MT-1 (Melanotan 1) Dosage Calculator: Syringe Units

MT-1, short for Melanotan I, is a synthetic peptide analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), supplied as lyophilized powder for research use. Like other lyophilized peptides, it has to be reconstituted with a liquid before it can be measured or drawn into a syringe. This reference explains how an MT-1 dosage calculator turns a vial size, water volume, and target mcg dose into the exact number of units to draw on a U-100 insulin syringe. It is written for research purposes only and is not medical advice.

What the calculator does

The peptide reconstitution calculator handles the reconstitution math in two directions:

• Forward mode — enter vial size, water volume, and target dose → it returns the syringe units to draw.
• Reverse mode — enter vial size, target dose, and desired syringe units → it tells you how much water to add.

Both modes run on the same formula: concentration equals mass divided by volume, and dose in units equals dose in volume times 100 on a U-100 syringe.

MT-1 vs MT-2

MT-1 and MT-2 are both synthetic analogs of alpha-MSH, which is part of why the two names get confused. The structural difference is straightforward: MT-1 is the linear analog, while MT-2 (Melanotan II) is a cyclic analog with a different amino acid sequence. That structural difference doesn't change the reconstitution arithmetic — a milligram of powder plus a milliliter of water produces the same concentration regardless of which peptide is in the vial. If you're comparing the two, the MT-2 dosage calculator guide walks through the identical math applied to MT-2.

Common MT-1 vial sizes

Research vials are typically supplied in:

• 10 mg

The calculator supports any vial size, but 10 mg is the size most often listed by research suppliers for MT-1.

Typical research concentration

A common reconstitution setup holds the water at 2 mL for a 10 mg MT-1 vial:

Vial size	Water added	Concentration
10 mg	2 mL	5,000 mcg/mL

That 5,000 mcg/mL reference point puts a 250 mcg research dose on a clean unit mark:

Target dose	Units at 5,000 mcg/mL
250 mcg	5 units
1,000 mcg	20 units

A 250 mcg dose landing on an exact 5-unit mark is a large part of why 2 mL is a common water volume for a 10 mg MT-1 vial — it reads cleanly on any U-100 syringe.

The math

Step 1: Calculate concentration

Concentration = vial mass ÷ water volume

• 10 mg vial + 2 mL water = 10,000 mcg ÷ 2 mL = 5,000 mcg/mL
• 10 mg vial + 1 mL water = 10,000 mcg ÷ 1 mL = 10,000 mcg/mL

Step 2: Convert dose to volume

Volume (mL) = dose (mcg) ÷ concentration (mcg/mL)

Example: 1,000 mcg dose at 5,000 mcg/mL concentration = 1,000 ÷ 5,000 = 0.2 mL

Step 3: Convert volume to syringe units

On a U-100 insulin syringe, 1 mL = 100 units, so:

Units = volume (mL) × 100

Example: 0.2 mL × 100 = 20 units

The calculator performs these three steps instantly for any vial, water, and dose combination you enter.

Reconstitution process

1. Gather supplies — the MT-1 vial, bacteriostatic water, U-100 insulin syringes, alcohol swabs.
2. Swab both vial stoppers with alcohol.
3. Draw the calculated water volume (e.g. 2 mL for a 10 mg vial at 5,000 mcg/mL).
4. Inject slowly down the inside wall of the vial, not directly onto the powder.
5. Swirl gently — do not shake. Let it dissolve completely.
6. Verify the concentration matches what you entered in the calculator.

For a detailed walkthrough, see how to reconstitute peptides.

Storage

Reconstituted peptide vials are generally stored refrigerated and protected from light. Unreconstituted lyophilized powder is stable at room temperature until the expiration date on the vial. Track the reconstitution date so you know how long a given vial has been mixed.

Reconstituted solution is far less stable than the dry powder, which is why suppliers ship peptides lyophilized rather than pre-mixed. Label the vial with the date you added water, and check your supplier's guidance for how long a mixed vial is meant to be used before it should be discarded.

Why the water volume matters

The same 1,000 mcg dose can be drawn at very different unit marks depending on how much water goes into the vial:

1,000 mcg dose from a 10 mg vial:

Water added	Concentration	Draw volume	Units
2 mL	5,000 mcg/mL	0.2 mL	20 units
1 mL	10,000 mcg/mL	0.1 mL	10 units

Neither is "wrong" — the math is identical either way. Less water gives a smaller, more concentrated draw; more water gives a larger, easier-to-read draw. The calculator shows the units for any water volume so you can pick the draw size that's easiest to read on your syringe.

Common mistakes

• Confusing mg and mcg. MT-1 vials are labeled in milligrams, but doses are almost always described in micrograms. A 10 mg vial is 10,000 mcg — mixing up the two units produces a tenfold dosing error.
• Shaking the vial. Swirl gently instead — shaking can degrade the peptide.
• Not recalculating after changing the water volume. Adding a different amount of bacteriostatic water than the last vial changes the concentration, so the same unit mark no longer matches the same dose. Recalculate for each vial rather than reusing a number from memory.
• Using a non-U-100 syringe. The calculator assumes a standard U-100 insulin syringe (100 units = 1 mL). If your syringe is marked differently, the unit conversion will not match.

Use the MT-1 dosage calculator

Enter your MT-1 vial size, bacteriostatic water volume, and target dose into the free peptide calculator to see the exact syringe units. Reverse mode also works — enter your target dose and the units you want to draw, and it tells you how much water to add.

For related math, see the MT-2 (Melanotan 2) dosage calculator guide, or the how to reconstitute peptides walkthrough for the general reconstitution steps that apply to any lyophilized peptide. The calculator handles the math. This guide explains what the numbers mean.