PT-141
Bremelanotide
PT-141, known as bremelanotide, is a synthetic melanocortin-receptor agonist FDA-approved as Vyleesi to treat low sexual desire in premenopausal women.
Regulatory status: FDA-approved as VYLEESI for premenopausal, acquired, generalised hypoactive sexual desire disorder not attributable to another medical or psychiatric cause, a relationship problem, or a medication effect. The label states it is not indicated for postmenopausal women, for men, or to enhance sexual performance.
Default vial
10 mg
Default mix
2 mL
Reported range
0.5–2 mg
Draw (U-100)
20 u
As-needed, 45 min–2 h before activity. Community guidance caps frequency at ~1 dose / 24–48 h.
What it is
- A synthetic cyclic heptapeptide analogue of alpha-MSH.
- A non-selective melanocortin receptor agonist, with MC1R and MC4R implicated.
- Approved as a 1.75 mg subcutaneous autoinjector taken as needed at least 45 minutes beforehand, with a maximum of one dose in 24 hours and eight per month.
- The label contraindicates it in uncontrolled hypertension or known cardiovascular disease.
How it is described to act
- 1
Administered subcutaneously using the approved autoinjector regimen.
- 2
Distributes systemically and reaches melanocortin-responsive circuits in the central nervous system.
- 3
Believed to act via MC4R pathways implicated in the regulation of sexual desire.
- 4
In trials this was associated with increased desire and reduced distress scores, alongside transient blood-pressure and heart-rate changes.
What the research has looked at
RECONNECT phase 3 programme
- Kingsberg et al. (Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2019) reported that in two randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trials, bremelanotide produced statistically significant improvements in desire and distress scores versus placebo.
What the FDA label states
- The approved label states that transient blood-pressure increases and heart-rate decreases occur after each dose and usually resolve within 12 hours.
Strength of evidence: Approved drug (for a specific indication)
Supported by completed phase 3 randomised trials underlying FDA approval; the label itself notes limited data outside the approved population.
This molecule is an approved medicine for at least one indication. Where that is the case, the approved prescribing information — not community convention — governs its use.
Reported cautions and unknowns
- The label warns of transient blood-pressure elevation and heart-rate reduction after each dose.
- Nausea, flushing and injection-site reactions were commonly reported in the RECONNECT trials.
- It is contraindicated with uncontrolled hypertension or known cardiovascular disease.
References
Handling this vial
- Lyophilized vials are generally stored at 2–8 °C and kept out of light; once reconstituted with bacteriostatic water they are refrigerated and commonly discarded after 28 days.
- Mix by aiming water down the vial wall and rolling gently — do not shake — and never re-freeze a reconstituted vial.
- Pep-Tidy cannot verify what is in your vial. Ask your supplier for a current Certificate of Analysis (HPLC/MS).
PT-141 questions people ask
How do you reconstitute PT-141?
A common starting point for a 10 mg vial of PT-141 is 2 mL of bacteriostatic water, which gives 5 mg per mL. Aim the water down the inside wall of the vial, let it dissolve on its own, and roll gently instead of shaking. Pep-Tidy's reconstitution calculator will recalculate the numbers for any other vial size or water volume you use.
How many units of PT-141 is one dose?
At 5 mg per mL, that works out to about 20 units on a U-100 insulin syringe for a 1000 mcg dose. Change the vial size, water volume, or target dose in the calculator and the syringe reading updates with it. This is arithmetic, not a dosing recommendation.
What dosing schedule is reported for PT-141?
Published and community sources describe 0.5–2 mg, subcutaneous, once weekly, typically run 12 weeks on. These figures describe what has been reported, not what anyone should take — talk to a licensed clinician first.
How should PT-141 be stored?
Lyophilized PT-141 vials are generally kept at 2–8 °C and out of light. Once reconstituted with bacteriostatic water they are refrigerated and commonly discarded after about 28 days. Never re-freeze a reconstituted vial and never shake it.
Read this before you act on anything above
Everything on this page is a summary of what other people have published — it is not medical advice, not a recommendation, and not a dosing instruction. Reported dose ranges describe what appears in the literature or in community protocols, not what anyone should take. Talk to a licensed clinician before using any peptide.