Melanotan II
Other ·Insufficient evidence ·Reviewed May 2026
Synthetic melanocortin agonist sold online for tanning and libido claims. It is not an FDA-approved consumer product, and FDA cites published serious adverse-event case reports.
- No approved wellness use
- Human efficacy evidence is insufficient for consumer guidance
- Reference-only safety profile4
- Unknown product purity, potency, and sterility risk outside regulated drug supply
- Injection-site reactions or infection risk with injectable products
- Immune reactions are possible with peptide impurities or aggregation
- Pregnancy or nursing
- History of cancer or active malignancy unless specifically cleared by an oncologist
The bottom line
Evidence rating insufficient. Most-documented uses: no approved wellness use, human efficacy evidence is insufficient for consumer guidance, reference-only safety profile. 4 sources indexed (2012–2026), with 0 interaction records on file.
How it works, mechanistically.
Core mechanism
Melanocortin receptor agonism can stimulate melanogenesis and affect sexual/arousal pathways, but unregulated products create dermatologic, cardiovascular, neurologic, and purity risks.
Dosing & protocol.
Route-specific guidance is intentionally not provided for unapproved research peptides.
Full safety detail.
Side effects
- Unknown product purity, potency, and sterility risk outside regulated drug supply
- Injection-site reactions or infection risk with injectable products
- Immune reactions are possible with peptide impurities or aggregation
Contraindications
- Pregnancy or nursing
- History of cancer or active malignancy unless specifically cleared by an oncologist
- Use by competitive athletes subject to anti-doping rules
- Use without clinician supervision
Sources, by evidence tier.
Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.
Reviews & position papers
1- 1Risks of unregulated use of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone analogues: a reviewSource linkedPMIDHabbema L et al. · Int J Dermatol · 2017
Review highlights risks from unregulated alpha-MSH analog use.
Observational studies
2- 2Melanotan Tanning Injection: A Rare Cause of PriapismSource linkedPMIDMallory CW et al. · Sex Med · 2021
Case report linking melanotan tanning injection exposure to priapism.
- 3Melanotan II injection resulting in systemic toxicity and rhabdomyolysisSource linkedPMIDNelson ME et al. · Clin Toxicol · 2012
Case report of systemic toxicity and rhabdomyolysis after Melanotan II injection.
Reference material
1- 4Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety RisksSource linkedURLU.S. Food and Drug Administration · FDA · 2026
FDA flags immunogenicity/impurity concerns and cites serious adverse events including melanoma, PRES, sympathomimetic toxidrome, and priapism.
Deep dives & adjacent profiles.
This page is educational. Do not start, stop, or change a supplement or medication based on it without checking with a qualified healthcare professional.
Use this with your stack
Melanotan II in NutriStack.
Add it to your stack, see how it interacts with everything else you take, and get a Stack Score that updates the moment it does.