Methylene blue
MB · Mitochondrial agent (nootropic use)
What it is
A century-old dye and antidote drug (methemoglobinemia) that biohackers adopted as a mitochondrial enhancer — at low doses it can act as an electron shuttle in the respiratory chain. Turns urine blue-green, which is the most reliably reproduced effect it has.
What human evidence shows
Legitimate medical uses are established. The cognitive story rests on small studies (one fMRI memory task paper does heavy lifting in every thread about it) and on hormetic mouse data showing low-dose benefit that INVERTS at higher doses. No solid human trials for memory, energy or longevity endpoints.
Risks
It is an MAO inhibitor — combined with SSRIs/SNRIs or other serotonergics it can cause serotonin syndrome, which is a hospital problem, not a headache. The dose-response is a U-curve, so the enthusiast logic of taking more inverts the effect. G6PD deficiency is a contraindication. Aquarium-grade product is not a human-grade product.
Stacking interactions
Documented interactions with other things people research. A compound not listed here does not mean the combination is safe — only that no specific interaction is on file.
Combining agents that raise serotonergic tone is the classic route to serotonin syndrome, a medical emergency.
Legal status
US: prescription drug for its medical indications; sold grey-market as "research" liquid. Not scheduled.
Evidence base
established literature
Large human evidence base: several phase 3 or 4 trial reports, plus multiple meta-analyses or systematic reviews.
- phase 3/4
- 8
- randomised
- 448
- reviews
- 129
- human trials
- 612
Counts are of published papers, not distinct trials, and measure how much research exists — not whether this works or is safe for you.
Research (12)
- Methylene blueAm J Ther · 2003
- Methylene-blue-associated encephalopathyJ Am Coll Surg · 2007
- [Methylene blue]Chudoku Kenkyu · 2008
- How worthwhile is methylene blue as a treatment of malaria?Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther · 2019
- Methylene Blue--a therapeutic dye for all seasons?J Chemother · 2002
- Methylene blueSurg Neurol · 1998
- "Lest we forget you--methylene blue..."Neurobiol Aging · 2011
- Repurposing methylene blue as activatable prodrugs for precise disease theranosticsChem Commun (Camb) · 2026
- Methylene Blue: An Antidote for Methemoglobinemia and BeyondPediatr Emerg Care · 2021
- Methylene blue revisedJ Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · 2006
- [Methylene blue (MB)]Chudoku Kenkyu · 2015
- Methylene blue for CPBAnesth Analg · 2007
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