Educational guide
Melanotan II
Melanotan II — extra information Synonyms: Alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone: melanotan II Categories: Treatments, Rashes SNOMED CT: 77136007 Treatments Rashes Author: George Shand, Final Year Medical Student, University of Auckland, New Zealand; Chief Edit
This guide cannot diagnose a condition or recommend a personal treatment plan. Discuss medical questions with a qualified professional.
Melanotan II — extra information
Synonyms:
Alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone: melanotan II
Categories:
Treatments, Rashes
SNOMED CT:
77136007
Author: George Shand, Final Year Medical Student, University of Auckland, New Zealand; Chief Editor: Dr Amanda Oakley, Dermatologist, Hamilton, New Zealand, August 2015.
Introduction How it works Side effects Sexual dysfunction Drug interactions Safety measures
What is melanotan II?
Melanotan II is an unlicensed and largely untested form of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, which causes pigmentation (tanning) of human skin. Melanotan II is a variant of melanotan I (afamelanotide), a drug used in the treatment of erythropoietic protoporphyria.
Melanotan II is not approved for the treatment of any medical conditions currently. It has been reported to cause a wide range of potentially serious side effects. Warnings against its use have been issued from the US, UK and several other countries.
How does melanotan II work?
Melanotan II non-selectively mimics the action of melanocortin peptides. These are natural hormones involved with pigmentation, energy homeostasis, sexual functioning, the immune system, inflammation, and the cardiovascular system. Much like melanotan I (afamelanotide), melanotan II stimulates the production of eumelanin, causing the skin to go darker (tanning).
Melanotan II is usually administered as an injection of liquid underneath the skin, commonly every second day. Trials have shown that the tanning effect can occur within 5 doses.
Side effects of melanotan II
Short term side effects after administration include:
- Facial flushing
- Reduced appetite, nausea and vomiting
- In males, spontaneous erections 1-5 hours after administration (priapism), associated with yawning and stretching complex
Long term, there is concern that melanotan II may increase the risk of:
- Melanoma – a potentially serious form of skin cancer
- Deepening of the colour of moles, new moles and atypical melanocytic naevi
- Melanonychia – brown to black discolouration of one or more nails
- Rhabdomyolysis – potentially fatal destruction of muscle cells
- Encephalopathy syndrome
There is also concern about possible side effects due to contamination or lack of sterility if melanotan II is prepared incorrectly or needles are shared.
Sexual dysfunction
During clinic trials for its use as a tanning agent, melanotan II was found to be a potent stimulator of male erections. A new drug based on melanotan II, bremelanotide, was developed to take advantage of this property. It has been noted across several studies to increase rigidity and duration of male erection, as well as male sexual desire. It has also been shown to increase female sexual desire in patients with sexual arousal disorder.
Drug interactions with melanotan II
No specific drug interactions have not been identified with melanotan II.
Safety measures
Melanotan II has not been fully tested, and due to its potential side effects it is not recommended that anybody use this drug.
No evidence exists for the use of melatonin II in pregnancy or breast feeding but it is recommended that it should be avoided.
Approved datasheets are the official source of information for medicines, including approved uses, doses, and safety information. Check the individual datasheet in your country for information about medicines.
We suggest you refer to your national drug approval agency such as the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), UK Medicines and Healthcare products regulatory agency (MHRA) / emc, and NZ Medsafe, or a national or state-approved formulary eg, the New Zealand Formulary (NZF) and New Zealand Formulary for Children (NZFC) and the British National Formulary (BNF) and British National Formulary for Children (BNFC).
References
- Hjuler KF, Lorentzen HF. Melanoma associated with the use of melanotan-II. Dermatology. 2014;228:34–6. PubMed
- Veierod MB, Adami HO, Lund E, Armstrong BK, Weiderpas E. Sun and solarium exposure and melanoma risk: effects of age, pigmentary characteristics, and nevi. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2010;19(1):111–20. PubMed
- Evans-Brown M, Dawson RT, Chandler M, McVeigh J. Use of melanotan I and II in the general population. BMJ. 2009;338:b556. PubMed
- Uckert S, Bannowsky A, Albrecht K, Kuczyk MA. Melanocortin receptor agonists in the treatment of male and female sexual dysfunctions: results from basic research and clinical studies. Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs. 2014;23(11):1477–83. PubMed
- Hadley ME, Dorr RT. Melanocortin peptide therapeutics: historical milestones, clinical studies and commercialization. Peptides. Jan 2006;27:921–30. PubMed
- Dorr RT, Lines R, Levine N, Brooks C, Xiang L, Hruby VJ et al. Evaluation of melanotan-II, a superpotent cyclic melanotropic peptide in a pilot phase-I clinical study. Life Sciences. 1996;58(20):1777–84. PubMed
On DermNet
Other websites
- Melanotropic Peptides: more than Just 'Barbie Drugs' and 'Sun-tan Jabs'? – Medscape Dermatology News 2010
Books about skin diseases