Melanotan I vs Melanotan II
Independent, side-by-side comparison of Melanotan I and Melanotan II: mechanism, half-life, dose range, safety profile, and live vendor pricing. Updated continuously as new research and listings land.
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Melanotan I
Melanotan II
Melanotan I
Melanotan I (afamelanotide) is a linear synthetic analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) with the substitution of norleucine at position 4 and D-phenylalanine at position 7. Unlike Melanotan II (which is…
Live lowest price: $19.00 across 2 vendors
Full Melanotan I profileMelanotan II
Melanotan-II (MT-II) is a synthetic cyclic heptapeptide analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) engineered in the late 1980s by researchers at the University of Arizona, most prominently Mac Hadley and…
Live lowest price: $34.99 across 3 vendors
Full Melanotan II profileSide-by-side comparison
| Attribute | Melanotan I | Melanotan II |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Other | Skin, Hair & Aesthetics |
| Research Stage | FDA Approved | Preclinical |
| Mechanism of Action | Melanotan I is afamelanotide, i.e. [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH ('NDP-alpha-MSH'), a synthetic 13-amino-acid analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. The Nle4 and D-Phe7 substitutions make it resistant to enzymatic breakdown and roughly 10-100x more potent… | Melanotan-II works by binding to and activating all four G-protein-coupled melanocortin receptors expressed in mammalian tissue (MC1R, MC3R, MC4R, MC5R - MC2R responds only to ACTH), with particularly high affinity at MC1R, MC3R, and MC4R. Melanocortin… |
| Half-Life | Controlled-release subcutaneous implant (Scenesse): high inter-subject variability; median Tmax ~36 h, mean Cmax ~3.7 ng/mL, apparent terminal half-life ~15 h, with plasma levels measurable to ~96 h post-dose (FDA pharmacokinetics, n=12). Injected/bolus free peptide: peak plasma at ~1-2 h with an elimination half-life of ~30 minutes; the Nle4/D-Phe7 modifications prolong biological (melanogenic) activity well beyond plasma clearance. | Approximately 30-60 minutes (subcutaneous; limited published human pharmacokinetic data). Peak plasma levels occur ~1-2 hours after injection, and subjective effects typically persist 4-8 hours. |
| Typical Dose Range | 16000 | — |
| Dosing Frequency | every_1_to_4_weeks | — |
| Administration | Subcutaneous, Intramuscular | — |
| Side Effects | Generally mild. Commonly reported: transient nausea (usually milder and less frequent than with Melanotan II), facial flushing, headache, fatigue, and skin hyperpigmentation including darkening of existing moles, freckles and nevi. Implant-site reactions occur… | The side-effect profile of MT-II is dose-dependent and largely driven by pan-melanocortin receptor activation. Many users experience the acute side effects as more limiting than the tanning benefit. Very Common (50% of users): - Nausea — the single most common… |
| Molecular Weight | 1646.85 g/mol (average; molecular formula C78H111N21O19) | ~1024.2 g/mol (average molecular weight; monoisotopic mass ~1023.5 Da). Molecular formula C50H69N15O9 (PubChem CID 92432). |
| Common Vial Sizes | 5, 10 | — |
Price tracking
Price History
3 data points- VANDL Labs
- Unknown
- Ion Peptide
Melanotan I — potential benefits
- Increased melanin (eumelanin) production and skin darkening via MC1R activation, with a reduced UV requirement
- FDA-approved photoprotection in erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) as the Scenesse 16 mg subcutaneous implant [PMID:26132941]
- Reduced phototoxic pain and improved quality of life in EPP patients in randomized controlled trials [PMID:26132941]
- Tends to produce fewer MC4R-type effects (spontaneous erections, strong libido, marked nausea) than the cyclic Melanotan II - attributable to Melanotan II's greater potency and metabolic stability, not to true MC1R selectivity of Melanotan I
- Investigated in research settings for photoprotection in UV-sensitive populations
Melanotan II — potential benefits
- Tanning without UV
- Appetite suppression
- Sexual arousal
- Photoprotection
- Fat loss
Frequently asked
What's the difference between Melanotan I and Melanotan II?
Melanotan I is a other that melanotan i is afamelanotide, i.e. [nle4, d-phe7]-alpha-msh ('ndp-alpha-msh'), a synthetic 13-amino-acid analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. the nle4 and d-phe7…. Melanotan II is a skin, hair & aesthetics that melanotan-ii works by binding to and activating all four g-protein-coupled melanocortin receptors expressed in mammalian tissue (mc1r, mc3r, mc4r, mc5r - mc2r responds only to…. The two differ in mechanism, half-life (Controlled-release subcutaneous implant (Scenesse): high inter-subject variability; median Tmax ~36 h, mean Cmax ~3.7 ng/mL, apparent terminal half-life ~15 h, with plasma levels measurable to ~96 h post-dose (FDA pharmacokinetics, n=12). Injected/bolus free peptide: peak plasma at ~1-2 h with an elimination half-life of ~30 minutes; the Nle4/D-Phe7 modifications prolong biological (melanogenic) activity well beyond plasma clearance. vs Approximately 30-60 minutes (subcutaneous; limited published human pharmacokinetic data). Peak plasma levels occur ~1-2 hours after injection, and subjective effects typically persist 4-8 hours.), and typical dose range.
Which has the longer half-life, Melanotan I or Melanotan II?
Melanotan I has a half-life of Controlled-release subcutaneous implant (Scenesse): high inter-subject variability; median Tmax ~36 h, mean Cmax ~3.7 ng/mL, apparent terminal half-life ~15 h, with plasma levels measurable to ~96 h post-dose (FDA pharmacokinetics, n=12). Injected/bolus free peptide: peak plasma at ~1-2 h with an elimination half-life of ~30 minutes; the Nle4/D-Phe7 modifications prolong biological (melanogenic) activity well beyond plasma clearance.. Melanotan II has a half-life of Approximately 30-60 minutes (subcutaneous; limited published human pharmacokinetic data). Peak plasma levels occur ~1-2 hours after injection, and subjective effects typically persist 4-8 hours.. Longer half-lives generally mean less frequent dosing but slower on/off kinetics.
Which is cheaper, Melanotan I or Melanotan II?
Current lowest live price on BodyHackGuide: Melanotan I from $19.00, Melanotan II from $34.99. Prices are pulled from the vendor listings tracked on BHG and change frequently — see the compare tables on each compound page for the current set of offers.
Can you stack Melanotan I and Melanotan II?
Stacking depends on mechanism overlap, safety profile, and goals. Melanotan I and Melanotan II should only be stacked after reviewing each compound's individual protocol page, side effect profile, and any published interaction data. Use the BodyHackGuide stack builder for a structured review before combining research compounds.
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