Methylene blue seems to be all over the internet with some fantastic claims being made. Has anyone tried it? Does it work as advertised or just more snake oil?

Makes your piss turn blue.

Isn't that what Heisenberg was famous for?

Is that the stuff in the emergency flasks to buffer kidneys and livers, if you get heavy metal exposure in the lab?


The name has become fuzzy, but I remember being told it would turn piss blue.

It's that ink-like crap that RFK Jr seems to be seen slipping into his drinks. Sorry but I'm not drinking ink

WHen I was working in a fish store we used it to treat "Ich" so if you have little white spots all over your torso, and spend a lot of time in the water, you might want to try it.

The stuff RFK jr is getting is medical grade. The stuff you buy on the internet is aquarium cleaner!

quote:

Methylene blue

AI says:

Methylene blue is a synthetic dye with several FDA-approved medical uses, most notably for treating the blood disorder methemoglobinemia.

It is also used as a diagnostic dye in surgery and as a treatment for conditions like cyanide poisoning.

Outside of its proven clinical applications, methylene blue has been promoted for unproven off-label uses, including as a nootropic "smart drug" and an anti-aging supplement.

FDA-approved and clinical uses

Methemoglobinemia treatment: This is the only FDA-approved use for methylene blue.

Methemoglobinemia is a rare and potentially life-threatening blood disorder that prevents red blood cells from delivering oxygen effectively.

Methylene blue works by converting methemoglobin back into functional hemoglobin.

Surgical dye: Injected as a dye, methylene blue helps surgeons visualize and map body tissues during procedures.

This can include:

Highlighting lymph nodes to check for cancer spread.

Detecting leaks in the urinary tract or after gastrointestinal surgery.

Staining tissues during endoscopy to find pre-cancerous lesions.

Vasoplegic syndrome: In cases of shock where blood pressure is dangerously low, methylene blue can help cause blood vessel constriction and increase blood pressure.

Poisoning antidote: It serves as an antidote for cyanide poisoning by restoring the body's ability to use oxygen.

Ifosfamide-induced encephalopathy: Methylene blue can treat a brain disorder caused by the chemotherapy drug ifosfamide.

Promoted but unproven uses

Despite growing interest from "biohackers" and social media influencers, claims about methylene blue's benefits for anti-aging and cognitive function are not yet clinically proven.

Cognitive enhancement: Some research, primarily in animals, suggests methylene blue may improve memory by enhancing mitochondrial function in the brain. However, human studies are small and inconclusive.

Anti-aging: Based on its antioxidant properties, some theorize that it may slow aging by protecting cells from oxidative stress.

Mood improvement: Some advocates suggest it can improve mood and focus, but studies on its antidepressant effects are limited.

Safety concerns and warnings

Medical experts advise caution and stress that methylene blue should only be used under a doctor's supervision.

Serotonin syndrome: As a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor, methylene blue can cause a dangerous and potentially fatal interaction called serotonin syndrome if mixed with other serotonergic psychiatric medications, such as SSRI antidepressants.

Drug interactions: It interacts with many other prescription medications and dietary supplements. You should always inform your healthcare provider of all medications you are taking before receiving methylene blue.

Hemolytic anemia: People with a glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzyme deficiency risk developing a life-threatening form of anemia from methylene blue.

Discoloration: The medication is a strong dye and can cause urine, stool, and skin to turn a blue or blue-green color.

Contamination risk: Industrial-grade or aquarium-grade methylene blue, available online, can contain harmful impurities like heavy metals and should never be consumed.

I was thinking of Prussian Blue

Nope.

Monkey colloidal silver turns you blue.

I take it. I've taken a lot of supplements for different reasons. I can say that of all the things I've taken, 2 of them make a clear noticeable difference. Nitric Oxide Booster (such as Cardio Miracle) and Methylene Blue. Theres a big difference in my energy when I take it vs when I dont.

Dont take it if you are on a SSRI.

M_Blue is used for microscope slides. I Do use it myself for medical reasons.

Didn't Walter White make that in his camper?

No, the fantastic claims probably are mostly made by those that have a profit motive with it. Unless I am seeing it from manufacturers like Thorne, Pure Encapsulations, Now, or Life Extension I am very wary. Amazon lists a LOT of sourced Chinese crap supplements that may not even have in it what they claim and who knows whatever else. Supplewike lists evidence of claims to be "low".

https://supplewiki.com/methylene-blue/

https://www.health.harvard.edu...about-methylene-blue

"Beware unverified health claims and unregulated off-label use
As with any drug, it’s important to remember that there are no magic bullets, and any study suggesting that the newest hot product clears brain fog or fights cancer requires confirmation by other independent researchers. In fact, a 2023 paper published in the Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism reported that methylene blue (in similar doses studied by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin who claimed the compound had memory-enhancing properties) led to a ∼8% decrease in human brain blood flow."