Methylene Blue Nootropic Supplement Benefits & Side Effects

Methylene blue (methylthioninium chloride) is a synthetic chemical with a number of different uses, that has been researched for its effects as a nootropic. It demonstrates neuroprotective effects and has been used for the prevention and treatment of ifosfamide neurotoxicity.

Methylene blue was first prepared by a German chemist in 1876 and was soon after used as a treatment for malaria. It was described as, “the first fully synthetic drug used in medicine.”

It is on the WHO’s list of essential medications and is also used as an aquarium treatment to prevent fungal infections in fish. Today, it continues to be researched for its mood enhancing effects as well as for the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer’s dementia.

A small number of people who are interested in nootropics buy methylene blue for its effects as a cognitive enhancer. However, Methylene blue has not been approved as a dietary supplement in the United States and can only be purchased for research or purposes other than human consumption.

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Common Uses of Methylene Blue as a Nootropic

Methylene blue effects are purported to include improvements to concentration and mood. Individuals who post methylene blue reviews online state that taking it daily can have an antidepressant effect.

It has been shown to acts as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Many MAOI drugs are used for the treatment of depression, by preventing the breakdown of the neurotransmitters serotonin, epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine and melatonin.

Other individuals report that, while using methylene blue, they feel an increased level of energy and reduced levels of fatigue within one hour of taking the methylene blue supplement. The effect lasts for two to four ours.

There has been limited clinical research into the nootropic effects of this compound for mental performance enhancement. Most of its nootropic benefits are based on anecdotal evidence.

A paper published in November of 2011 was the first in vivo review of methylene blue’s effects. The researchers found that methylene blue enhanced cell respiration and had memory enhancing effects.

Low doses of methylene blue have been used in clinical settings for neuroprotective effects in people who have mitochondrial dysfunction.

Researchers have also investigated the effects of this drug on the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. It has been proposed as a novel agent for inhibiting the aggregation of tau protein in the brain – an important marker for Alzheimer’s.

Formulations of methylthioninium chloride under the trade names Rember and LMTX continue to be researched for this purpose. However, it has not been approved by the FDA for the prevention or treatment of Alzheimer’s to date.

How Does Methylene Blue Work?

Methylene Blue works on the mitochondria, the organelles in all of our cells that are responsible for producing energy.

Energy in cells is stored as adenosine triphosphate, a group of three linked phosphates. When one of these phosphates are removed, the result is the release of energy.

Methylene blue acts as an extra electron carrier and makes cell respiration more efficient. It also enhances the effects of a free radical scavenger in the cells, which is believed to prevent oxidative damage that is caused by free radicals.

This can have a particularly profound effect in the brain where Methylene blue has been shown to increase the expression of NMDA and AMPA receptors, both of which are involved in memory encoding and recall.

Using this drug may promote stronger connections between synapses in the brain, which can result in improved learning and memory retention. However, more clinical research studies are needed to validate these finding in humans. .

The dose curve response of methylene blue is hormetic, which means that lower doses provide the most desirable response while large doses will provide the opposite response. Larger doses can also cause a serious risk of side effects, such as serotonin syndrome.

Most people who take methylene blue recommend taking it in the morning. Some use it in conjunction with other nootropics. One reviewer suggested that taking it along with CoQ10 and creatine will create a synergistic effect where each substance enhances the actions of the others.

How to Take Methylene Blue

Because there is little formal research on methylene blue as a nootropic, there is no established dose. Dosages mentioned below are based on anecdotal reports of what users have taken in the past.

Most people take methylene blue doses that are extremely small to prevent potential negative effects. However, there is always a risk of unwanted side effects, especially when using a compound with so little available human research.

One source recommends 20 to 40 micrograms, which is 10 to 20 drops of a 2.3% methylene blue solution. For people who are new to the use of methylene blue, the author recommends beginning with 5 drops and gradually increasing by five drops each time the solution is taken until the desired effects are achieved.

The effects of methylene blue depend on the dose, and large doses will perform in the opposite way as smaller doses. However, methylene blue is still safe in larger doses.

Nootropic researchers publishing online recommend taking a single drop in order to get the best nootropic effect.

It is important to note that since this chemical cannot be sold for human consumption, the product you are buying will most likely not list a recommended dosage to take.

Methylene Blue Side Effects

Methylene Blue is an MAOI and could cause serious side effects if used with other drugs that act as MAOIs or that affect levels of catecholamine neurotransmitters.

Using this compound with drugs that affect serotonin levels could result in serotonin toxicity, which can be fatal in extreme cases. Serotonin Syndrome has been noted when infusing very high doses of 5 mg/kg, which is many times greater than the typical dosage used.

However, combining Methylene Blue with SSRI drugs or serotonin receptor agonists could increase your risk at low doses.

Because of its antimicrobial effects, some individuals have expressed concern about the effects of high doses on gut flora. However, no formal research has been done on this topic.

In doses over .08 mg, methylene blue will stain the urine blue. If it touches the inner surfaces of the mouth during dosing, it can leave behind a blue coloration. Other reported side effects include:

• hypertension
• dizziness
• mental confusion
• headache
• fever
• nausea
• vomiting
• abdominal pain
• anemia in individuals who are carriers of the G6PD enzymatic deficiency

Because methylene blue exhibits some serotonergic activity, there may be some risks to taking it with other serotonergic agents, such as common antidepressants, St. John’s Wort, tramadol and others. There is no formal research, however, into these effects.

Some instances of neurotoxicity have been observed in preparations of methylene blue that may contain chemical impurities. These presence of heavy metals in some preparations have been detected.

Where to Buy Methylene Blue

Methylene Blue is most often available in the form of liquid drops in a blue glass bottle, in concentrations ranging from 1% to 2.3%. It can also sometimes be found in a powder form.

It is available from a number of nootropic retailers online. It can also be purchased in some aquarium stores and from scientific supply retailers.

In all cases, it will be marketed as “For Research Only” or “Not For Human Consumption.” There is an inherent risk when buying products to use as supplements that are not clearly labelled for this purpose. Consult with a doctor before taking Methylene Blue as a nootropic.

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