Methylene Blue: From a fabric dye to biohacking tool, but doctors warn of fatal risks

Methylene blue, a synthetic dye now touted by influencers for its alleged cognitive and anti-ageing benefits, is being consumed despite lacking clinical proof. Doctors warn it can cause fatal serotonin syndrome when combined with common medications like antidepressants or sleep aids

Hyderabad: Methylene blue, a synthetic dye developed in 1876 and originally used to color fabrics, has recently gained significant attention. It has become a hot topic among health and wellness influencers and ‘biohackers’ on social media.

Over the past few months, celebrities in India have also begun talking about methylene blue online. However, qualified physicians have cautioned the public against using this synthetic dye without proper medical guidance.

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While it is true that methylene blue is a dye, scientists have also discovered its therapeutic properties, including its ability to repair hemoglobin in the blood, enabling it to carry oxygen more efficiently.

The FDA, the apex US drug regulatory body, has approved intravenous methylene blue for treating acquired methemoglobinemia—a blood disorder in which red blood cells fail to deliver oxygen to the body’s tissues, in both pediatric and adult patients.

In recent years, scientists have explored several medical applications for methylene blue. It is commonly used as a diagnostic agent in cancer surgeries, biopsies, and for detecting urinary leaks and fistulas. However, these uses are considered ‘off-label’ and are not supported by large-scale studies or specific FDA approvals.

Apart from these medical applications, over the last six months, health influencers have started adding small amounts of highly diluted methylene blue to their drinking water, believing it provides a range of health benefits.

Though there are no definitive large-scale clinical trials to support these claims, anecdotal evidence suggests that methylene blue may enhance brain function. Proponents claim it improves memory and focus, reduces brain fog, protects brain cells from damage, increases energy, and slows ageing.

A word of caution

Doctors familiar with the topic have urged caution and warned against using methylene blue as a supplement. “When used alongside other drugs meant to treat depression, anxiety, digestion, or sleep disorders, methylene blue can trigger a dangerous and potentially fatal condition called serotonin syndrome,” doctors caution.

“If individuals already taking serotonin-affecting medications also consume methylene blue, it can cause excessive serotonin accumulation in the brain, which may be fatal,” they warned.