MB · Basic Blue 9 · Methylthioninium Chloride
FDA-approved dye repurposed for mitochondrial efficiency and neuroprotection.
FDA
Research Only
WADA
Not Listed
HALF-LIFE
~5–6 hours
ROUTE
Oral (low-dose solution or capsule)
SCHEDULE
Daily or several times per week
In Plain English
FDA-approved dye repurposed for mitochondrial efficiency and neuroprotection.
Status & Legality
NATTY?
No Test ExistsNo established test exists for this compound.
FDA
Research OnlyFor research purposes only. Not FDA approved.
WADA
Not ListedNot currently on WADA prohibited list.
COMPOUNDING
Not from pharmaciesNot available from licensed compounding pharmacies.
PRESCRIBED
Not prescribedNot prescribed in conventional medicine.
ROUTE
Oral (low-dose solution or capsule)Administration via oral (low-dose solution or capsule).
Mitochondrial electron transport
Cognitive enhancement
Neuroprotection
Anti-aging
Methylene Blue is a century-old synthetic dye and the first fully synthetic drug in Western medicine (1876). At microdoses (0.5–4 mg/kg), it acts as an alternative electron carrier in the mitochondrial electron transport chain, bypassing complexes I–III damage and improving ATP production. It also reduces oxidative stress, upregulates SOD and catalase, and has documented cognitive-enhancing effects in human trials. At higher doses it is an FDA-approved treatment for methemoglobinemia. Its blue pigmentation is notable at even low doses.
Blue/green urine and stool (expected, harmless)
Headache at higher doses
Serotonin syndrome with serotonergic drugs (serious — avoid combination)
Nausea
Restlessness
Combining with SSRIs, SNRIs, or tramadol — serotonin syndrome is a serious, life-threatening interaction; this is an absolute contraindication
Using industrial-grade methylene blue — laboratory grade contains heavy metal contaminants; pharmaceutical-grade only
Megadosing expecting better cognitive effects — benefits occur at low microdoses (0.5–4 mg/kg); the FDA-approved dose for methemoglobinemia is far higher and serves a different purpose
SSRIs and SNRIs — ABSOLUTE CONTRAINDICATION; serotonin syndrome risk is serious and potentially fatal
MAOIs — serious serotonin syndrome risk; avoid
Tramadol, meperidine, fentanyl — serotonergic opioids carry significant interaction risk; avoid
Methylene Blue's MAOI properties and serotonin syndrome risk make it the compound in this index with the most serious contraindication. If you take any serotonergic medication — SSRIs, SNRIs, tramadol — this is completely off the table. For those without contraindications, 0.5–1 mg/kg pharmaceutical-grade 3–5×/week is a legitimate and unique mitochondrial enhancer.
Stats
Sources & Studies
Talley Watts L. et al., Neurophotonics, 2014