What is Methylene Blue?
Also called methylthioninium chloride, methylene blue is a chemical salt used as a dye and medication. It’s still on the WHO’s List of Essential Medicines. Heinrich Caro first prepared MB in 1876. MB is called the “first fully man-made medicine.”
Is methylene blue still used? Yes, methylene blue uses still include diagnostic procedures to identify abnormal cells. It has a signature blue staining and is used to treat several disorders, such as methemoglobinemia.
MB is most frequently prescribed to treat methemoglobinemia and, occasionally, malaria or cyanide poisoning.
Is methylene blue harmful? Methylene blue is not dangerous for most people in small doses. Individuals taking certain antidepressants, opioids, or antihistamines should not take MB. Pregnant people or those with a G6PD deficiency should also stay clear of MB.
1. Aging
Methylene blue is good for the skin. MB increases mitochondrial function and decreases oxidative stress — both of which independently improve the look of your skin.
MB has even been used to treat psoriasis, an autoimmune condition.
By increasing collagen and elastin production, methylene blue also gives the skin a younger appearance.
2. Depression
Methylene blue may have a “potent” antidepressant effect. This is because it can increase norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine in the brain by preventing the breakdown of these neurotransmitters.
MB may also regulate anxiety and bipolar disorder, which are closely related to depression.
It’s not recommended to take MB simultaneously with other antidepressants. If you take medications to stabilize your mood, discuss all current medications with your doctor before starting a new medication, such as methylene blue.
Read Next: Natural Remedies For Depression
3. Lyme Disease and Co-infections
Although most Lyme disease patients are cured after 2-4 weeks of antibiotics, up to 20% of patients don’t heal so quickly. Methylene blue is a potential alternative treatment for individuals who don’t see success with antibiotics.
In the lab, MB effectively killed antibiotic-resistant Lyme bacteria.
Combining methylene blue with certain antibiotics increases the effectiveness of the antibiotics that fight Lyme disease. Studies have also shown that combining methylene blue with antibiotics is more effective than antibiotics alone to treat Bartonella infections.
4. Cognitive Enhancement
With more and more data coming out about how methylene blue has the ability to improve memory and cognitive function, many people have been using it as a nootropic to increase mental productivity.
5. Alzheimer’s Disease & Parkinson’s Disease
Methylene blue may help prevent Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, and mild cognitive impairment. MB reduces oxidative damage to brain cells — a contributing cause of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Multiple studies indicate that MB is a “promising neuroprotective intervention for both motor and non-motor” symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
MB is not the panacea for neurotoxicity and neurodegenerative diseases, but methylene blue boasts decades of recorded neuroprotective benefits.
6. Methemoglobinemia
Methemoglobinemia is a blood disorder that may result in headache, dizziness, nausea, or skin discoloration. Methylene blue is an FDA-approved treatment for this mostly genetic condition that can turn your blood the color of chocolate.
Certain medications or chemicals can also cause high methemoglobin levels. MB converts ferric iron in your hemoglobin into ferrous iron, thus treating the condition.
Methylene blue’s most mainstream use is treating methemoglobinemia, for which your healthcare provider can prescribe an MB injection.
7. Malaria
Methylene blue may be able to treat malaria. The first use of methylene blue was as a malaria treatment in the 1800s. Although largely replaced by alternatives like chloroquine, healthcare providers recently reintroduced MB as a malaria treatment.
This 2018 systematic review shows that “MB has substantial antimalarial activity against all types of malaria in various endemic areas” in Africa, where malaria is most prevalent.
8. Ifosfamide-induced encephalopathy
Ifosfamide is a chemotherapy medication. Encephalopathy is a brain condition that may occur in as many as 40% of individuals who take ifosfamide. There is no agreed-upon treatment for Ifosfamide-induced encephalopathy.
Methylene blue may effectively treat ifosfamide-induced encephalopathy. A 2021 study of 38 people concluded MB to be an effective treatment in as many as 75% of patients.
In some patients, MB worked as rapidly as 10 minutes after administration.
9. Shock
Methylene blue consistently raises blood pressure. Shock occurs when your blood pressure is dangerously low. MB is, therefore, a promising treatment for shock (such as post-cardiothoracic-surgery shock called vasoplegic syndrome).
Low blood pressure during shock impacts your brain, kidneys, and heart. Doctors may administer MB to raise blood pressure when vasopressors aren’t working.
MB can help with low blood pressure and related conditions, such as vasoplegia. Individuals with high blood pressure should be very wary of taking MB.
10. Nail Fungus
Methylene blue may help with fungal infections, similar to bacterial infections.
This 2014 study shows that when combined with red LED light, MB effectively treats “distal and lateral toenail onychomycosis” (AKA nail fungus).
Benefits
All of the potential benefits mentioned below are dose-dependent. As with other nootropics, there is a sweet-spot dose that allows you to get most of the benefits without causing meaningful side effects or tolerance buildup in the body. We will discuss the best dosing protocol later in this article.
Minor benefits
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Improved mood and well-being – Methylene blue is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). It inhibits both MAO-A and MAO-B, which can lead to antidepressant effects.
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Improved cognition – This nootropic can improve various aspects of cognition, such as memory recall, the formation of memories, and focus.
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Increased alertness – This nootropic can act as a stimulant, making you more alert and energetic.
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Slower cognitive decline – Methylene Blue can be helpful for older people experiencing cognitive decline. The supplement can help reverse or slow down some aspects of it.
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Neuroprotective effects – The supplement may have mild neuroprotective effects, but more research is needed to determine whether or not this is the case.
Possible side effects
The side effects below are dose-dependent. The risk for them increases (often linearly but sometimes exponentially) as you increase the dose. Some of the side effects only apply to very high doses.
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Blue urine – This side effect is common at higher doses but generally nothing to worry about.
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Serotonin syndrome – It is best to avoid Rhodiola if you are on SSRIs as this combination could lead to serotonin syndrome. Rhodiola alone should never cause this side effect.
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Jitteriness – This potential side effect is similar to that of caffeine but much less notable.
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Irritability – Some people report this effect.
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Difficulty sleeping – The nootropic can increase energy levels and make you more alert. When taken later in the day, it can make it harder to fall asleep and worsen your sleep quality.
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Allergic reaction – An allergy to this nootropic is rare but possible.
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Nausea – This side effect is most common when people take the supplement on an empty stomach.
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Diarrhea – You can usually prevent diarrhea or stomach discomfort by taking this supplement with a meal.
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Toxicity – While acute toxicity is extremely rare, taking high amounts of this nootropic could lead to chronic toxicity and cause health problems over time. Regularly taking high doses can also cause the body to develop a tolerance to the supplement. To prevent chronic toxicity or the buildup of tolerance, staying below 80 mg in a day is best unless you have a great reason to take more.
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Contamination – Contaminated supplements are uncommon in the USA and other well-regulated countries. However, if you wish to buy products from China, India, or other countries without strict regulations, beware that the supplements may be contaminated. Either way, you need to choose the brand you order from wisely. Always read through some reviews for the specific product before you buy it. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has the power to regulate dietary supplements but can only do so after they have been on the market for a while. That’s because supplement companies are not obligated to announce to the FDA when releasing a new product. The FDA has to discover the product and test it for potential impurities, which can take a lot of time. During that time, the supplement can be sold on the market even if it’s impure. Also, supplement companies can change their manufacturers without announcing it to the FDA.
Who should not take Methylene Blue?
You should probably avoid taking Methylene Blue if you:
- experience a severe adverse reaction after taking the supplement
- take MAOIs (Methylene Blue itself inhibits MAO-A and MAO-B so it may not go well with other monoamine oxidase inhibitors)
- don’t notice any effect on brain function even after a long period of taking the supplement
- are allergic to this nootropic
- are pregnant or breastfeeding (while it can be safe to take this supplement during pregnancy or breastfeeding, it can put some unnecessary risk to the child)
Who will benefit the most?
You should consider taking the supplement if you:
- experience fatigue on a regular basis
- are older and experience cognitive decline
- have a high budget for supplements and are willing to experiment with a variety of them (assuming you don’t fall into any of the categories that should avoid this supplement, Methylene Blue appears relatively safe and is unlikely to do more harm than good for most people)
How much Methylene Blue should you take?
The sweet spot typically ranges between 0.5-1 mg/kg of body weight daily for most people. This amount should provide most of the benefits without meaningful side effects.
The higher end of this range usually provides slightly more benefits in the short term. If you plan to take this nootropic for a longer time (multiple months or years), the lower end is probably a better way to go since it is safer and you would develop tolerance faster if you were to take higher doses.
The upper safety limit for this nootropic is not well-established. To stay on the safe side, don’t take more than the recommended dose unless you have a great reason to do so. Higher amounts may cause problems if you take the supplement for a prolonged period.
Like most other nootropics, it is best to cycle Methylene Blue and take about two days off weekly to reset your tolerance. That will allow you to keep getting the benefits in the long term.
Best time to take Methylene Blue
The best time to take Methylene Blue is about 90 minutes after you wake up.
In the early morning, a natural increase in cortisol is responsible for waking you up and getting you ready for the day. By taking any stimulant that has the potential to increase cortisol levels right after you wake up, you would interrupt this natural increase in cortisol, and your body would not be producing as much of it in the following days. That would lead to increased production of cortisol at the wrong times of the day, such as in the evening.
After the morning cortisol increase that typically lasts 90 minutes, you want to take Methylene Blue as soon as possible so that most of it leaves your system before it’s time to go to bed.
Do not take this nootropic later in the day unless you have a great reason to. It could worsen your sleep quality.
The best way to determine whether or not Methylene Blue is damaging your sleep is to listen to your body and specifically look at how easily you fall asleep and how refreshed you wake up.
Methylene Blue is water-soluble, so you don’t have to take it with food to absorb it well. Taking the supplement with food is better if it causes stomach upset when you take it on an empty stomach.
If you take this nootropic on an empty stomach, the short-term effects will kick in faster and be more pronounced.
FAQ
Should you cycle Methylene Blue?
As with most other nootropic supplements, it is best to cycle Methylene Blue and take a break from it for about two days per week to reset your tolerance back to baseline. That will keep your body sensitive to the supplement and allow you to keep getting the benefits in the long term.
Can you take Methylene Blue at night?
Taking the supplement before you go to bed is generally not recommended. The best time to take this nootropic is in the morning because it can increase your energy levels and make you more alert.
Does Methylene Blue expire?
This nootropic should not become harmful once it exceeds the expiration date. However, it can lose potency over time. Keep this supplement in a cold, dark, and dry place so it remains as potent for many months or even years.
Can you take too much Methylene Blue?
While acute toxicity is rare, taking very high amounts of this supplement could lead to various problems over time. High doses can also make you develop tolerance much faster than lower doses.
How much Methylene Blue is too much?
While you could safely take higher doses, there is usually no point in taking more than 80 mg of this nootropic daily. This amount should give you most of the benefits without meaningful side effects.
How long does Methylene Blue stay in your system?
The half-life of this nootropic in the body is about 5 hours. The supplement stays in your system for about a day after you consume it.
How long does it take for Methylene Blue to work?
Many cognitive benefits will become notable right after you start taking the nootropic. As for the long-term benefits, you need to take the supplement for about 2-4 weeks to begin noticing most of them.
Is Methylene Blue vegan?
Most Methylene Blue supplements on the market are vegan-friendly, but always check the label to make sure. If you buy the supplement in a capsulated form, beware that the capsules often contain animal-based gelatin. Instead, find a brand that puts its products into cellulose capsules.
Does Methylene Blue break a fast?
No, it does not. The supplement should not interfere with fasting in any significant way.