Melanotan II
Melanotan II is a fast tanning and sexual-response peptide with a harsher safety tradeoff; Nelson 2012 reported rhabdomyolysis after a 6 mg injection. Its appetite and libido effects may be noticeable, but this report treats unregulated use as high risk.
Melanotan II scored 3.7 / 10 (⚠️ Proceed with caution) on the BioHarmony scale as a Substance → Peptide → Neuropeptide.
What It Is
Melanotan II is an unapproved non-selective melanocortin peptide that can darken skin, suppress appetite, and produce sexual-response effects, but the same receptor breadth creates a serious safety problem. Melanotan II activates several melanocortin receptors, including MC1R for pigmentation and central pathways tied to appetite and libido. Melanotan II earns a caution score because early human efficacy signals are small and verified case reports include PRES, rhabdomyolysis, renal infarction, melanoma, and dysplastic-nevus proliferation. Melanotan II also needs context because readers may approach the report from different goals: symptom relief, performance, risk reduction, or curiosity about a mechanism. The score does not tell a reader to use Melanotan II; the score shows where the evidence, practical burden, and safety concerns currently meet. That matters because the same intervention can look attractive in one subgroup and poorly matched in another.
The practical distinction matters because Melanotan II intrinsic pharmacology must be scored separately from access and sourcing. The BioHarmony score reflects the compound evidence and on-target receptor effects, while the Verdict section separately flags product-quality and sourcing cautions.
Additional evidence links in this report include MC4R feeding mechanism. Melanoma case report. Rhabdomyolysis case report.
PRES case report. Renal infarction case report. Ischemic priapism case report..
Those comparisons help place Melanotan II beside interventions with different tradeoffs in sleep, skin, immune, recovery, and peptide-adjacent use cases.
Organic erectile-dysfunction sessions produced 12 erections across 19 MT-II exposures versus 1 across 21 placebo exposures.
A renal infarction case described roughly 50% right-kidney infarction after cumulative MT-II exposure over 6 months.
"Melanotan and the posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome."
"Melanotan II injection resulting in systemic toxicity and rhabdomyolysis."
"Use of melanotan I and II in the general population."
Terminology
Melanotan II terminology matters because MT-II, MT2, tanning injections, nasal tanning sprays, and bremelanotide are often collapsed into one conversation. Melanotan II is not FDA-approved for any use, while bremelanotide is an approved related melanocortin agonist for hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women. That comparator helps interpret libido biology, but it does not rescue MT-II safety. The main receptor distinction is non-selectivity: Melanotan II reaches MC1R, MC3R, MC4R, and MC5R, so pigmentation is only one part of the pharmacology.Melanotan II also needs context because readers may approach the report from different goals: symptom relief, performance, risk reduction, or curiosity about a mechanism For efficacy, that means the claim needs a direct endpoint match..The score does not tell a reader to use Melanotan II; the score shows where the evidence, practical burden, and safety concerns currently meet For efficacy, that means the claim needs a direct endpoint match..That matters because the same intervention can look attractive in one subgroup and poorly matched in another For efficacy, that means the claim needs a direct endpoint match..
- Clinical Range: The dose range used in controlled trials, labels, or systematic reviews. - Anecdotal Range: The dose range common in community use, practitioner protocols, or gray-market practice when that differs from clinical research. - MC1R: Melanocortin 1 receptor, the skin-pigment receptor most relevant to eumelanin biology. - MC4R: Melanocortin 4 receptor, a central nervous system receptor involved in appetite and sexual-response signaling. - DLMO: Dim-light melatonin onset, a circadian marker used to time melatonin for phase shifting. - RCT: Randomized controlled trial, the strongest routine human-evidence design for intervention effects. - PRES: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, a rare neurologic emergency reported in a melanotan case report. - USP-Verified: A supplement quality marker showing independent checks for identity, potency, and contaminants.
Dosing & Protocols
Dosing information is summarized from published research and community reports. This is not a prescribing guide. Consult a healthcare provider before starting any protocol.
Routes & Forms
| Route | Form | Clinical Range | Community Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| subcutaneous injection | unapproved peptide solution | not established | microgram-to-milligram cycles |
| intranasal | unapproved spray | not established | variable |
Protocols
Short Cycle Initiation Anecdotal
- Dose
- Variable
- Frequency
- Variable
- Duration
- Usually days to weeks
The report does not recommend a protocol; this describes community practice only.
Clinical Sexual-Function Studies Clinical
- Dose
- Single supervised injections
- Frequency
- Acute study sessions
- Duration
- Short term
Small early studies used monitored settings, not home peptide use.
How this score is calculated →
Upside contribution: 1.73
| Dimension | Weight | Score | Visual | Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Efficacy | 25% | 3.2 | 0.800 | |
| Breadth of Benefits | 15% | 2.7 | 0.405 | |
| Evidence Quality | 25% | 1.8 | 0.450 | |
| Speed of Onset | 10% | 4.2 | 0.420 | |
| Durability | 10% | 2.0 | 0.200 | |
| Bioindividuality Upside | 15% | 3.0 | 0.450 | |
| Total | 2.725 |
Upside Rationale
Melanotan II upside is fast and noticeable, but the verified human evidence is thin. Dorr et al. 1996 tested only three male volunteers in a pilot MT-II study and still saw tanning, yawning, nausea, and spontaneous erections. The libido and tanning signals are real enough to score, yet they come from tiny early trials and case-adjacent experience rather than a modern, regulated program. That is why Melanotan II has speed but low confidence. 2/5.0
Efficacy (3.2/5.0): Melanotan II efficacy is real for tanning and sexual-response endpoints, but the best direct studies are tiny. Wessells et al. 2000 reported 12 erections with MT-II versus 1 with placebo across monitored episodes. Melanotan II therefore works, but the evidence does not resemble a modern approval-grade program for tanning or libido.
Breadth of Benefits (2.7/5.0): Melanotan II breadth is moderate because pigmentation, libido, appetite, and possibly body-composition signals all flow from melanocortin receptor activity. Melanotan II also creates breadth on the downside: the same receptor spread links to nausea, yawning, blood-pressure symptoms, priapism, and neurologic concern. Benefit breadth is not automatically a virtue when receptor selectivity is poor.
Evidence Quality (1.8/5.0): Melanotan II evidence quality is low because early human trials were small, modern regulated trials are absent, and much of current use happens outside medical systems. Bremelanotide comparator data help interpret melanocortin sexual-response biology, but they do not prove gray-market MT-II safety.
Speed of Onset (4.2/5.0): Melanotan II speed is high because nausea, flushing, appetite changes, libido, erections, and tanning initiation can appear quickly. Dorr et al. 1996 saw acute yawning, nausea, and spontaneous erections in the pilot setting. Fast feedback is part of the appeal, but fast side effects also make unsupervised escalation risky.
Durability (2.0/5.0): Melanotan II durability is limited because tanning requires repeated exposure and fades over time, appetite effects do not reliably persist, and libido effects are acute. Melanotan II users often cycle because chronic use increases practical concern around moles, pigmentation, and side effects. A benefit that requires repeated gray-market injections cannot score high for durability.
Bioindividuality Upside (3.0/5.0): Melanotan II bioindividuality is moderate because fair skin, baseline nevi, libido goals, nausea sensitivity, blood-pressure sensitivity, and appetite response all shape the experience. Melanotan II has obvious strong responders, but it lacks validated screening rules. That uncertainty matters because a strong responder can also be a strong side-effect responder.
Downside contribution: 3.49 (safety risks weighted extra)
| Dimension | Weight | Score | Visual | Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safety Risk | 30% | 4.0 | 1.200 | |
| Side Effect Profile | 15% | 4.2 | 0.630 | |
| Financial Cost | 5% | 2.5 | 0.125 | |
| Time/Effort Burden | 5% | 3.4 | 0.170 | |
| Opportunity Cost | 5% | 3.0 | 0.150 | |
| Dependency / Withdrawal | 15% | 2.7 | 0.405 | |
| Reversibility | 25% | 3.6 | 0.900 | |
| Total | 3.580 | |||
| Harm subtotal × 1.4 | 4.389 | |||
| Opportunity subtotal × 1.0 | 0.445 | |||
| Combined downside | 4.834 | |||
| Baseline offset (constant) | −1.340 | |||
| Effective downside penalty | 3.494 |
Downside Rationale
Melanotan II downside is severe because several verified case reports involve medically urgent or potentially permanent outcomes after MT-II exposure. Nelson et al. 2012 documented systemic toxicity and rhabdomyolysis after a 6 mg injection, while Kaski and Peters reported PRES and renal infarction. Priapism is now handled as an on-target side-effect extension rather than a Safety Risk driver. 0/5.0
Safety Risk (4.0/5.0): Melanotan II Safety Risk is severe because verified case reports include melanoma or dysplastic-nevus proliferation, rhabdomyolysis, PRES, and renal infarction. Kaski et al. 2013 and Peters et al. 2020 are central to the score. A 4.0 score is the right floor because multiple distinct severe signals exist, but case-report causation uncertainty keeps Melanotan II from scoring higher on Safety Risk.
Side Effect Profile (4.2/5.0): Melanotan II side effects are common and often immediate, especially nausea, flushing, yawning, appetite suppression, spontaneous erections, libido shifts, skin darkening, and mole changes. The pro-erectile effect is on-target melanocortin-MC4 pharmacology, similar to the bremelanotide pathway, but prolonged painful erection can become ischemic priapism and require emergency care. Mallory et al. 2021 documents that over-extension risk, so priapism belongs here and in Verdict.
Financial Cost (2.5/5.0): Melanotan II financial cost is moderate because there is no legitimate approved channel for the common tanning or libido use cases, and the practical path usually includes supplies, skin monitoring, and extra caution.
Time/Effort Burden (3.4/5.0): Melanotan II effort is high because use usually involves reconstitution, injection or nasal dosing, dose escalation, UV timing, skin monitoring, and emergency awareness. Melanotan II also requires the user to distinguish expected side effects from urgent symptoms such as severe headache, dark urine, muscle pain, visual changes, or prolonged erection.
Opportunity Cost (3.0/5.0): Melanotan II opportunity cost is high because safer alternatives exist for the main goals: Melanotan I for pigment-focused use, conventional libido workups for sexual function, and diet or GLP-1 pathways for appetite and body composition. Melanotan II can crowd out safer, better-studied choices because the fast effects feel convincing.
Dependency/Withdrawal (2.7/5.0): Melanotan II dependency risk is moderate because there is no classic addiction pattern, but users can become functionally attached to the tan, appetite suppression, or libido effect. Melanotan II cycles can invite repeated use before vacations or events. That pattern is not withdrawal, but it can still create repeated exposure to a high-risk peptide.
Reversibility (3.6/5.0): Melanotan II reversibility is concerning because nausea resolves, but renal infarction, rhabdomyolysis complications, melanoma diagnosis, PRES-related injury, or persistent pigment changes may not reverse cleanly. Melanotan II prolonged erection risk is handled in Side Effect Profile because it is an over-extension of intended MC4 pharmacology. Reversibility remains high because several intrinsic case-report outcomes can leave lasting harm.
Verdict
Melanotan II is a caution-tier intervention: effective enough to tempt use, risky enough to demand restraint. Melanotan II may make sense only for short-cycle, high-risk-tolerant users who understand skin surveillance, neurologic red flags, rhabdomyolysis symptoms, renal warning signs, and prolonged painful erection risk.Melanotan II also needs context because readers may approach the report from different goals: symptom relief, performance, risk reduction, or curiosity about a mechanism For speed, short-term noticeability is separated from durable value.The score does not tell a reader to use Melanotan II; the score shows where the evidence, practical burden, and safety concerns currently meet For speed, short-term noticeability is separated from durable value.That matters because the same intervention can look attractive in one subgroup and poorly matched in another For speed, short-term noticeability is separated from durable value.
✅ Best for: Melanotan II is best for users who already understand peptide sourcing, have a dermatologist willing to monitor skin changes, can recognize emergency symptoms, and are using MT-II as a short initiation tool rather than a chronic lifestyle product. Melanotan II is also more relevant when libido or appetite suppression is the intended effect, because those effects are tied to receptor activity that Melanotan I largely avoids.
❌ Avoid if: Melanotan II should be avoided by anyone with melanoma history, dysplastic-nevus syndrome, unexplained changing moles, uncontrolled blood pressure, kidney disease, seizure or severe migraine history, prior priapism, sickle-cell disease, anticoagulant use without clinician oversight, pregnancy, lactation, or poor access to urgent care. Melanotan II nasal products and unlabeled vials should also be avoided when sterility, identity testing, dose accuracy, or contamination controls are unclear; those are supply-chain cautions and are not part of the dimension score.
Melanotan II receives a severe Safety Risk score because PRES, renal infarction, rhabdomyolysis, melanoma, and dysplastic-nevus case reports are too serious to treat as ordinary tolerability issues. Priapism remains important, but it is now scored in Side Effect Profile as an over-extension of on-target pro-erectile pharmacology. The report uses verified Kaski and Peters citations and excludes the fabricated PRES and renal-infarction citations from the agent files.
Use Case Breakdown
The overall BioHarmony score reflects the intervention's primary evidence profile. These subratings are independent assessments per use case.
Skin / Beauty: 6.4/10
Score: 6.4/10Melanotan II has a clear tanning effect, but the skin-beauty score is capped by safety and regulatory uncertainty. Human melanotropin trials showed tanning from subcutaneous administration, and the early MT-II pilot reported pigmentation along with nausea and spontaneous erections (Dorr et al. 1996). The same mechanism that darkens skin can also darken nevi, so aesthetic benefit and dermatologic monitoring are inseparable. Melanotan II should therefore be treated as use-case-specific, with the strongest claims reserved for the endpoints named in the cited evidence.
Libido / Sexual Health: 6.1/10
Score: 6.1/10Melanotan II has one of the more direct human libido and erection signals among gray-market peptides. In men with organic erectile dysfunction, MT-II produced 12 erections across 19 treated episodes versus 1 across 21 placebo episodes (Wessells et al. 2000). The score stays below strong because the compound is unapproved, nausea is common, and ischemic priapism case reports change the risk discussion. Melanotan II should therefore be treated as use-case-specific, with the strongest claims reserved for the endpoints named in the cited evidence.
Body Composition / Fat Loss: 5.0/10
Score: 5.0/10Melanotan II gets a borderline body-composition score because melanocortin signaling can suppress appetite, and animal MC4R work connects the pathway to feeding. The classic Nature paper showed melanocortinergic neurons influence feeding and obesity biology (Fan et al. 1997). Human fat-loss trials for MT-II are not the evidence base, so this score reflects appetite signal plausibility rather than a proven body-composition protocol. Melanotan II should therefore be treated as use-case-specific, with the strongest claims reserved for the endpoints named in the cited evidence.
Antioxidant / Oxidative Stress: 5.0/10
Score: 5.0/10Melanotan II has a limited antioxidant-adjacent score through UV-pigmentation biology rather than systemic redox evidence. The tanning mechanism increases melanin, which can reduce UV injury in the skin, but MT-II lacks the regulated EPP evidence that supports afamelanotide. The case-report literature also forces a narrower interpretation because melanoma and dysplastic-nevus reports appear in users of melanotan products (Hjuler and Lorentzen 2014). Melanotan II should therefore be treated as use-case-specific, with the strongest claims reserved for the endpoints named in the cited evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Melanotan II actually do?
Melanotan II acts through the pathway described in this report, and the best-supported effect is not the same for every use case. Melanotan II should be matched to the strongest evidence rather than treated as a universal wellness tool. Evaluation of melanotan-II, a superpotent cyclic melanotropic peptide in a pilot phase-I clinical study is the citation to start with for this specific question. In practice, Melanotan II should be interpreted through dose, timing, population, and monitoring rather than a one-line yes-or-no claim.
How much Melanotan II is used in studies?
Melanotan II dosing depends on route and use case, with clinical ranges listed in the dosing block rather than inferred from community practice. Melanotan II becomes riskier when anecdotal dose escalation outruns the monitored study context. Synthetic melanotropic peptide initiates erections in men with psychogenic erectile dysfunction is the citation to start with for this specific question. In practice, Melanotan II should be interpreted through dose, timing, population, and monitoring rather than a one-line yes-or-no claim.
How fast does Melanotan II work?
Melanotan II can produce some signals quickly, but the timeline depends on whether the target is sleepiness, circadian timing, pigmentation, libido, inflammation, or disease outcomes. Melanotan II should be judged by the endpoint being tracked, not by a generic onset claim. Effect of an alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone analog on penile erection and sexual desire is the citation to start with for this specific question. In practice, Melanotan II should be interpreted through dose, timing, population, and monitoring rather than a one-line yes-or-no claim.
Is Melanotan II safe long term?
Melanotan II has a different long-term safety answer by product quality, dose, route, and population. Melanotan II looks more defensible when monitored use resembles the evidence base and less defensible when gray-market or high-dose practice expands beyond the data. Melanocortin receptor agonists, penile erection, and sexual motivation is the citation to start with for this specific question. In practice, Melanotan II should be interpreted through dose, timing, population, and monitoring rather than a one-line yes-or-no claim.
Who should avoid Melanotan II?
Melanotan II should be avoided by people whose risk factors match the report's Avoid If section, especially when monitoring is unavailable. Melanotan II is research assistance, so contraindications, pregnancy, pediatric use, and medication interactions belong with a clinician. Evaluation of melanotan-II, a superpotent cyclic melanotropic peptide in a pilot phase-I clinical study is the citation to start with for this specific question. In practice, Melanotan II should be interpreted through dose, timing, population, and monitoring rather than a one-line yes-or-no claim.
What is the biggest misconception about Melanotan II?
The biggest misconception is that Melanotan II has one simple identity. Melanotan II changes meaning by dose, route, indication, sourcing, and timing, which is why the report separates use-case scores instead of giving every claim the same confidence. Synthetic melanotropic peptide initiates erections in men with psychogenic erectile dysfunction is the citation to start with for this specific question. In practice, Melanotan II should be interpreted through dose, timing, population, and monitoring rather than a one-line yes-or-no claim.
What should someone track with Melanotan II?
Melanotan II should be tracked with the monitoring block because subjective benefit can arrive before safety signals are obvious. Melanotan II tracking should include the relevant Pulse dimensions, red flags, and biomarkers rather than only asking whether it felt strong. Effect of an alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone analog on penile erection and sexual desire is the citation to start with for this specific question. In practice, Melanotan II should be interpreted through dose, timing, population, and monitoring rather than a one-line yes-or-no claim.
Why did Melanotan II get this BioHarmony score?
Melanotan II scored where it did because the upside and downside are both real. Melanotan II moves higher when evidence is replicated, monitoring is clear, and severe risks are rare; it moves lower when sourcing, safety, or replication problems dominate. Melanocortin receptor agonists, penile erection, and sexual motivation is the citation to start with for this specific question. In practice, Melanotan II should be interpreted through dose, timing, population, and monitoring rather than a one-line yes-or-no claim.
How This Score Could Change
BioHarmony scores are living assessments. New research, regulatory changes, or personal context can shift the score up or down. These are the most likely scenarios that would change this intervention's rating.
Melanotan II would move upward only if dose-ranging, dermatology surveillance, and adverse-event follow-up clarified which risks are intrinsic, dose-dependent, and avoidable with monitoring. Melanotan II would move downward if additional renal, neurologic, ischemic, or melanoma reports accumulate, or if post-market bremelanotide data show class signals that map back to MT-II. The first dimensions to move would be Safety Risk, Reversibility, Evidence Quality, and Opportunity Cost.Melanotan II also needs context because readers may approach the report from different goals: symptom relief, performance, risk reduction, or curiosity about a mechanism For durability, the key question is whether benefits persist after the early window.The score does not tell a reader to use Melanotan II; the score shows where the evidence, practical burden, and safety concerns currently meet For durability, the key question is whether benefits persist after the early window.That matters because the same intervention can look attractive in one subgroup and poorly matched in another For durability, the key question is whether benefits persist after the early window.
| Scenario | Dimension shifts | New Score |
|---|---|---|
| Better human dose-ranging separates benefit from severe case signals. | Evidence +0.5, Safety -0.2. | 3.9 / 10 ⚠️ Caution |
| Long-term surveillance finds a clearer intrinsic safety problem. | Safety +0.7, Reversibility +0.4, Evidence unchanged. | 3.4 / 10 🚫 Skip |
| Dermatology monitoring reduces mole-related uncertainty. | Safety -0.2, Opportunity -0.2. | 3.8 / 10 ⚠️ Caution |
| A large neutral RCT weakens the main claim. | Efficacy -0.5, Evidence -0.3, Breadth -0.3. | 3.6 / 10 🚫 Skip |
| Better responder rules emerge. | Bioindividuality +0.5, Opportunity -0.2. | 3.8 / 10 ⚠️ Caution |
| Stronger dose and side-effect standards become routine. | Side Effects -0.4, Effort -0.3, Reversibility -0.2. | 3.9 / 10 ⚠️ Caution |
Melanotan II lands at 3.7 / 10 ⚠️ Caution because the upside is real but conditional. The best use cases deserve attention, while the weaker use cases should stay research-only until better data changes the risk-benefit balance.
Key Evidence Sources
- Evaluation of melanotan-II, a superpotent cyclic melanotropic peptide in a pilot phase-I clinical study. MT-II pilot with tanning, erections, yawning, and nausea.
- Synthetic melanotropic peptide initiates erections in men with psychogenic erectile dysfunction. Psychogenic erectile dysfunction crossover trial.
- Effect of an alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone analog on penile erection and sexual desire. Organic erectile dysfunction trial.
- Melanocortin receptor agonists, penile erection, and sexual motivation. Human MT-II sexual-response synthesis.
- Role of melanocortinergic neurons in feeding and the agouti obesity syndrome. Reviewed in 2026 as a primary evidence source; study design, year, and endpoint context are used to bound the report claim.
- Melanoma associated with the use of melanotan-II. Reviewed in 2026 for study design and population fit; supports a specific endpoint rather than broad wellness claims.
- Melanotan II injection resulting in systemic toxicity and rhabdomyolysis. Reviewed in 2026 as clinical or mechanistic background; sample, year, and endpoint directness shape the confidence rating.
- Melanotan and the posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. Reviewed in 2026 for citation integrity; useful for mechanism or outcome context but not treated as universal proof.
- Melanotan II: a possible cause of renal infarction. Reviewed in 2026 as a primary evidence source; study design, year, and endpoint context are used to bound the report claim.
- Melanotan Tanning Injection: A Rare Cause of Priapism. Ischemic priapism case report.
Holistic Evidence Profile
Evidence on this intervention is summarized across three complementary streams: contemporary clinical research, pre-RCT-era pharmacology and observational use, and the traditional medical systems that documented it first. Convergence across streams signals higher confidence; divergence is surfaced honestly.
Modern Clinical Research
Confidence: Limited
Citations: Dorr 1996: Evaluation of melanotan-II, a superpotent cyclic melanotropic peptide in a pilot phase-I clinical study.
Pre-RCT-Era Pharmacology and Use
Citations: Evaluation of melanotan-II, a superpotent cyclic melanotropic pepti..., Synthetic melanotropic peptide initiates erections in men with psyc..., Melanoma associated with the use of melanotan-II
Traditional Medicine Systems
Citations: Evaluation of melanotan-II, a superpotent cyclic melanotropic pepti..., Synthetic melanotropic peptide initiates erections in men with psyc..., Melanoma associated with the use of melanotan-II
What to Track If You Try This
These are the data points that matter most while running a 30-day Experiment with this intervention.
How to read this section
- Pre
- Test or score before starting the protocol. Anchors a baseline.
- During
- Track while running the protocol so you can see if anything is changing.
- Post
- Re-test after a full cycle to confirm the change held.
- Up
- The marker should rise. For most positive outcomes, that is a good sign.
- Down
- The marker should fall. For most positive outcomes, that is a good sign.
- Stable
- The marker should hold steady. Big swings in either direction are a yellow flag.
- Watch
- Direction depends on dose, timing, and your baseline. Pay close attention to the trend.
- N/A
- No expected direction. The entry is there to anchor a baseline reading.
- Primary
- The Pulse dimension most likely to shift. Track this first.
- Secondary
- Also relevant, but a smaller or less consistent shift. Track if Primary is unclear.
Bloodwork to Order
Open These Markers In Your Dashboard
- Vitamin D Baseline (pre-protocol)
- Liver Enzymes During | Expected Stable
- Dermatology Skin Exam Baseline (pre-protocol) Post | Expected Watch
Pulse Dimensions to Watch
- Body During | Expected Up | Primary
- Drive During | Expected Watch | Secondary
- Calm During | Expected Watch | Tertiary
Subjective Signals (Daily Voice Card)
- Sun Tolerance Scale 1-5 | During | Expected Up
- Nausea Or Flushing Scale 1-5 | During | Expected Watch
- New Or Changing Moles Scale 1-5 | During | Expected Watch
Red Flags: Stop and Consult
- New or rapidly changing mole, oral pigmentation, or bleeding lesion
- Severe headache, confusion, vision change, chest pain, or neurologic symptoms
- Priapism, severe abdominal pain, dark urine, or muscle pain after dosing
Other interventions for Skin & Beauty
See all ratings →📊 How BioHarmony scoring works
BioHarmony translates a weighted expected-value calculation into a reader-facing 0–10 score. Tier bands: Skip 0–3.6, Caution 3.7–4.7, Neutral 4.8–5.7, Worth Trying 5.8–6.9, Strong Recommend 7.0–7.9, Top-tier 8.0+.
Harm-type downsides (safety risk, side effects, reversibility, dependency) carry a 1.4× precautionary multiplier. Harm weighs more than benefit. Opportunity-type downsides (financial cost, time/effort, opportunity cost) are subtracted at face value.
Use case subratings are independent assessments of how well the intervention addresses specific health goals. They are not components of the overall score. Each subrating reflects the scorer's judgment based on use-case-specific evidence, safety, and effect sizes.
Every dimension is evaluated on a 1–5 scale, and the baseline (1) is subtracted before weighting. A perfect intervention with zero downsides contributes zero penalty rather than a residual floor, so top-tier scores are actually reachable.
EV = Upside − Downside
EV = 1.725 − 3.494 = -1.769
Formula v0.5 maps EV = 0 to score 5.0. Above neutral, 1 EV point equals 1 score point. Below neutral, 1 EV point equals about 0.71 score points, so EV = −7 reaches 0.0 while EV = +5 reaches 10.0. Both sides use the full 5-point half-scale.
Score = 5 + (-1.769 / 7) × 5 = 3.7 / 10
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