Skin / Beauty

Melanotan I Peptide Protocol & Dosing

Updated 1mo ago 6 min read 64+ helpful Calculator

Validity Score

77 Strong

Evidence 80

Community 70

Completeness 71

Actionability 80

Coverage 80

Penalty -0

This score combines formal evidence, page completeness, calculator readiness, and community convergence.

What it is

Melanotan I (afamelanotide, MT-1) is a synthetic linear analog of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). It activates the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) on melanocytes, increasing melanin synthesis. Unlike Melanotan II, MT-1 has essentially no effect at MC4R, which is the receptor behind MT-2’s libido side effects — that selectivity is the main reason researchers choose MT-1 for pigment-focused study designs.

Evidence boundary

Human evidence exists for the studied indication (EPP photoprotection). Research use is limited to laboratory and education contexts.

Trial evidence

Afamelanotide is EMA-approved (as Scenesse) for photoprotection in adults with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP). The approved form is a 16 mg implant every 2 months.

Preparation and measurement

Reconstitution: 10 mg vial + 3 mL BAC = 3.33 mg/mL (1 U = 33.3 mcg).

Concentration matches.

Reference schedule

Reference schedule
Phase	Dose	Draw / measure	Frequency	Weekly total
Loading	500 mcg	15 U (0.15 mL)	Daily	3.5 mg/week
Maintenance	500 mcg	15 U (0.15 mL)	Every 2–3 days	~1.2–1.7 mg/week

Loading

Dose: 500 mcg
Draw / measure: 15 U (0.15 mL)
Frequency: Daily
Weekly total: 3.5 mg/week

Maintenance

Dose: 500 mcg
Draw / measure: 15 U (0.15 mL)
Frequency: Every 2–3 days
Weekly total: ~1.2–1.7 mg/week

Weekly totals apply only during the active phase.

Titration rules

Start low: 250 mcg daily for the first few sessions to check tolerance.
Standard loading: 500 mcg daily for 2 weeks.
Maintenance: 500 mcg every 2–3 days.
Half-life is short (~30 min for the peptide itself) but melanin synthesis persists for months; dosing frequency reflects the pigment outcome, not plasma levels.

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Dosing references

Peptide dosage chart Peptide dose calculator Syringe mixability

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Dosing Calculator

10 mg + 2 mL BAC · week 1 500 mcg

LIVE CALCULATIONvolume / concentration / draw

RP–CALC–01

01 Vial size

02 BAC water

DRAW AMOUNT10 units0.1 mL · U-100

Draw 10 units, equivalent to 0.1 milliliters.

Concentration5 mg/mL

Selected dose0.5 mg (500 mcg) = 10 units

04 Custom dose

05 Standard amounts

1–10 mg · 0.5 mg steps

06 Suggested doses Select a row

1 unit = 0.01 mL on a U-100 syringe. Values retain decimal precision; visual marks are not silently snapped.

07 cycle summary

Vials required for Cycle

Estimate how much material you need for a full cycle, including cycle length and the number of cycles you plan to run.

Cycle length (weeks) Injections per week Number of cycles

Cycle total —

Total required vials —

Total reconstitution —

Total BAC water —

08 projected levels

How the draws stack up

A first-order model of depot absorption and elimination, run on the draws and cadence above. Pick the half-life from whatever your own source documents — this page does not assume one per compound. A planning sketch — not a prediction for any compound or any individual.

Half-life

Hours

Modelled level across the cycle. Each spike is one draw.

Accumulation—steady state vs one draw

Peak-to-trough—inside one interval

Steady state—about 4 half-lives

Draws modelled—at this cadence

Vial yieldat the selected amount

Draws per vial—

Lasts—

Volume used—

Limiting factor—

Water matrixsame vial, same amount

WaterStrengthDraw

0.5 mL——

1 mL——

2 mL——

3 mL——

5 mL——