PMID-23121206 – Melanotan II Systemic Toxicity and Rhabdomyolysis
Nelson ME, Bryant SM, Aks SE. "Melanotan II injection resulting in systemic toxicity and rhabdomyolysis," Clin Toxicol (Phila), 2012;50(10):1169-1173.
Quick Reference
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| PMID | 23121206 |
| DOI | 10.3109/15563650.2012.740637 |
| Year | 2012 |
| Journal | Clinical Toxicology |
| Study Type | Case Report |
| Evidence Level | IV |
| Sample | n=1 (39-year-old male) |
| Peptide(s) Studied | Melanotan II |
Key Findings
- 39-year-old male self-administered 6 mg subcutaneous Melanotan II (approximately 6x the typical research dose of 0.5-1 mg)
- Presented to emergency department with severe systemic toxicity
- Tachycardia with heart rate 130-146 bpm
- Hypertension requiring monitoring
- Rhabdomyolysis with CPK (creatine phosphokinase) elevated to 17,773 U/L (normal <200)
- Required ICU admission for monitoring and IV fluid resuscitation
- Patient recovered with supportive care
- Demonstrates dose-dependent toxicity risk with unregulated melanocortin agonist use
- CRITICAL safety reference for practitioners counseling patients on MT-II use
Study Design
Single case report from an emergency department/poison control center describing acute toxicity following self-administration of a supraphysiologic dose of Melanotan II purchased from an unregulated source.
Limitations
- Single case report; cannot establish dose-response relationship
- Product was obtained from an unregulated source; purity and actual content unverified
- No confirmatory mass spectrometry to verify the injected substance
- Patient history and comorbidities may have contributed to severity
- Cannot distinguish MT-II toxicity from potential contaminant effects
Clinical Relevance
This case report is an essential safety reference for any practitioner whose patients use or inquire about Melanotan II. The key teaching points are: (1) dose matters — 6 mg is far above the 0.5-1 mg range used in research studies; (2) rhabdomyolysis is a life-threatening complication not typically associated with melanocortin peptides at therapeutic doses; (3) unregulated products carry additional contamination risks; (4) patients self-administering MT-II should be counseled on appropriate dosing and warning signs requiring emergency care. This case underscores why medical supervision is recommended for melanocortin peptide use.
Related
#research #case-series #evidence-level-IV