Melanotan 2 in the UK | The A-Z Guide

Curious about Melanotan 2 in the UK?

Wondering if it’s possible to buy Melanotan 2 online in Britain?

If so, then you’ve come to the right place.

Below, our team of researchers details everything you MUST know about melanotan 2, including…

• What is melanotan 2?
• Is melanotan 2 legal in the UK?
• Where to buy melanotan 2
• Melanotan 2 benefits
• Melanotan 2 side effects
• Melanotan 2 dosage

…And so much more!

For citizens and residents of the UK, this is your definitive guide to melanotan 2. Keep on reading to find out more.

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What is Melanotan 2?

Melanotan 2 (MT-II) is a widely studied peptide with demonstrated therapeutic potential in a range of contexts, from skin tanning to improvements in sexual and cognitive health [1, 2, 3].

MT-II is a synthetic analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), an endogenous melanocortin agonist. The melanocortin system is comprised of five receptors that modulate important physiological processes such as melanogenesis, sexual arousal, and inflammatory response [4, 5].

It is classed as a cyclic heptapeptide, displaying a ringed structure that differs substantially from the linear form of its parent hormone. MT-II has targeted effects on melanocortin receptor 1 (MC1R) and melanocortin receptor 4 (MC4R), which respectively affect melanogenesis and sexual behavior. It also activates melanocortin receptor 3 to some degree, modulating energy expenditure and metabolic processes [4, 5, 6].

Melanotan 2 has a significantly higher potency than its parent hormone. Originally developed for its tanning effects, it has since been studied for a broad range of potential applications [4, 5].

Related Peptides

MT-II is not the only α-MSH derivative under clinical review. A related melanocortin agonist called melanotan 1 (MT-I) is widely studied. It differs slightly from MT-II in structure and function, displaying a linear form and more targeted activity on the MC1R receptor.

Another α-MSH derivative called PT-141 has exhibited effectiveness in modulating sexual response in both male and female subjects. Approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration to treat low sex drive in premenopausal women, it is currently under EMA review for this use in Europe [7, 8, 9, 10].

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Is Melanotan 2 Legal in the UK?

As an uncontrolled, non-prescription substance, melanotan 2 is legal for purchase, sale, and handling by qualified researchers for educational purposes in the UK. However, it cannot legally be marketed to the public for medicinal use due to its lack of UK MHRA approval. It holds a similar position in the USA, pending FDA approval for commercial availability as a medical product [7, 11, 12].

Unfortunately, this lack of regulatory approval has led to the rise of illicit peptide vendors, marketing inauthentic products with unsubstantiated claims. Not only are peptides from such retailers ineffective, but they are also prone to contamination due to poor manufacturing standards. Such illegal vendors of unauthorized and inauthentic medical products are subject to legal sanctions, and consumers risk hazardous side effects.

Even in the licit market of pharmaceutical-grade peptide therapeutics, a relative scarcity of quality control regulations is apparent. To counter this, the EMA recently issued a proposal for enhanced quality assurance in the large-scale manufacture of approved peptides, including more consistent and accurate purity measures, as well as tighter guidelines on product batch parameters [13].

Despite these challenges, qualified researchers within the UK can legally and safely acquire peptides such as melanotan 2 for handling in clinical contexts. To assure the quality and legality of peptide purchases, researchers are advised to observe the following benchmarks of legitimacy in reputable vendors [7, 14]:

1. The retailer should plainly declare that its peptide products are for research purposes only and intended for handling by qualified individuals.
2. The seller should make no direct claims or guarantees as to the benefits of product administration.
3. To verify the purity and safety of the product, the vendor must display valid lab test results issued by a third party.

Given the rapid evolution and growing interest in the arena of therapeutic peptides, the legal status of melanotan 2 is liable to shift with emerging studies and regulatory certifications. Researchers should keep an eye on current pharmaceutical advances and exercise caution to evade illicit retailers and impure peptide products.

In short, melanotan 2 is legal in the UK and most other countries when purchased from a legitimate source and intended for research purposes.

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Where to Buy Melanotan 2 Online? | UK Edition

Observing the value of purchasing only from trusted peptide vendors, you may be wondering how to select the best source for buying quality melanotan 2 online.

We at Peptides.org have surveyed the global market to bring you our top-recommended retailer of melanotan 2 and other research peptides:

Peptide Sciences

Based in the United States, this leading peptide manufacturer is popular among top scientists worldwide, including those in the UK! Here are the reasons why Peptide Sciences outshines its competitors when it comes to the online purchase of premium research peptides:

• Peptide quality is assured via domestic production in adherence with US federal manufacturing standards, the most comprehensive in the world. This includes compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice measures as well as collaboration with ISO 9001:2008 and WHO/GMP-approved manufacturing partners, enabling the output of top-tier peptides at low market prices.
• Purity levels of 99% or above are verified for all products through available results of third-party lab tests that include pharmaceutical-grade mass spectrometry (MS) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses.
• This retailer sells peptides of unmatched quality at reasonable prices. For example, a 10mg vial of MT-II is priced at just $49.50. Plus, discounts are offered on bulk purchases.
• International shipping is rapid and available for a low flat fee depending on the carrier selected. Orders are sent within just 24 hours of processing and arrive within 7-10 days to most international destinations. Plus, tracking is available and international orders are not subject to hidden fees or additional costs.
• Easy and secure payment is offered on the retailer’s sleek and navigable website. All customer data is protected with state-of-the-art SSL encryption technology. Many forms of payment are accepted, including most third-party processors, credit cards, and cryptocurrency.
• This vendor’s total commitment to client satisfaction is evidenced in its outstanding customer service. The helpful support staff is readily available to handle client concerns within 24-48 hours. Incorrect orders are happily replaced without charge, and the website is packed with in-depth educational content culled from the latest peer-reviewed scientific studies.

What more could you ask for? From guaranteed quality to unmatched pricing, business practices, and customer care, Peptide Sciences is truly a market leader. Researchers within the UK can enjoy the highest-quality melanotan 2 from this excellent retailer, the top choice within the global scientific community.

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Melanotan 2 Benefits

In numerous clinical studies, melanotan 2 has evidenced an impressive array of therapeutic benefits when safely administered. To date, the most notable benefits include:

Sunless Tanning

As a melanotropic agent, MT-II stimulates melanin production in the skin to visibly darken the skin tone for a tanning effect with minimal UV exposure. Melanin also has photoprotective benefits, possibly reducing the risks of sun damage and skin cancer in vulnerable individuals. For tanning purposes, subcutaneous injection is the typical mode of application [1, 7].

Sexual Health

In its stimulation of melanocortin receptors 3 and 4 (MC3R and MC4R), melanotan 2 is known to affect sexual arousal in both female and male subjects. It is particularly effective in countering male erectile dysfunction to elicit penile erections. The exact nature of this process is still under study. However, it is theorized that this sexual arousal is triggered by MT-II’s targeted hypothalamic activity [3, 15, 16].

Autism Treatment

In one study on animal models, MT-II was shown to decrease autistic behavioral patterns, such as repetitive actions, poor communication, and lack of social responsiveness. Researchers believe that this benefit is achieved via MC4R stimulation, known to upregulate oxytocin, a key hormone in balancing social attunement [2].

Addiction Treatment

MT-II has been linked with lowered alcohol consumption in animal models, affected by the targeted activity of melanocortin 4 receptors on the hypothalamus. In a study on alcohol-preferring rats, melanotan 2 was shown to increase water consumption and reduce alcohol intake.

Further studies suggest that the melanocortin system is involved in addictive responses to a range of narcotics, including amphetamines, cocaine, and opioids. In a similar vein, it is tied to the regulation of impulsive and compulsive behaviors, suggesting further areas for clinical analysis of melanocortin agonists [17, 18].

Reduced Appetite

MC4R stimulation is shown to moderate food consumption, both diminishing the appetite and shifting macronutrient preferences to attenuate the consumption of sugar and fat in animal models. In this capacity, melanotan 2 exhibits potential as an obesity treatment, especially in MC4R-deficient patients who are vulnerable to the disease [19, 20, 21].

Blood Sugar Regulation

Studies in animal models show that MT-II’s effects on the MC3R and MC4R receptors modulate blood glucose levels and insulin sensitivity. This suggests its therapeutic potential to treat metabolic disease [22].

Improved Body Composition

MT-II is also evidenced in animal studies to decrease body fat and enhance lean muscle mass. Reduced adiposity is achieved through MT-II’s appetite suppressant effects as well as its role in preventing the retention of fatty tissue. The effects of the melanocortin system on fat storage and energy expenditure lend MT-II further potential to treat obesity [23, 24].

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Melanotan 2 Side Effects

Some side effects have been observed with MT-II administration in clinical trials. Most adverse effects are transient and minor, while data on the long-term effects of melanotan 2 administration in humans are lacking due to the peptide’s novel status. The primary findings regarding side effects are as follows.

In a two-week study involving three healthy male subjects given daily subcutaneous MT-II injections of 0.01 mg/kg, these side effects were reported [1]:

• Spontaneous erections
• Repetitive yawning and stretching
• Moderate to severe nausea
• Fatigue
• Drowsiness

Several studies associate MT-II administration with the development or darkening of moles. Other transient and minor effects include [7]:

• Facial flushing
• Uneven skin pigmentation
• Streaks of pigmentation in the nails
• Alteration of taste
• Headache

Acute side effects are extremely rare but may include [7]:

• Hematoma
• Severe priapism requiring medical intervention
• Abdominal pain
• Heart palpitations
• Seizures
• Hyperventilation
• Dizziness
• Melanoma

Clinicians caution that subjects suffering from body dysmorphic disorders should avoid melanotan 2, especially those with disorders related to skin color and tone. In most clinical cases, noted side effects fade with the termination of MT-II administration and are linked with aggravating factors such as comorbidities, drug interactions, and tanning bed use.

Adverse effects are also caused by low-quality peptides from disreputable vendors as well as incorrect dosage and handling. Low-grade peptide products often contain hazardous contaminants that may elicit severe systemic toxicity. Thus, researchers should strive to source MT-II from trusted suppliers and diligently follow the best practices espoused by experts [7].

While evidence on MT-II’s long-term effects is pending, it is regarded to have a positive safety profile when properly handled.

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Melanotan 2 Dosage

Because melanotan 2 has not been thoroughly evaluated for human use, standard dosage guidelines are lacking [25].

However, clinician have settled on the following best practices when dosing melanotan 2 [1, 7, 26, 27].

• MT-II can be administered via subcutaneous injection at a starting therapeutic dose of 250mcg, to be increased gradually to the common daily dose of 500mcg.
• 500mcg is viewed as the optimal dosage to obtain beneficial results with minimal side effects. However, the optimal dosage may vary with different therapeutic applications.
• Dosing schedules also vary in clinical trials, and durations range from one to four weeks. Melanotan 2 is not recommended for indefinite use.
• Start your subject off on a low dose and increase it incrementally to avoid acute side effects.
• The maximum daily dose of MT-II in clinical studies has not exceeded 1 mg/kg.
• For tanning, MT-II is administered just before scheduled tanning windows of approximately 60 minutes.
• Melanotan 2 injections for tanning are dosed according to the Fitzpatrick scale, a numerical ranking of skin tone based on phenotype and UV sensitivity. Fair and UV-sensitive skin types require larger doses and show more visible tanning results with MT-II injections.
• Tanning injections are often dosed cyclically, alternating between loading and maintenance doses.

Depending on the subject’s skin tone, tanning effects may last for several months after discontinuing MT-II administration. Latency periods of MT-II’s therapeutic effects vary according to the therapeutic context and dosage. For example, the photoprotective benefits of MC1R stimulation take effect quickly, while outcomes such as improved physical composition develop over longer windows of MT-II administration.

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Bacteriostatic Water and Injections

To correctly administer melanotan 2 via subcutaneous injection, researchers must first reconstitute the lyophilized power using an appropriate solvent. The go-to solvent among qualified researchers is bacteriostatic water.

What is Bacteriostatic Water?

Composed of sterile water and an organic preservative called benzyl alcohol, bacteriostatic water resists contamination due to benzyl alcohol’s suppression of bacterial growth. The natural bacteriostat agent lends opened containers of bac water long shelf lives of up to 28 days, and sealed vials may remain uncontaminated for several years when properly stored.

Bacteriostatic water is a top choice when reconstituting peptides due to its effectiveness as a solvent. Further, it interacts minimally with most peptides to maintain purity and potency. Bacteriostatic water solutions may be conveniently stored and used subsequently when properly handled [28, 29, 30].

Supplies

To reconstitute lyophilized melanotan 2 for injection, the following supplies are required:

• Vial of bacteriostatic water
• Vial of lyophilized MT-I
• Sterile syringe
• Alcohol wipes
• It is useful to have extra sterile vials and needles on hand

Reconstitution

To reconstitute melanotan 2 for injection, follow these steps:

1. Wipe down all items with alcohol swabs to combat contamination. Don’t forget to wipe the vial tops.
2. Plunge the sterile syringe into the bacteriostatic water vial and withdraw the desired dose, typically 1mL.
3. Slowly release the solvent into the MT-II vial, allowing the powder to gradually dissolve.
4. Abstain from agitating the vial, which can harm the peptides. When properly reconstituted, the solution will be clear. If available, sonication may be used to accelerate the process.
5. If the powder does not properly dissolve, a stronger solvent may be needed.
6. Unused bac water solutions may be refrigerated and used for up to 28 days after reconstitution.
7. For precise dosage and storage guidelines, refer to product indications.

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Melanotan 2 in the UK | Overall

From enhanced sexual health to sunless tanning, melanotan 2 presents many areas of notable therapeutic potential. The role of the melanocortin system in key physiological processes such as energy expenditure, metabolism, and cognitive development suggests numerous emerging applications of melanocortin agonist MT-II in clinical contexts.

However, it is important to source strictly high-grade peptides from reputable vendors. Luckily, researchers within the UK can enjoy the best melanotan 2 available for purchase online from our preferred vendor.

With guaranteed quality, safety, and international shipping, you can’t go wrong with an order of MT-II from Peptide Sciences, a global leader in peptide innovations.

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