How to Reconstitute Melanotan-1
Melanotan-1 (MT-1) is the linear melanocortin peptide afamelanotide — a 13-amino-acid analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) that binds melanocortin receptors (chiefly MC1R) and drives melanogenesis. Unlike its cyclic cousin Melanotan-2, it produces a more gradual, even tan and is paired with UV exposure, which it amplifies rather than replaces.
MT-1 ships as a lyophilized powder, almost always in 10mg vials. Documented protocols sit at the low end of the dosing range (commonly 250mcg per injection), so the dilution chosen at reconstitution directly determines how accurately each dose can be measured on an insulin syringe.
Research-context information only. Melanotan-1 (afamelanotide) is the active ingredient in FDA-approved products for erythropoietic protoporphyria; research-peptide and compounded forms are not FDA-approved and are sold for research purposes only. Protocols, doses, and reactions reported below come from clinical trials and community sources. This article reports what has been documented, not what should be done. Consult a licensed physician for personal medical decisions.
New to bacteriostatic water? Start with what it is, how much to use per vial, and how long it lasts — or see the full Bacteriostatic Water Guide.
Materials Documented in Reconstitution Protocols
Documented protocols describe gathering the following before starting:
- Melanotan-1 lyophilized vial (typically 10mg)
- Bacteriostatic water (BAC water) — not sterile water, not saline
- Insulin syringes — 1mL (U-100), 29-31 gauge
- Alcohol swabs — for cleaning vial tops
- A clean, flat workspace
Why bacteriostatic water? The 0.9% benzyl alcohol suppresses bacterial growth, which is what gives a reconstituted vial its ~28-day refrigerated shelf life. Because Melanotan-1 protocols run for weeks, the same vial is drawn from repeatedly — the preservative is what makes that practical.
Documented Reconstitution Steps
Step 1: Clean the vial tops
Standard sterile practice is to wipe the rubber stoppers of both vials (MT-1 and BAC water) with an alcohol swab and let them air-dry for a few seconds. The peptide vial is punctured repeatedly over its life, so technique from the first draw matters.
Step 2: Draw the bacteriostatic water
A fresh insulin syringe is used to draw the chosen volume of BAC water. For a 10mg vial, 2mL is the volume most protocols describe.
Step 3: Add the water to the peptide vial
Documented protocols describe inserting the needle at an angle and directing the water against the glass wall — not onto the powder cake — so it trickles down slowly. Squirting water directly onto the lyophilized powder is the mistake most often blamed for foaming and degradation.
Step 4: Let it dissolve
The vial is swirled gently. Melanotan-1 is reported to dissolve within a minute or two into a clear, colorless solution. Shaking is discouraged in standard practice — foam makes accurate dose measurement difficult and the air-liquid interface can degrade peptide.
Step 5: Store it
Reconstituted vials are refrigerated immediately at 36-46°F (2-8°C), protected from light, and used within 28 days.
Dilution Chart
The chart below shows how the BAC water volume changes the concentration and the units drawn for a 10mg vial.
Why 2mL? At 2mL in a 10mg vial, the standard 250mcg dose is 5 units and a 500mcg dose is 10 units — clean numbers on an insulin syringe. Less water (1mL) makes the entry dose just 2.5 units, which is harder to measure precisely.
The Math
Concentration = peptide amount (mcg) ÷ water added (mL)
Units to draw = desired dose (mcg) ÷ concentration (mcg/mL) × 100
Example: a 10,000mcg (10mg) vial + 2mL water = 5,000mcg/mL. For a 250mcg dose: 250 ÷ 5,000 × 100 = 5 units (0.05mL). For 500mcg: 500 ÷ 5,000 × 100 = 10 units (0.1mL).
The Reconstitution Calculator handles this automatically — enter vial size, water amount, and target dose.
