What is it?

Methylene Blue was discovered as a malaria treatment in 1891. Since then, it has been used to treat dementia, methemoglobinemia, UTIs and cyanide and carbon monoxide poisoning. It selectively targets diseased tissue in the body and has an affinity to concentrate in the brain. It crosses the blood brain barrier and boosts mitochondrial function.

What does it do?
Methylene Blue helps cognitive decline by boosting mitochondria energy levels in the brain and improving blood flow to the brain. At low doses, it acts as an electron donor to the mitochondria which then are able to increase ATP and NAD+ production. This helps with memory, cognition and cellular aging. It can also work as an anti-depressant as it inhibits monoamine oxidase and can increase serotonin levels. It has antioxidant properties and decreases the production of beta-amyloid and tau proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Methylene Blue has potent anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-microbial properties as well.

Who is it NOT for?

Allergies to Methylene Blue

  • Those with a genetic enzyme deficiency called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. It is essential to have your blood tested to see if you carry this enzyme deficiency. If someone was to start methylene blue without testing and the have the enzyme deficiency, the red blood cells could lyse causing bleeding issues and increased inflammation.
  • Chronic kidney disease or liver disease should proceed with caution as MB is eliminated by the kidneys, turning urine blue green.
  • Women who are pregnant or breast feeding- It is not studied in pregnant or breast feeding women.
  • Many drugs can interact with methylene blue. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you recently stopped using, especially:

alfentanil, fentanyl; buspirone; digoxin, digitalis; dihydroergotamine, ergotamine;  phenytoin;  pimozide;  quinidine; warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven); an MAO inhibitor–isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others; an “SSRI” antidepressant–citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft,  “SNRI” antidepressant–desvenlafaxine, duloxetine, levomilnacipran, milnacipran, venlafaxine, Effexor, Cymbalta, Pristiq, and others;

other antidepressants–bupropion, clomipramine, mirtazapine;

medicine to prevent organ transplant rejection–cyclosporine, sirolimus, tacrolimus.

Rare Side Effects to watch for. Call your physician or report to ER

  • confusion or weakness
  • pale or yellowed skin
  • dark colored urine; BLUE/GREEN urine is a NORMAL side effects from taking Methylene Blue
  • high levels of serotonin in the body–agitation, hallucinations, fever, fast heart rate, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, fainting.

Common side effects can include:

  • pain in your arms or legs
  • altered sense of taste
  • headache, dizziness
  • sweating, skin discoloration
  • nausea; or
  • feeling hot