Melanotan: eye danger? (developing story)

Steve95301 · 11th July 2007, 12:12 AM

The two main melanotan forums have threads on this issue (the original post is identical, but the responses are different of course).

@melanotan.org: WARNING: Melanotan may cause damage to the eye!

@melanoplanet.com: DISCUSS: Possible MT2 Vision Side Effects? Anyone else experienced?

Quote:

My name is Robert, I'm 23 and I had been using MT 2 for over 1 year with great results. However, recently I got vision problems (with gradual onset) and thus went to see an ophthalmologist. I was diagnostized with a severe form of central serous retinopathy (CSR). Although CSR rarely leads to blindness, usually some vision impairment remains. There is no effective treatment for this condition.
She also found a rather big nevus (mole) on the choroid in my left eye which hasn't been there before (have had an eye exam in the past). This cannot be removed and have to be monitored for the rest of my life because it may lead to cancer at some point. She had no idea regarding the cause. Apart from being a bit myopic, my eyes were perfectly healthy before. I didn't tell her about Melanotan by the way.

Afterwards I did some research and found out the following:

Quote:

"Central serous retinopathy (CSR) has been linked by several authors to the therapeutic use of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) or corticosteroids or to endogenous ACTH hypersecretion. Various pathogenic mechanisms have been suggested to explain this phenomenon; all relate to the steroids as the causative agents"

"ACTH has a melanotrophic part, melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH), that may affect RPE cells, which are melanin-pigmented cells of neuroectoderm origin, and alter their ionic pumping properties. This is supported by evidence in the literature for the effect of MSH on animal RPE cells, as well as on other secreting epithelia."

Melanotan and melanotan II are both analogs of (alpha) MSH and thus sharing the same effects. Therefore it can be assumed that my condition is connected to the prolonged intake of MT 2.

I then checked back with my doctor and was advised to stop taking Melanotan immediately.

I also made an appointment with the director of the dermatology department on our university (I'm a medical student myself) to get an expert opinion on Melanotan. He had heard of Melanotan before, but he would strongly discourage anyone from taking it especially for merely cosmetic purposes.
Though it may be beneficial to some people with certain skin diseases, it certainly bears great risks. He also didn't seem to be surprised about my case at all. Because the choroid (the underlying layer of the eye's retina) contains melanocytes, it will also be necessarily affected by Melanotan which in turn may effect the function of the retina. He also warned me about hormone and skin changes, which are probably not fully reversible even after being off of Melanotan for a very long time. There is a study that says MSH (again, Melanotan is just a synthetic copy of MSH) not only stimulates the melanocytes to produce melanin, but also cause proliferation of melanocytes:

Quote:

"alpha-Melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and ACTH increase the proliferation and melanogenesis of cultured human melanocytes."

This is quite contrary to an older study from 1986 which is cited on Clinuvel's website. Personally, I would not put much trust in studies published by Clinuvel. They are not obligated to release informations about dangers connected to Melanotan at this point. And I doubt they will voluntary discredit their only product.

Being a type I myself nobody can understand you better than I but there certainly are things in life that are more important than having a tanned skin. Don't put them at risk.

Actually, I curse the day when I first heard of Melanotan.

Zamir E (1997): "Central serous retinopathy associated with adrenocorticotrophic hormone therapy. A case report and a hypothesis". Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel

I Suzuki et al. (1996): "Binding of melanotropic hormones to the melanocortin receptor MC1R on human melanocytes stimulates proliferation and melanogenesis" Department of Dermatology, University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Twickle Purple · 11th July 2007, 12:36 AM

Will you continue to use it?

Steve95301 · 11th July 2007, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twickle Purple

Will you continue to use it?

No. I still have some residual eye dryness from isotretinoin, and I have eye disease in my family.

I will wait this one out.

Melissa W · 11th July 2007, 03:13 AM

I think that's a good choice Steve.
Hopefully no damage has been done since it's still early. If you stop now you should be fine.

All the best,
Melissa

Twickle Purple · 11th July 2007, 05:09 AM

Can you go and have your eyes checked? I'm glad you found that article early in your course! Got my fingers crossed that things will turn out okay for you.

Steve95301 · 11th July 2007, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twickle Purple

Can you go and have your eyes checked? I'm glad you found that article early in your course! Got my fingers crossed that things will turn out okay for you.

I'm not worried about it, I haven't had any vision problems. I have this weird faith in the universe (pronoia). I tend to rely on my luck.

For example, my running across this news is serendipitous because:

Coincidence of coincidences, I had already planned on making an eye appointment this week. I asked my mother over the weekend whether the eye doctor in my hometown was still around, because I thought it would be better to just make the drive to see a doctor who already knows me.
I took my last shot yesterday. I have no more M2 left, so I'm not tempted to inject any more, nor am I wasting any. Normally, I would have restocked well before I ran out, but it didn't pan out like that.
I got paid today, and was about to order 30 mg more. I literally placed the item in my shopping cart and was about to order.
Just before I ordered, something told me to look at other suppliers (I'm not as dark as I'd like). While searching through Kakarot's posts, I ran across the vision thread. If he would not have commented on that particular thread, I wouldn't have found it.
This development saves me money. I had been frustrated recently for having no room in my budget for a video camera. (I ordered it about an hour ago )

Steve95301 · 11th July 2007, 06:24 AM

I just noticed something: in the original post, he says he's a medical student. Yet, he says:

Quote:

I was diagnostized with a severe form of central serous retinopathy (CSR)

"diagnostized"? WTF? What kind of medical student doesn't know the word "diagnosed"?

I don't doubt his story, he sounds intelligent and a handful of people have now come forward with tales of eye problems.

But, still... "diagnostized"?

phlika29 · 11th July 2007, 07:30 AM

Steve

Probably just a typing error.

Ps love your way of thinking.

Sarah

milton · 11th July 2007, 04:34 PM

I will continue to use the drug until the day I die, I don't care if it kills me. I'm not going back into the depression caused by Rosacea. I'd rather be dead. Honestly, this drug has given me my life back. My girlfriends IS a doctor and she doesn't see anything wrong with the drug. Somethings are more important than tanned skin, however, living in constant shame about my appearance and hiding out from ALL social situations...sorry, I'll take my chances.

BTW- the drug is in Phase III trials, it would have NEVER gotten that far if this was a widespead concern. You think the testing process would allow a cosmetic drug to get that far if it could cause blindness..Think about it.

All drugs have side effects.

bentherebefore · 11th July 2007, 05:37 PM

That is quite true. Phase 1 and 2 are very focused on the safety, and if it gets to phase three, then chances are it is a pretty safe drug.

However, if you order it online you never know what you're getting. It might not be near the quality it should be.

That said, I applaud all the people testing it. If rosacea is ruining your life, then you should do whatever it takes to get well. whether it is debt from laser treatments, possible M2 risks, we should strive to get rid of this thing!