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№ 010

MT-2 (Melanotan II)

Tans your skin harder than MT-1 and also bumps libido, but brings rougher side effects. A less selective alpha-MSH analog.

Pigment
Evidence: Limited

MT-2 (Melanotan II): Tans your skin harder than MT-1 and also bumps libido, but brings rougher side effects. A less selective alpha-MSH analog. MT-2 is the more potent (and rougher) sibling of MT-1.

FDA ⓘ
Not approved
WADA
Not banned
Typical dose
Loading: 250-500 mcg sub-q daily for 1-2 weeks
Half-life ⓘ
~30 minutes
Route ⓘ
Subcutaneous
Schedule
Daily loading → 2-3x weekly maintenance
In plain English

MT-2 is the more potent (and rougher) sibling of MT-1. Stronger pigmentation but harder side effect profile, including unwanted libido effects. Most people who tried MT-2 first migrate to MT-1 for cleaner results.

Status & legalityWhat do these mean? →
Natty? ⓘ
Not natty
FDA ⓘ
Not approved

Not FDA approved. Afamelanotide (MT-1) is the approved analog.

Compounding ⓘ
Not classified

Not formally categorized in the FDA bulks lists.

WADA ⓘ
Not listed
Prescribed ⓘ

Not prescribed in conventional medicine.

Who it's for

  • →Users wanting deeper pigmentation than MT-1 delivers
  • →People who specifically want the libido side effect
  • →Anyone who tolerated the nausea/flush profile in past use

What to expect

  1. Week 1

    Strong nausea early, facial flush, spontaneous erections in male users.

  2. Week 4

    Visible pigmentation if UV exposure paired. Side effects fade.

  3. Week 8

    Maintenance dosing holds tan with weekly use.

Looking at MT-2 (Melanotan II)? Your next 3 steps

  1. 1Work out your exact dose

    Vial size + BAC water turns into the exact units to draw for MT-2 (Melanotan II).

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  2. 2See what to stack & monitor

    The companion supplements and the bloodwork worth tracking on this kind of protocol.

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How it works (mechanism)

Alpha-MSH analog with broader melanocortin-receptor binding than MT-1 (MC1R + MC3R + MC4R + MC5R). Stronger pigmentation but the MC4R activation drives the libido and appetite-suppression side effects.

Dosing protocol

Members only

Stacks well with

Members only

Side effects

01Nausea (more pronounced than MT-1)
02Facial flushing
03Spontaneous erections / increased libido
04Appetite suppression
05Mole / freckle darkening, mole-map first
06Headache

When NOT to use

  • ⚠Personal history of melanoma
  • ⚠Atypical mole syndrome
  • ⚠Pregnancy / nursing

Common mistakes

  • • Starting at full dose instead of titrating up, nausea hits hard
  • • Skipping the mole-map baseline
  • • Confusing dosing with MT-1 (different side effect profile)

Drug & supplement interactions

  • ⚠Same melanocortin-class warnings as MT-1, more pronounced
  • ⚠MC4R activation drives libido effects, disclose to provider if on PDE5 inhibitors or psychiatric medications
  • ⚠Caution with alcohol (compounds nausea)

The Pepdex take

Stronger tan and a libido bump that some users find surprisingly intense, others find genuinely uncomfortable. The mole-darkening signal is real and worth a baseline mole map photo before starting. If you've cycled MT-2 before with no skin changes, the dose-control is fine. If you spook easy or have a lot of moles, run MT-1 instead and accept a 70%-as-deep tan for materially less risk noise.

Community patterns

Members only
Free, no account needed

New to MT-2 (Melanotan II)? Grab the starter checklist.

Drop your email and we'll send the one-page first-cycle starter checklist, plus a heads-up if MT-2 (Melanotan II) changes legal status. No account needed.

No spam. No selling your email. Just the checklist and the occasional reclassification alert.

AI Coach, live sample
Members only
is 250mcg of bpc enough for a knee injury?
For a knee, 250 mcg sub-q daily is the standard working dose and a solid place to start. The trick with BPC is consistency, give it weeks, not days. Inject close to the joint, run it 4-6 weeks, and don't drop below 200 mcg, it tends to stop cracking the threshold reliably down there. If it hasn't moved at all by week 3, that's when adding TB-500 earns its place.
how much bac water for a 10mg reta vial?
3 mL is the standard play for a 10 mg reta vial. That's 3,333 mcg/mL, clean unit math across the titration: 2 mg = 60 units, 4 mg = 120 units, 6 mg = 180 units on a 100-unit insulin syringe. Run 2 mL instead if you want fewer, more concentrated shots (5,000 mcg/mL, so 2 mg = 40 units). Since most people titrate up over ~12 weeks, 3 mL keeps the numbers cleanest.
what should i track on bloodwork for tirzepatide?
Lipid panel, ALT/AST (liver enzymes), and an A1C, baseline before you start then every 3 months. If you've got metabolic-syndrome history, add fasting glucose and insulin so you can actually watch insulin sensitivity improve. You don't need a big hormone panel for a GLP-1.

Ask the Coach anything about MT-2 (Melanotan II) or your own stack. This is it working.

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Frequently asked

What is MT-2 (Melanotan II)?+
MT-2 is the more potent (and rougher) sibling of MT-1. Stronger pigmentation but harder side effect profile, including unwanted libido effects. Most people who tried MT-2 first migrate to MT-1 for cleaner results.
Is MT-2 (Melanotan II) FDA approved?+
Not FDA approved. Afamelanotide (MT-1) is the approved analog.
Is MT-2 (Melanotan II) legal?+
MT-2 (Melanotan II) is not FDA-approved. It is sold by compounding pharmacies (with a prescription) and as "research only" by peptide vendors. Possession is generally not criminalized but distribution without authorization may be. Verify local laws.
Is MT-2 (Melanotan II) banned by WADA?+
MT-2 (Melanotan II) is not currently on the WADA prohibited list.
Are you still natty after taking MT-2 (Melanotan II)?+
No. MT-2 (Melanotan II) is a performance-enhancing peptide and would disqualify a strict natty claim.
Do doctors prescribe MT-2 (Melanotan II)?+
Not prescribed in conventional medicine.
What's the typical dose of MT-2 (Melanotan II)?+
Loading: 250-500 mcg sub-q daily for 1-2 weeks. Maintenance: 250-500 mcg, 2-3x weekly. Pair with UV exposure.
What are the side effects of MT-2 (Melanotan II)?+
Common side effects include: Nausea (more pronounced than MT-1); Facial flushing; Spontaneous erections / increased libido; Appetite suppression. Less common effects and full safety details are on the entry page.
How long until MT-2 (Melanotan II) starts working?+
Strong nausea early, facial flush, spontaneous erections in male users.
What can you stack with MT-2 (Melanotan II)?+
Common pairings: Standalone; PT-141 if libido is the primary goal (different mechanism). Full stacking protocol and timing on the entry page.
Where do people get MT-2 (Melanotan II)?+
MT-2 (Melanotan II) is most commonly sold by research-only peptide vendors and by compounding pharmacies (the latter requires a prescription). Pepdex is not a vendor, see /coa for how to verify a Certificate of Analysis before buying from any source, and /guides/scam-vendor-spotting for vendor red flags.
MT-2 (Melanotan II) vs MT-1 (Melanotan I), which is better?+
MT-1 vs MT-2 for tanning: side effect profile, libido effects, FDA status, and which is gentler. Full head-to-head comparison: https://pepdex.co/compare/mt-1-vs-mt-2

Head-to-head with MT-2 (Melanotan II)

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MT-2 (Melanotan II) vs MT-1 (Melanotan I) →

More in Pigment

№ 004
MT-1 (Melanotan I)

Tanning peptide that darkens your skin by driving melanin production. An alpha-MSH analog with a cleaner side effect profile than MT-2.