Melanotan-2 calculator
A non-selective melanocortin agonist sold for tanning and libido. Not approved anywhere; unregulated use carries real risks.
Also known as: MT-2, Melanotan II
FDA status — not an approved drug Not FDA-approved for any use. Melanotan-2 is not approved in any country and is sold as an unregulated research or cosmetic product.
Schedule Melanotan-2 → Set your dosing schedule and get a phone notification when each dose is due. Free.
What Melanotan-2 is
Melanotan-2 is a non-selective synthetic melanocortin agonist sold for tanning and libido enhancement. Unlike its relative Melanotan-1, it has no approved form anywhere in the world — all Melanotan-2 is unregulated. It is associated with darkening of moles and case reports of atypical skin changes.
Research depth: 2/5 Pharmacology understood from research, but no approved form anywhere and real dermatologic concerns. Human trials: No approved form. This measures how much has been studied — counting animal and laboratory work — not whether it works for you.
How Melanotan-2 works
It activates multiple melanocortin receptors, not just the MC1R that drives tanning. This broader activity explains its mixed effects: tanning through MC1R, increased libido and spontaneous erections through MC4R, and nausea and blood-pressure changes through other pathways. The non-selectivity is why its side-effect burden is higher.
Melanotan-2 side effects
Commonly reported
- Nausea and flushing — often pronounced
- Darkening of moles and freckles
- Spontaneous erections
- Increased blood pressure
- Fatigue and headache
Serious — seek medical care
- Case reports of changes in existing moles and atypical melanocytic lesions — a serious concern
- Blood-pressure elevation
- Unregulated product with no approved form anywhere
This list is not exhaustive. Report anything unexpected to the clinician who prescribed it. If you have severe abdominal pain, trouble breathing, or signs of an allergic reaction, seek care the same day. See also our guide to peptide side effects by class.
A worked example
A 10 mg vial reconstituted with 2 mL of bacteriostatic water gives 5 mg/mL. A 500 mcg dose is then 0.1 mL — about 10 units on a 100-unit insulin syringe, giving roughly 20 doses per vial before accounting for residual volume left in the vial and syringe.
Prefer paper? Download the printable Melanotan-2 dosing chart (PDF) — every vial size and water volume in syringe units, with the same review byline as this page. All charts →
Commonly cited dose range
Figures circulating for Melanotan-2 run from 250 mcg to 1000 mcg. Community protocols describe doses in the low hundreds of micrograms. Figures shown are reference points. There is no established or approved dose, and the product is unregulated.
Read this as reference information, not instruction. These numbers describe what is commonly discussed, not what is right for any individual. Dose, frequency, and whether to use Melanotan-2 at all are decisions for a licensed clinician who knows your history.
Common questions
Is Melanotan-2 approved anywhere?
No. Unlike Melanotan-1 (afamelanotide), Melanotan-2 has no approved form anywhere in the world. All Melanotan-2 is unregulated.
What are the risks of Melanotan-2?
It is non-selective, so it darkens moles and freckles, causes nausea and spontaneous erections, and can raise blood pressure. There are case reports linking it to changes in existing moles and atypical lesions, which is a particular concern.