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PT-141 (Bremelanotide)

Also known as: Bremelanotide, PT 141, Vyleesi

PT-141 (Bremelanotide) is a cyclic peptide melanocortin receptor agonist that enhances sexual desire and arousal through central nervous system mechanisms. It is FDA-approved as Vyleesi for premenopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD).

Half-Life

2–3 hours

Route

SubQ

Category

Sexual Health & Libido

Studies

50 references

Key Benefits

  • Enhances sexual desire and libido in both men and women
  • Improves arousal through central nervous system activation
  • Effective for psychological erectile dysfunction
  • Works for female sexual arousal disorder
  • May improve sexual satisfaction and intensity
  • Fast-acting — effects within 45–60 minutes
  • FDA-approved for HSDD in premenopausal women

Mechanism of Action

PT-141 activates melanocortin receptors in the brain, particularly MC3R and MC4R, which are involved in sexual arousal regulation. Unlike PDE5 inhibitors (Viagra, Cialis) which act peripherally on blood vessels, PT-141 acts centrally on the nervous system to enhance sexual desire and arousal directly. This makes it effective for psychological and neurogenic sexual dysfunction, not just vascular causes.

Dosing Protocols

Standard On-Demand Protocol

Dose
0.5–1.75 mg
Frequency
As needed (not daily)
Timing
30–45 minutes before anticipated sexual activity
Cycle
Maximum 8 doses per month (FDA guidance)

Start at 0.5 mg to assess nausea tolerance. FDA-approved dose for women (Vyleesi) is 1.75 mg. Effects onset 45–60 min; peak 1–2 hours; may last 6–12 hours. Lower starting dose recommended for first use.

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Side Effects

  • Nausea (most common — 40% of users in clinical trials)
  • Facial flushing and warmth
  • Transient blood pressure changes (typically increase then normalize)
  • Headache
  • Spontaneous erections in men at higher doses
  • Injection site bruising

Contraindications

Uncontrolled hypertension or cardiovascular disease. Pregnancy or breastfeeding. Limit to 8 doses per month. Do not use with medications that slow heart rate.

Storage

Refrigerate autoinjector or reconstituted solution at 2–8°C. Pre-filled autoinjector should be warmed to room temperature before use.

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    Strategies for Treating Sexual Health Concerns After Breast and Gynecologic Cancer

    Mihulka O, Curran M, Narasimhan RM, Moore JF, Rojas KE · Journal of minimally invasive gynecology · 2025PubMed Verified

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    Polymorphism of Melanocortin Receptor Genes-Association with Inflammatory Traits and Diseases

    Bardhan M, Anand A, Javed A, Chilo MA, Khan N, Garg T et al. · Diseases (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025ReviewPubMed Verified

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    FDA-approved drugs as potential covalent inhibitors of key SARS-CoV-2 proteins: an in silico approach

    Serilmez M, Abuelrub A, Erol I, Durdaği S · Turkish journal of biology = Turk biyoloji dergisi · 2025PubMed Verified

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    Female Sexual Desire, Arousal, and Orgasmic Dysfunctions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Treatment Options

    Toledo RG, Winkelman WD, Reyes-Gonzalez D, Bergeron S, Fladger A, Hacker MR et al. · Journal of minimally invasive gynecology · 2026Meta-AnalysisPubMed Verified

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    2024 SOGC, 2024 NCCN, 2022 ESO-ESMO, and 2018 ASCO: a comparison of female cancer survivorship guidelines for the management of sexual health concerns

    Bhinder JK, Kennedy SKF, Faouk Al Aadah C, Al-Khaifi M · Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025ReviewPubMed Verified

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    Novel Pharmacologic Treatments of Female Sexual Dysfunction

    How A, Jowdy C, Novatcheva E, Clayton AH · Clinical obstetrics and gynecology · 2025ReviewPubMed Verified

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    Female Syrian hamster analyses of bremelanotide, a US FDA approved drug for the treatment of female hypoactive sexual desire disorder

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    Understanding the Interplay Between Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) and Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD)

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    Pharmacotherapy of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder in Premenopausal Women

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    Understanding Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) in Women: Etiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment

    Ronghe V, Pannase K, Gomase KP, Mahakalkar MG · Cureus · 2023ReviewPubMed Verified

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    What Women Want? The State of the Art regarding the Treatment of Young Women with Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder

    de Oliveira L, Vignozzi L, Giraldi A, Varod S, Corona G, Reisman Y · Pharmacology · 2024ReviewPubMed Verified

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    Targeting the central melanocortin system for the treatment of metabolic disorders

    Sweeney P, Gimenez LE, Hernandez CC, Cone RD · Nature reviews. Endocrinology · 2023ReviewPubMed Verified

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    Small Effects, Questionable Outcomes: Bremelanotide for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder

    Spielmans GI, Ellefson EM · Journal of sex research · 2024ReviewPubMed Verified

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    An evaluation of bremelanotide injection for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder

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    Pharmacologic therapeutic options for sexual dysfunction

    Burton CS, Mishra K · Current opinion in obstetrics & gynecology · 2022ReviewPubMed Verified

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    Management of Hypertension with Female Sexual Dysfunction

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    Pharmacotherapy for female sexual dysfunctions (FSDs): what is on the market and where is this field heading?

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    Prespecified and Integrated Subgroup Analyses from the RECONNECT Phase 3 Studies of Bremelanotide

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    Safety Profile of Bremelanotide Across the Clinical Development Program

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    Pharmacotherapy for Sexual Dysfunction in Women

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    Bremelanotide for Treatment of Female Hypoactive Sexual Desire

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    Bremelanotide and flibanserin for low sexual desire in women: the fallacy of regulatory precedent

    Mintzes B, Tiefer L, Cosgrove L · Drug and therapeutics bulletin · 2021ReviewPubMed Verified

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    Psychometric validation of the Female Sexual Distress Scale-Desire/Arousal/Orgasm

    Derogatis LR, Revicki DA, Rosen RC, Jordan R, Lucas J, Spana C · Journal of patient-reported outcomes · 2021PubMed Verified

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    Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder in Women: Physiology, Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment

    Pettigrew JA, Novick AM · Journal of midwifery & women's health · 2021ReviewPubMed Verified

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    Structural insights into ligand recognition and activation of the melanocortin-4 receptor

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    Bremelanotide

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    Failure of a Meta-analysis: A Commentary on Glen Spielmans's "Re-Analyzing Phase III Bremelanotide Trials for 'Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder in Women'"

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    Re-Analyzing Phase III Bremelanotide Trials for "Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder" in Women

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    The Patient Experience of Premenopausal Women Treated with Bremelanotide for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder: RECONNECT Exit Study Results

    Koochaki P, Revicki D, Wilson H, Pokrzywinski R, Jordan R, Lucas J et al. · Journal of women's health (2002) · 2021RCTPubMed Verified

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    The neurobiology of bremelanotide for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women

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Medical disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Many compounds listed are research chemicals not approved for human use. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any protocol.

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