Methylene Blue

What it is

Methylene Blue is a medication that is used to treat certain blood conditions. It requires a prescription in India.

What it is used for

Methylene Blue is used to treat acute methaemoglobinaemia, a condition where there is too much methaemoglobin in the blood.

• Acute methaemoglobinaemia

How it works

Our sources do not cover this.

How it is sold in India

In India Methylene Blue comes as injection.

Common side effects

Most people have no side effects, but some may experience nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, chest pain, headache, dizziness, confusion, profuse sweating, hypertension or hypotension, haemolytic anaemia in G-6-PD deficiency, methaemoglobinaemia with high dosage, bluish skin discolouration, and blue saliva, urine and faeces.

Who should not take it

Our sources do not cover this.

Brand names

2 medicines sold in India contain Methylene Blue.

Brands sold in India include Sam MB, Blue Beam. Whichever name is on the strip, the medicine inside is the one described on this page.

Where this comes from

• National Formulary of India 2011 (Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) -- Methylene Blue (Methylthioninium Chloride)
• FDA drug label (US National Library of Medicine, DailyMed)
• DailyMed structured product label: OZIPCO 1% METHYLENE BLUE (METHYLENE BLUE) SOLUTION [FAST SOLD LLC]

We do not publish doses. How much to take depends on your age, weight and other conditions — ask your doctor or pharmacist.

This page is general information, not medical advice, and it is not a substitute for seeing a doctor. It carries no dosage and no prices.