Methylene Blue

Lyophilized powder

Methylene blue is a synthetic dye and one of the oldest drugs in medicine; in cells it can act as an alternative electron carrier in mitochondria. Prescription methylene blue is FDA-approved for methemoglobinemia; the research-grade products listed here are a different, unapproved product, and it is not a peptide. Below: today's vial sizes, prices through our link and the vendor's COA details.

Size

$1.53/mg · Sold out at last check

Price

$15.29

List

$16.99

Buy 10 mg at Swiss Chems

Sold out at every vendor we list at last check. Compare methylene blue vendors

Price shown uses code THEPEPTIDECATALOG at Swiss Chems's checkout (10% off list).

Sold by Swiss Chems. The Peptide Catalog does not sell peptides; we earn a commission if you buy through this link, at no extra cost to you. For laboratory research use only, not for human or veterinary use. Not FDA-approved. Nothing on this page is medical or dosing advice.

Methylene Blue research vial
Methylene BlueSwiss Chems
Research use only
Certificate of AnalysisCertificates from Swiss ChemsView
  • Listed on our methylene blue vendor comparison, ordered by our vendor rankings
  • Lyophilized powder · laboratory research use only
Research-context information only. Methylene blue is the active ingredient in FDA-approved products for methemoglobinemia; research-chemical and compounded forms are not FDA-approved and are sold for research purposes only. Protocols, doses, and reactions reported below come from clinical trials and community sources. This article reports what has been documented, not what should be done. Consult a licensed physician for personal medical decisions.

Vial sizes listed by the vendor

Methylene Blue Vial Sizes & Prices

Methylene Blue vial sizes, prices and lots at Swiss Chems
SizeListWith our codePer mgAvailability
10 mg$16.99$15.29$1.53Sold out

Prices checked today, 5:05 AM CT on Swiss Chems's site, with code THEPEPTIDECATALOG applied. The lot certificate is on Swiss Chems's product page. Sizes not re-checked in the last 7 days are hidden. The vendor's checkout is final.

Test results

Methylene Blue Certificate of Analysis

Swiss Chems publishes certificates on its own site. Match the lot number on the vial to its certificate.

View the Methylene Blue certificate on Swiss Chems's product page.

How to check one: how to verify a peptide COA.

Methylene Blue Dosing in Clinical Research

Mitochondrial / Cognition (Low-Dose; Serious Drug Interactions)

Educational reference only. Individual responses vary. Consult healthcare provider before use.

Vial Size
1% solution (10 mg/mL) or 10 mg/mL liquid
Reconstitution
Sold as a ready liquid solution — measured by volume, not reconstituted
Dose
LOW — pharma is ~1-2 mg/kg; community nootropic use is far lower (~5-15 mg)
Timing
AM (can be activating)
Frequency
Often intermittent / not daily; hormetic — more is not better
Duration
No established enhancement protocol; medical uses are acute
Protocol Notes
Synthetic phenothiazine dye (methylthioninium chloride). Dose-response is HORMETIC/U-shaped — low doses are antioxidant and act as an alternative mitochondrial electron carrier, while higher doses turn pro-oxidant and cause methemoglobinemia. SAFETY: methylene blue is a potent MAO-A inhibitor, so it carries a serious serotonin-syndrome risk with SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs, and other serotonergic drugs (FDA-warned); contraindicated in G6PD deficiency; avoid in pregnancy. Use pharmaceutical/USP grade only, never aquarium grade. Causes harmless blue-green urine. Sold for research purposes only.

Why This Dosing Protocol

Why so low? The benefit window is narrow and hormetic — pharma doses are ~1-2 mg/kg, while community nootropic use is far lower (~5-15 mg). Higher doses lose the antioxidant effect and become toxic.

Why grade matters: aquarium/industrial methylene blue contains heavy-metal contaminants; only USP/pharmaceutical-grade is appropriate for research use.
Full Dosing GuideReconstitution Calculator

How Methylene Blue Works

Phenothiazine Redox Dye — Mitochondrial / Cognitive (FDA-Approved Medical Uses; Hormetic, Serious Drug Interactions)

Target → BDNF Stimulation → Cognitive Enhancement → Outcomes

1
Target

Mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain (Complex IV) + MAO-A

At low concentrations Methylene Blue (methylthioninium chloride) acts as an alternative electron carrier in the mitochondrial electron transport chain, shuttling electrons to cytochrome c oxidase (complex IV) and bypassing complex I/III bottlenecks. It is also a potent reversible MAO-A inhibitor and a nitric-oxide-synthase inhibitor — the basis of both its effects and its drug interactions.

2
Cellular Signal

Redox Cycling — Hormetic (U-Shaped) Dose Response

Methylene Blue cycles between its oxidized (MB) and reduced (leucomethylene blue) forms, acting as a redox buffer. The key feature is that the dose-response is hormetic: low doses are antioxidant and energy-supportive, while higher doses flip to pro-oxidant and induce methemoglobinemia. More is not better.

3
Systemic Effect

Cellular Energy, Cognition, and Methemoglobin Reversal

Clinically it reverses methemoglobinemia (its FDA-approved use). In research, low doses are studied for cellular energy and cognition — a human fMRI study reported increased memory-task response (Rodriguez 2016). The Alzheimer's-targeted derivative LMTX, however, largely failed its Phase 3 trials.

4
What You Notice

Low-Dose Acute Effects + Blue Urine

Reported effects are acute and low-dose; there is no validated multi-week enhancement timeline. Harmless blue-green urine appears quickly. Because of MAO-A inhibition, combining it with serotonergic drugs (SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs) risks serotonin syndrome — the central safety concern.

What Makes This Peptide Different

Methylene Blue is unusual here: it is a real, FDA-approved drug with a 130-year medical history, not a speculative research peptide. Its appeal is the mitochondrial electron-carrier mechanism, but it carries genuine pharmacology — MAO-A inhibition (serotonin syndrome risk), a hormetic dose curve, G6PD-deficiency contraindication, and methemoglobinemia at higher doses. Pharmaceutical/USP grade is essential.

Technical specifications

Methylene Blue chemical & analytical data

Form
Solution in a sealed vial
Presentation
10 mg
Regulatory status
Active ingredient in FDA-approved prescription products; research-grade vials are not FDA-approved.

Methylene Blue Reconstitution Calculator

Dilution math and unit conversions. Prefilled using a common vial size for this peptide.

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Storage & Handling

Storage at a glance

Proper storage temperatures, shelf life, reconstitution best practices, and travel tips for lyophilized and reconstituted peptides.

Powder: Freezer
1+ year at -20°C
Reconstituted: Fridge
4 weeks max at 2-8°C
View Complete Storage Guide

Handling specifics

Educational overview on storage, labeling, and traceability considerations for lab environments. Consult primary literature and vendor documentation for specifics.

Powder storage (very stable)
  • Freezer (-20°C): 1+ year
  • Refrigerator (2-8°C): 1-3 months
  • Room temperature: 2-3 weeks (emergency only)
Reconstituted storage (fragile)
  • MUST refrigerate at 2-8°C
  • 4-week maximum shelf life
  • NEVER freeze after reconstitution
  • Use bacteriostatic water for multi-dose

7 answers

Methylene Blue FAQ: Buying, COA, Storage & Research

What is Methylene Blue?
Methylene Blue (methylthioninium chloride) is a synthetic phenothiazine dye and the first fully synthetic drug used in medicine. At low doses it acts as an alternative electron carrier in the mitochondrial electron transport chain, donating electrons to complex IV. It is FDA-approved for methemoglobinemia and is studied for cognition and cellular energy.
Is Methylene Blue safe to take with antidepressants?
No — this is the most important safety point. Methylene Blue is a potent MAO-A inhibitor, so combining it with SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs, or other serotonergic drugs can cause serotonin syndrome, a potentially dangerous reaction the FDA has warned about. It is also contraindicated in G6PD deficiency and should be avoided in pregnancy.
How much Methylene Blue do people use?
Low doses. The dose-response is hormetic (U-shaped) — low doses are antioxidant and mitochondrial-supportive, while higher doses turn pro-oxidant and can cause methemoglobinemia. Medical dosing is ~1-2 mg/kg; community nootropic use is much lower (often ~5-15 mg). More is not better. Pharmaceutical/USP grade is essential — aquarium-grade carries contaminants.
Why does Methylene Blue turn urine blue-green?
Because it is a dye that is renally excreted. Blue or blue-green urine (and sometimes stool) is a harmless, expected effect, not a sign of a problem. It can also temporarily tint the skin or mucous membranes.
How long does reconstituted peptide last?
Once mixed with bacteriostatic water, peptides remain stable for up to 4 weeks when refrigerated at 2-8°C (36-46°F). Unopened powder can last 1+ year in the freezer. Get our complete Storage & Travel Guide.
Is this peptide legal to purchase?
Peptides sold "for research purposes only" are legal to purchase in the US, but are not FDA-approved for human use outside of specific medical applications. Always consult a healthcare provider before use.
New to peptides?
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Methylene Blue Research Articles

dosing

Methylene Blue Dosage Chart: Low-Dose Ranges

More is not better with methylene blue — the dose-response is U-shaped. The low-dose ranges from clinical and community sources, and the MAO-A warning.

side-effects

Methylene Blue Side Effects: The Real Risks

The serotonin-syndrome interaction is the one that can be dangerous — plus G6PD, the high-dose reversal, and the harmless blue urine that scares people.

results

Methylene Blue Results Timeline: What to Expect

The human memory study measured effects within hours of a single dose. What the data say about acute vs longer-term methylene blue use, week by week.

buying-guide

Buy Methylene Blue: Price, COA & Cost Per Week

Only 1 vetted Methylene Blue source right now: $16.99 a vial, $1.70/mg. Codes save up to 10%. COA status and real cost per week.

Compare Methylene Blue Vendors Before You Buy

Disclosure: we may earn affiliate commission from qualifying purchases. Educational information only — not medical advice.