Melanotan I

Typical use cases

Dosing guidelines

Titration

Often loaded with small daily doses to build pigmentation, then reduced to intermittent maintenance once desired tanning is reached.

Reconstitution

Commonly sold as a 10 mg lyophilized vial; reconstitute with ~1–2 mL bacteriostatic water (yielding ~5–10 mg/mL) for research handling.

Injection sites

Subcutaneous injection into abdomen or flank (research). The approved product is a long-acting implant placed above the anterior supra-iliac crest.

Storage & handling

Lyophilized: stable months cool/dark, longer frozen. Reconstituted: refrigerate (2–8 °C).

Side effects

• Nausea Mild · Common
• Facial flushing Mild · Common
• Darkening of moles/freckles Mild · Common
• Fatigue / headache Mild · Uncommon
• Changes in pigmented lesions warranting melanoma monitoring Severe · Rare

Research summary

Melanotan I is afamelanotide, a [Nle4, D-Phe7]-α-MSH melanocortin-1 receptor agonist that increases eumelanin synthesis; it is an approved drug (brand Scenesse, Clinuvel) granted FDA approval in 2019 and EMA approval in 2014 to reduce phototoxicity in erythropoietic protoporphyria. Unlike Melanotan II, it is selective for pigmentation with little effect on libido/erectile function. Because melanocyte stimulation can affect nevi, dermatologic monitoring of moles/pigmented lesions is advised; common effects include nausea, flushing, fatigue, and darkening of moles/freckles. Educational only — not medical advice.

Key references

• Langendonk et al., N. Engl. J. Med. (2015) — afamelanotide for erythropoietic protoporphyria
• FDA SCENESSE (afamelanotide) prescribing information (2019)

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