Melanotan-2

Before You Start:

• Verify product source and quality (third-party testing if possible).
• Check vial for damage, discoloration, or contamination.
• Ensure you have bacteriostatic water (0.9% benzyl alcohol).
• Have alcohol wipes and insulin syringes ready (29-31 gauge preferred).
• Allow refrigerated components to reach room temperature for 10-15 minutes.
• Wash hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap.

Steps to Reconstitute:

1. Clean work surface with alcohol or disinfectant wipe.
2. Remove plastic caps from MT-2 vial and bacteriostatic water.
3. Clean both rubber stoppers with alcohol wipes and let air dry completely.
4. Draw desired amount of bacteriostatic water (2-3 mL typical).
5. Insert needle at angle and slowly inject water down the inside vial wall.
6. Do NOT inject directly onto the powder - aim for the glass wall.
7. Gently swirl or roll vial between palms - NEVER SHAKE.
8. Allow 5-10 minutes for powder to completely dissolve.
9. Inspect solution - should be clear and colorless with no particles.
10. If cloudy or particles remain, do not use - discard vial.
11. Label vial with reconstitution date and concentration.
12. Store in refrigerator immediately.

Steps to Inject:

1. Wash hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap.
2. Select injection site (abdomen 2 inches from navel, outer thigh, or upper arm).
3. Clean injection site with alcohol wipe - let dry completely (30-60 seconds).
4. Draw correct dose into sterile insulin syringe.
5. Remove air bubbles by tapping syringe and pushing plunger slightly.
6. Pinch skin to create fold (about 1-2 inches of skin).
7. Insert needle at 45-90 degree angle with quick, smooth motion.
8. Release skin pinch.
9. Inject solution slowly and steadily (over 5-10 seconds).
10. Withdraw needle and apply gentle pressure with alcohol wipe if needed.
11. Do not massage injection site.
12. Dispose of needle/syringe in sharps container IMMEDIATELY.

Injection Site Rotation:

• Use different site each injection to prevent lipohypertrophy.
• Keep injection log or mark calendar to track sites.
• Space injections at least 1 inch apart within same body region.
• Avoid areas with scars, bruises, moles, or skin irritation.
• If injecting daily, use systematic rotation pattern.

Start Low, Go Slow:

• Initial 0.25 mg dose minimizes side effects, especially nausea.
• Allows assessment of individual sensitivity and tolerance.
• Reduces risk of severe adverse reactions.
• Most side effects occur during initial doses.

Gradual Escalation:

• Increase dose slowly over several days to weeks.
• Allow body to adapt to peptide effects.
• Improves overall tolerability and compliance.
• Reduces severity of nausea, flushing, and fatigue.

Importance of Cycling:

• Prevents receptor desensitization and tolerance development.
• Maintains effectiveness of the peptide over time.
• Reduces potential for long-term side effects.
• Allows body to reset hormonal balance.
• Recommended: 4-8 weeks on, 2-4 weeks off minimum.

Never Rush to Higher Doses:

• Higher doses increase side effect severity without proportional benefits.
• Many benefits plateau at moderate doses (0.5-1.0 mg).
• Overdosing significantly increases health risks.
• More is not always better with peptides.

Nausea (Most Common):

• Take injection before bedtime to sleep through nausea.
• Eat light meal 1-2 hours before injection.
• Stay hydrated throughout the day.
• Ginger tea or ginger supplements may help.
• Anti-nausea medications (if prescribed by doctor).
• Usually improves after first week.

Facial Flushing:

• Normal response to melanocortin activation.
• Typically subsides within 30-60 minutes.
• Stay in cool environment during peak effect.
• Usually diminishes with continued use.

Spontaneous Yawning/Stretching:

• Common neurological effect via MC4R activation.
• Harmless but can be socially inconvenient.
• Typically occurs 1-2 hours post-injection.
• Plan injections at appropriate times.

Decreased Appetite:

• Can be benefit if weight loss is goal.
• Ensure adequate nutrition despite reduced hunger.
• Focus on nutrient-dense foods.
• Monitor for excessive weight loss.
• Consider working with nutritionist.

Darkening of Moles/Freckles:

• Expected effect of melanin stimulation.
• Monitor carefully for abnormal changes.
• Photograph moles regularly for comparison.
• Seek dermatology evaluation if concerning changes.

When to Contact Healthcare Provider:

• Persistent severe nausea lasting >1 week.
• Any suspicious changes to moles or skin lesions.
• New mole development or rapid mole growth.
• Significant blood pressure changes.
• Persistent headaches or vision changes.
• Unexplained fatigue or weakness.
• Dark urine or decreased urination.
• Difficulty achieving or maintaining erection (if male) after MT-2 use.

When to Seek Emergency Care:

• Erection lasting more than 4 hours (priapism).
• Severe allergic reaction (difficulty breathing, throat swelling, severe rash).
• Chest pain or pressure.
• Severe headache with vision changes, confusion, or seizures.
• Signs of rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle pain, extremely dark urine, weakness).
• Severe dehydration with inability to keep fluids down.
• Loss of consciousness or severe altered mental status.