Summary
Chris Masterjohn provides a deep dive into methylene blue, examining both its potential benefits and risks as a biohacking tool. He covers its effects on mitochondrial function, cognitive performance, and its history as a pharmaceutical compound, while warning about potential dangers of improper use.
Key Points
- Methylene blue acts as an alternative electron carrier in mitochondria
- It may enhance cognitive function and memory at low doses
- Dose-response is critical: benefits at low doses, toxicity at high doses
- Drug interactions can be dangerous, especially with serotonergic medications
- Quality and purity of supplements vary significantly
Key Moments
Methylene blue is not a general health tonic: if you don't need it, it hurts you
Chris Masterjohn explains that methylene blue produces hydrogen peroxide and can rewire the mitochondrial respiratory chain to bypass specific toxic or genetic impairments. However, it is a strong monoamine oxidase A inhibitor, meaning feeling better on it is an unreliable guide to whether your energy metabolism is actually improving. There is evidence that if you need it, it helps, but if you don't, it hurts. It is not a general mitochondrial support supplement.
"it is not a general health tonic and it does not provide general support to the mitochondria. In fact, there is evidence that if you need it, it helps you, but if you don't, it hurts you."
From textile dye to first synthetic drug: the strange origin story of methylene blue
Methylene blue was synthesized in 1876 as a textile dye derived from petroleum. Paul Ehrlich noticed it selectively stained malaria parasites blue, hypothesized it could be a magic bullet, and in 1891 successfully treated two malaria patients. This made methylene blue the first synthetic drug ever administered to humans and launched the era of modern pharmacology.
"methylene blue passed from being the first synthetic dye with a German patent to being the first synthetic drug ever administered to humans."
At 100mg per day, methylene blue is a psychiatric drug with addiction potential
Methylene blue is a monoamine oxidase A inhibitor, which means at doses around 100 milligrams per day, it functions as a psychiatric drug with risk of serotonin toxicity, hypertension, and dependence. Contraindications include G6PD deficiency and concurrent SSRI use. Human trials at 69-250 mg/day for 6-15 months show 20-40% dropout rates, with diarrhea and altered urination as the most common side effects.
"If you're on 100 milligrams of methylene blue a day, you are on a psychiatric drug, and there is some possibility that you'll be addicted to, that you could become tolerant, dependent, and/or addicted to the antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects of that."
