Melanotan I (10 mg vial)
Once daily subcutaneous protocol for sexual and cosmetic research.
Melanotan I is a selective MC1R agonist that drives melanin production, and its pharmaceutical form afamelanotide is approved as an implant for a rare light-sensitivity disorder. UV exposure is still required for tanning. The protocol below is a daily loading phase then maintenance.
Quick answer: at the standard 10 mg + 1 mL reconstitution, a 500 mcg 1-2x/week dose of Melanotan I draws 5 units (0.05 mL) on a U-100 insulin syringe, once daily subcutaneous.
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Protocol overview
Dosing & reconstitution
Frequency: Once daily subcutaneous
Typical duration: 8-12 weeks
Reconstitution: 10 mg vial + 1 mL bacteriostatic water = 10 mg/mL. Units below are for a U-100 insulin syringe at this concentration.
| Phase | Dose | Units per injection |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-2 | 250 mcg | 2.5 units (0.025 mL) |
| Weeks 3-4 | 500 mcg | 5 units (0.05 mL) |
| Weeks 5-8 | 1 mg | 10 units (0.1 mL) |
| Maintenance | 500 mcg 1-2x/week | 5 units (0.05 mL) |
Units = (dose ÷ concentration) × 100 on a U-100 syringe. Change the vial size or water volume and the calculator redoes all of this for you.
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Melanotan I dosing schedule
From the approved label. Afamelanotide is approved as Scenesse for prevention of phototoxicity in adults with erythropoietic protoporphyria — a rare light-sensitivity disorder. The route matters enormously here: the approved product is a controlled-release implant placed by a trained clinician, not the injectable powder sold as a research chemical.
| Phase | Amount | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approved use | 16 mg implant | Every 2 months, subcutaneous implant | Placed by a healthcare professional. Not comparable to self-administered injection of reconstituted powder. |
Study length: Implants placed every two months during periods of sun exposure.
Reconstitution and measurement
This part is arithmetic and does not depend on the evidence level. Concentration is vial size divided by the bacteriostatic water you add. Draw volume is your target amount divided by that concentration. Units are draw volume times 100, because a U-100 syringe reads 100 units per millilitre. Common vials for Melanotan I: 10 mg.
- Wipe the stoppers of both vials with an alcohol swab and let them dry.
- Draw the bacteriostatic water with a sterile syringe and inject it slowly down the inside wall of the peptide vial — never straight onto the powder.
- Swirl gently until the solution is clear. Do not shake; foaming and agitation damage peptides.
- Label the vial with the date and concentration, and refrigerate at 2–8 °C protected from light.
Worked example at the calculator defaults: 10 mg + 2 mL of bacteriostatic water = 5 mg/mL, so on a U-100 insulin syringe 1 unit = 50 mcg of Melanotan I. Change either input and the calculator redoes this for you.
Storage and stability
Supplies math
Whatever amounts your research uses, the planning arithmetic is the same. The calculator runs all of this per compound.
Supplies by protocol length
Based on the maintenance dose above (500 mcg 1-2x/week, once daily subcutaneous) and a 10 mg vial reconstituted with 1 mL.
| Duration | Injections | Vials | Syringes | Bac water | Swabs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | 56 | 3 x 10 mg | 62 | 1 x 10 mL | 112 |
| 12 weeks | 84 | 5 x 10 mg | 93 | 1 x 10 mL | 168 |
| 16 weeks | 112 | 6 x 10 mg | 124 | 1 x 10 mL | 224 |
Syringe count includes ~10% spares. Swabs = 2 per injection (stopper + site). Vial count assumes the full maintenance dose for the entire duration.
Important notes
Practical considerations for consistency and safety.
- Use a new sterile insulin syringe for each injection and dispose in a proper sharps container.
- Rotate injection sites (abdomen, thighs, upper arms) systematically to reduce local irritation and avoid lipohypertrophy.
- Inject slowly and steadily; wait a few seconds before withdrawing the needle to ensure complete delivery.
- Administer at the same time each day for consistent levels. Setting a daily reminder helps maintain the schedule.
- The 10 mg vial size is standard for this compound. Reconstitute with 1 mL bacteriostatic water for a convenient concentration.
How Melanotan I works
A linear analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone that acts principally at MC1 receptors, driving eumelanin production. The approved product is a slow-release implant rather than an injection.
Benefits & side effects
Potential benefits
- Selective MC1R agonist for tanning
- Stimulates melanin production with UV exposure
- More selective than Melanotan II
- Also studied for photoprotection
Possible side effects
- Nausea at initiation
- Facial flushing
- Injection site reactions
- Must monitor moles and skin changes
This list reflects published literature and community reports. Individual responses vary. Not medical advice.
Bloodwork worth tracking
The community-standard practice is a baseline panel before starting, a recheck 8 to 12 weeks in, and another after time off. For Melanotan I, the markers most worth watching:
CMPCBCdermatology check
Typical time off: Maintenance 1-2x/wk once desired
Lab panels are how a research protocol stays honest: numbers move before symptoms do. Interpretation belongs with a clinician. Not medical advice.
Lifestyle factors
None of the literature above was run on a background of poor sleep and no protein. These variables move outcomes more reliably than any compound on this site.
- Protein in the 1.6 to 2.2 g/kg range preserves lean mass through any body-composition phase.
- Resistance training 2 to 4 days per week plus 150+ minutes of weekly aerobic work reinforces whatever the protocol is doing.
- Sleep is the recovery window: 7 to 9 hours at consistent times.
- Hydration matters more than usual on compounds with GI or flushing effects: 2 to 3 liters daily.
- Track the variables that matter: weigh-ins, measurements, photos, and labs at sensible intervals.
Subcutaneous technique and practical notes
General best practice from clinical injection guidance — the same fundamentals nurses are taught, none of it specific to any compound.
References
Quick answers
How many syringe units is a 500 mcg 1-2x/week dose of Melanotan I?
At the standard reconstitution of 10 mg with 1 mL bacteriostatic water (10 mg/mL), a 500 mcg 1-2x/week dose draws 5 units (0.05 mL) on a U-100 insulin syringe.
How do you reconstitute Melanotan I?
Add 1 mL of bacteriostatic water to the 10 mg vial for 10 mg/mL. Inject the water slowly down the inside wall of the vial, swirl gently without shaking, and refrigerate at 2 to 8 °C after mixing.
How long does a 10 mg vial of Melanotan I last?
About 20 maintenance doses of 500 mcg 1-2x/week, roughly 2.9 weeks at once daily subcutaneous.
Does Melanotan I have human trial data?
Yes. The dosing on this page is anchored to published human research (Afamelanotide (Scenesse) prescribing information, erythropoietic protoporphyria indication).
How does Melanotan I work?
A linear analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone that acts principally at MC1 receptors, driving eumelanin production. The approved product is a slow-release implant rather than an injection.
Sourcing Melanotan I
Whatever you are working with, the documentation matters more than the price. Ask for a batch certificate of analysis whose lot number matches the vial you actually receive — a COA for a different batch tells you nothing about yours.
Melanotan I at Summit Research Supply → Grade a COA first
Summit is the supplier we feature and an affiliate link. Our COA checklist applies the same way to any vendor.
