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Melanotan II Results: What Studies Measured and When

What published studies measured for Melanotan II, when those outcomes were measured, and what is still unproven.

Medically reviewed by Juan Pablo Frías, MD · · DisclosureMelanocortin agonistUpdated

What studies measured

Each outcome below comes from a published study, with its type and size, strongest design first. Animal and cell results are labelled as such and are not human results.

Melanotan II outcomes in published studies
OutcomeResultStudy typeSource
Erection without sexual stimulation17 of 20 men had penile erection without sexual stimulation.Human controlled trialn = 20International journal of impotence research 2000, PMID 11035391
Sexual desireIncreased desire after 13/19 (68%) MT-II doses vs 4/21 (19%) placebo (P<0.01).Human controlled trialn = 20International journal of impotence research 2000, PMID 11035391
Skin pigmentation (tanning)Two of the three subjects had increased pigmentation measured by reflectance and by eye.Human controlled trialn = 3Life sciences 1996, PMID 8637402
Tanning with few dosesTanning activity seen with only 5 low doses given every other day.Human controlled trialn = 3Life sciences 1996, PMID 8637402
Motivation for useUsers mainly sought a tan, often before holidays or physique competitions.Human observationaln = 205Dermatology 2021, PMID 34464955
User-reported tanning outcomeThe single case reported a darker skin tone and positive experiences.Human case reportn = 1The International journal on drug policy 2014, PMID 24280586
Proceptive sexual behaviourBoth doses increased hops/darts and ear wiggling in hormone-primed female rats; pacing and lordosis unchanged.Animal · rat (not a human result)n = 14Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior 2006, PMID 17113634
Feeding and fat pad sizeCentral MT-II infusion produced a transient drop in feeding and reduced fat pad size in rats.Animal · rat (not a human result)Journal of neuroendocrinology 2003, PMID 12535159
  • No FDA-approved melanotan II product exists; it is sold unlicensed. Human efficacy evidence for tanning is limited to a 3-volunteer pilot phase I study from 1996; no randomized tanning trial has been published in PubMed as of 2 October 2026.
  • Most of the human literature selected is case reports (melanoma, naevi, priapism, rhabdomyolysis, renal infarction), which cannot give frequencies.
  • Case reports do not give the product purity or dose actually injected. A forensic analysis of one vial labelled Melanotan II found 30% purity (PMID 39302005).
  • No human half-life for melanotan II was found; a rat IV pharmacokinetic paper (PMID 7981427) gives no numeric half-life.
  • Case reports from Europe/Australia describe products bought online; they do not prove causation.

Typical timeline

When measurable changes appeared in studies of Melanotan II: not reported in study abstracts (PubMed search, 2 Oct 2026).

Before-and-after photos

We don't publish before-and-after photos. They can't be verified, rarely show dose, diet or other drugs, and only the most dramatic results get posted.

Common questions

How long does Melanotan II take to work?

The study abstracts we summarised for Melanotan II do not report when outcomes were measured (PubMed search, 2 Oct 2026).

Do you show Melanotan II before and after photos?

No. Photos can't be verified, rarely show dose, diet or other drugs, and only the most dramatic ones get posted. We summarize measured outcomes instead.

More on Melanotan II

DosageDoses used in published studies, with the source for each.CalculatorVial, water and dose to syringe units.Side effectsWhat labels and studies report, and what is unknown.PricePrice per mg and per week from dated listings. No vendor links.Legal statusFDA, compounding and WADA status with dates.How to injectSites, syringe types and hygiene, step by step.

Sources

  1. 1Melanocortin receptor agonists, penile erection, and sexual motivation: human studies with Melanotan II.International journal of impotence research · 2000PMID 11035391Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  2. 2Evaluation of melanotan-II, a superpotent cyclic melanotropic peptide in a pilot phase-I clinical study.Life sciences · 1996PMID 8637402Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  3. 3Melanotan II User Experience: A Qualitative Study of Online Discussion Forums.Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021PMID 34464955Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  4. 4An in-depth case examination of an exotic dancer's experience of melanotan.The International journal on drug policy · 2014PMID 24280586Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  5. 5The melanocortin agonist, melanotan II, enhances proceptive sexual behaviors in the female rat.Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior · 2006PMID 17113634Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  6. 6The melanocortin agonist Melanotan-II reduces the orexigenic and adipogenic effects of neuropeptide Y (NPY) but does not affect the NPY-driven suppressive effects on the gonadotropic and somatotropic axes in the male rat.Journal of neuroendocrinology · 2003PMID 12535159Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  7. 7PubMed search: "melanotan II"[tiab] OR "melanotan 2"[tiab] (198 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  8. 8PubMed search: ("melanotan II"[tiab] OR melanotan[tiab]) AND humans[mh] (82 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  9. 9PubMed search: ("melanotan II"[tiab] OR "melanotan 2"[tiab] OR melanotan[ti]) AND (case[tiab] OR naevi[tiab] OR nevi[tiab] OR melanoma[tiab] OR adverse[tiab] OR priapism[tiab] OR tanning[tiab] OR sunless[tiab]) AND humans[mh] (25 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  10. 10PubMed search: ("melanotan II"[tiab] OR "melanotan 2"[tiab]) AND (half-life[tiab] OR pharmacokinetic*[tiab]) (3 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026

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