Side-by-side · Research reference

Melanotan-IIvsProstamax

Side-by-side comparison across mechanism, dosage, evidence, side effects, administration, and stack synergies. Citations on every claim where available.

APhase 1HUMAN-REVIEWED9/43 cited

BAnimal-MechanisticHUMAN-REVIEWED11/38 cited

Melanotan-II

MC1R + MC4R agonist · Tanning + sexual response

0.25–1.0 mgPer doseDorr 1996

Phase 1Evidence levelDorr 1996

~1 hrHalf-life

SQ · Abdomen · Loading 5–7 days, then maintenance

Prostamax

Khavinson Bioregulator · Tissue-Specific Peptide

0.05 ng/mLActive concentrationZakutskiĭ 2006

2.5×SCE frequency increaseDzhokhadze 2012

4 AAPeptide length

SQ · Protocol per Khavinson tradition

01Mechanism of Action

Parameter

Melanotan-II

Prostamax

Primary target

MC1R (skin) + MC3R + MC4R (CNS sexual / appetite)Dorr 1996

Chromatin in prostatic cells — pericentromeric heterochromatin regions

Pathway

MC1R agonism → melanocyte tyrosinase → eumelanin synthesis. MC4R → autonomic sexual arousal centresDorr 1996 Simerly 2023

Epigenetic modulation → heterochromatin decondensation → transcriptional derepressionDzhokhadze 2012

Downstream effect

Skin darkening, photo-protection, increased sexual desire / spontaneous erectionDorr 1996

Increased sister chromatid exchange, Ag-NOR activation, reduced C-heterochromatin condensation; tissue-specific regenerative stimulation in prostate organotypic culturesDzhokhadze 2012 Zakutskiĭ 2006

Feedback intact?

—

Origin

Cyclic 7-AA modified α-MSH analog; designed at University of ArizonaDorr 1996

Synthetic tetrapeptide modeled on naturally occurring protein-derived bioregulators isolated between lysine-arginine motifs in long-lived speciesKhavinson 2017

Antibody development

—

02Dosage Protocols

Parameter

Melanotan-II

Prostamax

Loading phase

0.25–0.5 mg/day SQ × 5–7 daysDorr 1996

Builds up to visible tan.

—

Maintenance

0.5–1.0 mg 1–2×/week

After visible tan develops; supports with UV exposure.

—

Frequency

Daily during loading; 1–2× per week maintenance

—

Lower / starter dose

0.1 mg / day

Conservative starter — assess tolerability for nausea.

—

Evidence basis

Phase 1 + anecdotalDorr 1996

Animal / organotypic cultureZakutskiĭ 2006 Dzhokhadze 2012

No randomized controlled trials in humans.

Duration

8–12 weeks per cycle

Not specified

Khavinson protocols typically 10–20 days per cycle; no long-term safety data.

Reconstitution

Bacteriostatic water; protect from light

—

Timing

Evening preferred (24h tan-development cycle)

—

Half-life

~1 hour plasma; effects on melanocytes persist days

—

Effective concentration (in vitro)

—

0.05 ng/mLZakutskiĭ 2006

Organotypic culture model; demonstrated tissue-specific stimulation.

Human clinical dose

—

Not established

No published human trials; dosing extrapolated from Russian clinical tradition (not peer-reviewed).

Age groups studied

—

Young (3-week) and aged (18-month) rats; elderly humans (75–86 years) in vitroZakutskiĭ 2006 Dzhokhadze 2012

04Side Effects & Safety

Parameter

Melanotan-II

Prostamax

Nausea

Common, especially loading phase

—

Flushing

Common transient

—

Spontaneous erection

Common in men — MC4R cross-effectDorr 1996

—

Increased mole / freckle pigmentation

Existing moles darken; new lesions possible

—

Melanoma risk

Theoretical concern — increased melanocyte activity; CAUTION in melanoma history

—

Appetite suppression

MC4R-mediated; mild

—

Pregnancy / OB

Contraindicated

—

Published adverse events

—

None reported in available literature

Genotoxicity signals

—

Increased sister chromatid exchange (SCE) — marker of DNA recombination/repair; unclear long-term implications

Metal ion interactions

—

Modulates Cu(II) and Cd(II) chromatin effects; unknown clinical relevance

Human safety data

—

Absent — no published Phase 1/2/3 trials

Absolute Contraindications

Melanotan-II

·History of melanoma or atypical mole syndrome
·Pregnancy / breastfeeding
·Active uncontrolled hypertension

Prostamax

·Active prostate malignancy — epigenetic modulation effects unknown in cancer

Relative Contraindications

Melanotan-II

·Significant freckling / dysplastic nevus
·Personal or family melanoma history

Prostamax

·History of prostate cancer — theoretical concern re: transcriptional activation
·Undiagnosed prostatic nodules or elevated PSA

05Administration Protocol

Parameter

Melanotan-II

Prostamax

1. Reconstitution

Add 2 mL bacteriostatic water to 10 mg vial → 5 mg/mL = 500 mcg per 0.1 mL. Light-protected.

Subcutaneous or intramuscular — per Khavinson bioregulator tradition. No published human pharmacokinetic data.

2. Injection site

SQ — abdomen. Rotate sites.

If lyophilised: reconstitute with sterile water per manufacturer protocol (not standardized in literature).

3. Timing

Evening preferred. UV exposure (sunlight or tanning bed) helps develop tan.

Typically daily or every-other-day in Russian clinical tradition; duration 10–20 days per cycle.

4. Storage

Lyophilised: refrigerate, light-protected. Reconstituted: refrigerate ≤30 days.

No established biomarkers. Theoretical: PSA, prostate imaging, symptom scores (IPSS for BPH).

5. Needle

29–31G insulin syringe.

All protocols derived from non-peer-reviewed Russian clinical practice; Western regulatory approval absent.