Melanotan II

Is Melanotan 2 safe?

Published case reports describe serious harm linked to Melanotan II use. A 2025 case report in the International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery describes a 22-year-old woman who developed a mass in her anterior maxilla after using a nasal-spray product containing "a synthetic analogue of melanocyte-stimulating hormone" for tanning; histology confirmed mucosal malignant melanoma, managed with surgical resection and ongoing immunotherapy [3]. A 2019 case report in BMJ Case Reports describes a patient who developed acute low-flow priapism after a subcutaneous abdominal injection of melanotan, managed with cavernosal aspiration, irrigation and intracavernosal phenylephrine; his erectile function had not recovered at four-week follow-up [4].

What has FDA said about Melanotan II?

FDA's compounding page states that "published case reports discuss serious adverse events including melanoma, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, sympathomimetic toxidrome and priapism," and lists Melanotan II among bulk substances nominated for compounding but withdrawn by the nominator [1]. Separately, FDA sent seller Melanocorp a warning letter on or about August 30, 2007, after the company advertised "MII, an unapproved new drug," as an injectable tanning product on a website; the letter said the product "could not be introduced or delivered for introduction into interstate commerce without an FDA approved application" [2]. Melanotan II is not FDA-approved.