Source comparison
Dosing Parameters: Loading vs Maintenance Phase Protocols
Melanotan-1 follows a two-phase dosing model because melanocyte stimulation requires sustained receptor activation over multiple days before eumelanin density reaches photoprotective levels. The loading phase (0.16mg/kg every 48 hours for 10–14 days) saturates
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- Melanotan-1 follows a two-phase dosing model because melanocyte stimulation requires sustained receptor activation over multiple days before eumelanin density reaches photoprotective levels. The loading phase (0.16mg/kg every 48 hours for 10–14 days) saturates melanocortin-1 receptors across dermal melanocytes, initiating the transcription of tyrosinase. The rate-limiting enzyme in melanin biosynthesis. Without this loading phase, maintenance doses alone produce inconsistent pigmentation and incomplete UV defense.
- Maintenance dosing (0.08mg/kg every 48–72 hours) sustains receptor occupancy at levels sufficient to prevent melanin degradation but below the threshold that triggers non-photoprotective tanning in unexposed areas. A 70kg individual would use approximately 11.2mg per loading dose and 5.6mg per maintenance dose. Doses above 0.2mg/kg during loading increase side effect incidence (nausea, facial flushing, transient hypertension) without proportional photoprotective gains. The dose-response curve plateaus beyond this point.
- Subcutaneous injection into abdominal or thigh tissue produces the most consistent absorption kinetics. Intramuscular administration accelerates absorption but shortens the effective window, requiring more frequent dosing to maintain steady-state levels. Reconstituted Melanotan-1 must be stored at 2–8°C and used within 30 days. Any temperature excursion above 8°C degrades the peptide's tertiary structure, rendering it inactive regardless of visible appearance.