet replicated.

Studied range

Early human pharmacokinetic trials used subcutaneous doses in the range of 0.08-0.16 mg/kg of melanotan-I

Route

Subcutaneous injection in the cited human trial

Frequency studied

Once daily dosing over short courses in the cited trial

Half-life

0.8–1.7 h

Research chemicalNever approved by the FDA or any medicines regulator; sold outside the US mainly as an unregulated research chemical or gray-market tanning injectableLongevity

Key references

  1. Skin pigmentation and pharmacokinetics of melanotan-I in humans (1997)
  2. Discovery and development of novel melanogenic drugs. Melanotan-I and -II (1998)

Studied ranges, not dosing advice. Not medical advice — talk to a clinician. doseroutine.com/library/melanotan-i

Cite this page

Using this in an article, AI answer, or research note? Please attribute:

DoseRoutine. (2026). Melanotan I — Overview, Benefits & Side Effects. Retrieved from https://doseroutine.com/library/melanotan-i
Canonical URL

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