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PT-141 vs Melanotan II

How PT-141 and Melanotan II differ on mechanism, dosing, and the strength of the evidence behind each.

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Compiled from published research · Continuously updated

How this is graded

Every compound below carries a REGEN research grade, from S (regulatory approval behind the use it is bought for) down to F (no clinical evidence). Ordering follows that grade rather than search volume, so the compound at the top is the one with the most evidence, not the one most often sold. Doses are those reported in published protocols and are not recommendations.

PT-141

Sgrade0.5–2 mg

PT-141 (bremelanotide) is a melanocortin receptor agonist that works centrally in the brain to increase sexual desire and arousal, unlike PDE5 inhibitors (e.g. sildenafil) that act on blood flow. It is FDA-approved for hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women and is used off-label by men. Effects are dose- and timing-dependent and taken before activity rather than daily. Common side effects include nausea and transient flushing. Used situationally, not as part of a chronic stack.

Melanotan II

Bgrade250–500 mcg

Melanotan II is a synthetic analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone that activates melanocortin receptors to increase melanin production, darkening the skin with less UV exposure. As a non-selective melanocortin agonist it also drives the libido effects seen with its selective relative PT-141. Cautions are significant: nausea and flushing are common, it can darken and change moles and freckles, and the long-term safety — including melanoma risk and unregulated product purity — is not established. It should not be used by anyone with atypical moles or a history of skin cancer.

Evidence compared

 PT-141Melanotan II
Research gradeSgradeBgrade
Reported dose0.5–2 mg250–500 mcg
Frequencyas needed, before activityas needed (loading then maintenance)
Half-life~2-3 hours~1 hour
Routessubcutaneoussubcutaneous
Tracked outcomesLibidoLibido, Skin & Aesthetics
Contraindicationsuncontrolled hypertension, cardiovascular disease, pregnancyatypical moles / dysplastic nevi, history of melanoma or skin cancer, cardiovascular disease, pregnancy

Which has more behind it

PT-141 carries the stronger evidence grade (S) against Melanotan II at B, which means more of what is claimed for PT-141 has been tested in humans. Both entries link through to the full reference, where the trial list and citations for each claim are set out in full.

Full PT-141 reference · Full Melanotan II reference

At a glance

CompoundGradeReported doseHalf-life
PT-141Sgrade0.5–2 mg · as needed, before activity~2-3 hours
Melanotan IIBgrade250–500 mcg · as needed (loading then maintenance)~1 hour

Frequently asked questions

PT-141 or Melanotan II, which has better evidence?

PT-141 carries the stronger evidence grade (S) against Melanotan II at B, which means more of what is claimed for PT-141 has been tested in humans.

Can PT-141 and Melanotan II be used together?

The catalog does not list PT-141 and Melanotan II as a common pairing. Combining compounds does not combine their evidence.

What doses are reported for PT-141?

Published protocols report 0.5–2 mg, as needed, before activity. This is what the literature describes, not a recommendation.

References

  1. Bremelanotide for the Treatment of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder · Kingsberg SA, et al. · 2019
  2. Kingsberg SA, et al. Bremelanotide for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder: two randomized phase 3 trials. Obstet Gynecol. 2019;134(5):899-908. · Kingsberg SA, Clayton AH, Portman D, Williams LA, Krop J, Jordan R, Lucas J, Simon JA · 2019
  3. Safety Profile of Bremelanotide Across the Clinical Development Program. · Clayton AH, Kingsberg SA, Portman D et al. · 2022
  4. The neurobiology of bremelanotide for the treatment of hypoactive ... · Pfaus JG, Sadiq A, Spana C, Clayton AH · 2022
  5. Clayton AH, et al. Long-term safety and efficacy of bremelanotide for hypoactive sexual desire disorder. Obstet Gynecol. 2019;134(5):909-917. · Simon JA, Kingsberg SA, Portman D, Williams LA, Krop J, Jordan R, Lucas J, Clayton AH · 2019
  6. Prespecified and Integrated Subgroup Analyses from the RECONNECT Phase 3 Studies of Bremelanotide. · Simon JA, Kingsberg SA, Portman D et al. · 2022
  7. [PDF] Vyleesi (bremelanotide) - accessdata.fda.gov
  8. Diamond LE, et al. An effect on the subjective sexual response in premenopausal women with sexual arousal disorder by bremelanotide (PT-141), a melanocortin receptor agonist. J Sex Med. 2006;3(4):628-38. · Diamond LE, Earle DC, Heiman JR, Rosen RC, Perelman MA, Harning R · 2006
  9. Safarinejad MR. Salvage of sildenafil failures with bremelanotide: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study. J Urol. 2008;179(3):1066-71. · Safarinejad MR, Hosseini SY · 2008
  10. Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Bremelanotide for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder. · Simon JA, Kingsberg SA, Portman D et al. · 2019
  11. Bremelanotide - LiverTox - NCBI Bookshelf - NIH
  12. Molinoff PB, et al. PT-141: a melanocortin agonist for the treatment of sexual dysfunction. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2003;994:96-102. · Molinoff PB, Shadiack AM, Earle D, Diamond LE, Quon CY · 2003
  13. Bremelanotide: First Approval - PubMed · Dhillon S, Keam SJ · 2019
  14. Melanotan II: review of melanocortin agonist effects and risks · Habbema L, et al. · 2017
  15. Dorr RT, 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. · King KM, Davis T · 1998
  16. Melanocortin receptor agonists, penile erection, and sexual motivation: human studies with Melanotan II. · Wessells H, Levine N, Hadley ME et al. · 2000
  17. Evaluation of melanotan-II, a superpotent cyclic melanotropic ... · Dorr RT, Lines R, Levine N, Brooks C, Xiang L, Hruby VJ, Hadley ME · 1996
  18. Wessells H, et al. Synthetic melanotropic peptide initiates erections in men with psychogenic erectile dysfunction: double-blind, placebo controlled crossover study. Journal of Urology. 1998;160(2):389-93. · Sabri O, Zimny M, Schreckenberger M, Reinartz P, Ostwald E, Buell U · 1999
  19. Effect of an alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone analog on penile erection and sexual desire in men with organic erectile dysfunction. · Wessells H, Gralnek D, Dorr R et al. · 2000
  20. Synthetic melanotropic peptide initiates erections in men ... - PubMed · Wessells H, Fuciarelli K, Hansen J, Hadley ME, Hruby VJ, Dorr R, Levine N · 1998
  21. Hadley ME, Dorr RT. Melanocortin peptide therapeutics: historical milestones, clinical studies and commercialization. Peptides. 2006;27(4):921-30. · Quan N, Stern EL, Whiteside MB, Herkenham M · 1999
  22. [PDF] Edward Manookian Docket No. FDA-2015-N-4169 Page 2 · 2015
  23. Fan W, et al. Role of melanocortinergic neurons in feeding and the agouti obesity syndrome. Nature. 1997;385(6612):165-8. · Holsboer F · 2000
  24. Melanotan II User Experience: A Qualitative Study of Online Discussion Forums. · Gilhooley E, Daly S, McKenna D · 2021
  25. Melanotan II: a possible cause of renal infarction - PubMed · Peters B, Hadimeri H, Wahlberg R, Afghahi H · 2020
  26. Brennan R, et al. Melanotan II: a review of the evidence for efficacy and safety. Dermatology Online Journal. 2019. · Yarosh DB · 2019
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