How to take methylene blue drops.
The short answer
In a 1% solution, 1 ml contains 10 mg of methylene blue. Measure the serving with the dropper rather than by counting drops, add it to a glass of water, drink it, and rinse. Before your first dose, check one thing: methylene blue must not be combined with serotonergic antidepressants without a doctor, because of a risk of serotonin syndrome12.
Key takeaways
First, the safety check
Methylene blue is an old and well-studied compound, and its prescription form carries a boxed warning: it can cause serotonin syndrome when combined with serotonergic drugs such as SSRIs, SNRIs and MAO inhibitors1. A systematic review found 50 previously published cases, all after methylene blue was given by injection or infusion, mostly during surgery, and reported a new case that followed an oral product2.
The same label lists it as unsuitable for people with G6PD deficiency, because of a risk of hemolytic anemia, and advises caution in pregnancy1. By the same logic as the medication warning, ask before combining it with serotonergic supplements such as 5-HTP. If any of this applies to you, talk to your doctor before your first dose.
What 1% means in milligrams
A percentage on a methylene blue bottle is weight per volume. One percent is 1 gram per 100 ml, which works out to 10 mg in every ml. A 2% solution is 20 mg per ml, and so on: multiply the percentage by 10 to get milligrams per ml.
Thriviom’s Methylene Blue 1% comes in a 60 ml bottle. One dropper is 1 ml, which is 10 mg, and the bottle holds 60 servings.
Why measure with the dropper, not drops
Drop size depends on the dropper tip, the liquid and how you hold it, so the number of drops in a milliliter is not fixed. Measuring by volume with the dropper gives you the same amount every time, which matters more with methylene blue than with most supplements, because its effects follow a hormetic curve: in research, low and moderate doses produced effects that higher doses did not, and very high doses reversed them3.
Some people start with half a dropper for the first few days and work up to the label serving. That is a sensible way to see how you respond.
How to take it, step by step
- Fill a glass with plain water.
- Draw the dropper to the 1 ml mark (or to half, if you are starting lower).
- Release it into the water. It will turn the whole glass a deep blue.
- Drink it, then rinse your mouth with plain water to clear the color from your tongue and teeth.
- Cap the bottle and keep it out of reach of children.
When to take it
There is no required time of day. Many people take it in the morning or early afternoon, around when focus tends to dip. It is not a stimulant, so there is no caffeine-style lift to time around.
What to expect
Color, first. Your tongue will be blue for a little while, and your urine may turn blue or green for some time after. The prescription label lists urine discoloration among its common effects1. It is harmless, and it fades.
Methylene blue stains fabric and grout, so measure over a sink. Most people describe the taste in water as mild, slightly bitter or metallic.
On the research side, one small randomized trial in 26 healthy adults found that a single low oral dose increased brain activity on fMRI during attention and short-term memory tasks, along with a 7% increase in correct memory responses4. It is one study, with one dose, and it is a reason for interest, not a promise.
Common questions
How many drops of methylene blue should I put in water?
Measure by volume rather than drops, because drop size varies. For a 1% solution, 1 ml is 10 mg. Thriviom’s dropper measures 1 ml, which is one serving. Follow your label.
Why is my urine blue after taking methylene blue?
Methylene blue is a dye and leaves the body partly through urine, which can turn blue or green. It is an expected, harmless effect listed on the prescription label, and it fades.
Can I take methylene blue with an antidepressant?
Not without your doctor. Methylene blue can cause serotonin syndrome with serotonergic drugs including SSRIs, SNRIs and MAO inhibitors. The prescription form carries a boxed warning about it.
Does methylene blue stain your teeth?
It can tint your tongue and teeth briefly. Drink it diluted in water and rinse afterward, and the color clears.
Where Thriviom fits
Methylene Blue 1%
Every amount printed on the label, every batch tested by an independent lab, and the report for your lot is yours to look up. Read the full ingredient guide first if you are weighing it up.
Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (label) PROVAYBLUE (methylene blue) injection, USP: Full Prescribing Information. Drugs@FDA, 2016.
- Zuschlag ZD, Warren MW, Schultz SK. Serotonin Toxicity and Urinary Analgesics: A Case Report and Systematic Literature Review of Methylene Blue-Induced Serotonin Syndrome. Psychosomatics, 2018.
- Bruchey AK, Gonzalez-Lima F. Behavioral, Physiological and Biochemical Hormetic Responses to the Autoxidizable Dye Methylene Blue. American Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 2008.
- Rodriguez P, et al. Multimodal Randomized Functional MR Imaging of the Effects of Methylene Blue in the Human Brain. Radiology, 2016.
This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting a supplement, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or take any medication. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Thriviom products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.