Interactive
Dose, delivery & the side-effect peak
Acute melanocortin side effects track the peak concentration, not the total dose. Drag the dose and watch how the delivery route decides whether the curve crosses into the side-effect zone. Companion towhy melanocortin agonists make you queasy and tan.
| Delivery route | Peak | Time in zone | Acute load |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subcutaneous bolus | — | — | — |
| Oral tablet | — | — | — |
| Controlled-release implant | — | — | — |
This is an illustrative model, not patient data: concentrations are relative and the threshold is a teaching device, not a clinical cutoff. The point is the shape — a fast bolus peaks high, a pill peaks lower, a slow-release implant barely peaks at all, and dose scales it all up or down. It is not medical or dosing advice; see theeditorial standards.
Common questions
Why do injections cause more nausea than pills or implants?
Acute melanocortin side effects track the peak blood concentration, not the total dose. A subcutaneous bolus is absorbed fast and spikes to a high peak, which is more likely to cross the threshold for nausea; an oral tablet or a slow-release implant spreads the same drug out, so the peak stays lower.
Does a higher dose mean more side effects?
Largely yes, because a higher dose raises the peak. The same delivery route taken at a higher dose pushes the concentration further above the side-effect threshold and keeps it there longer — which is the logic behind starting low and titrating up.
Why does the afamelanotide implant cause little nausea?
It releases the peptide slowly over weeks, so blood levels rise to a low plateau rather than a sharp peak. Without the concentration spike, the acute side effects that come with bolus injections are largely avoided.