Camilla Jessen
Methylene blue is trending as a brain booster, but experts warn the risks may be just as intense as the claims.
You’ve probably seen it by now: TikTok users swearing their brains have “never felt sharper” after trying methylene blue.
Once a medical dye, now dubbed the “limitless pill,” it’s being promoted as the latest miracle for focus, clarity, and drive.
But while social media is buzzing, health professionals are hitting the brakes.
From Lab Dye to Brain Hack?
Methylene blue has been around for over a century.
Originally used in staining cells for lab research, it’s also been deployed medically to treat methemoglobinemia, cyanide poisoning, and urinary tract infections, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).
Now, it’s being rebranded—by influencers, not scientists—as a nootropic, or smart drug.
Influencers Praise “Laser Focus”
TikTok user @Trevstrends, one of the most vocal advocates, claims methylene blue transformed his productivity.
“My brain just clicked,” he says in a video with hundreds of thousands of views. “I hated how it kept me awake at night, until my productivity doubled. I wanted a quick fix, now I’m accidentally disciplined.”
Biohacking figure Bryan Johnson, who’s become famous for extreme longevity experiments, has also backed the compound.
Scientists Urge Caution
Medical experts remain skeptical.
Neuroscientist Dr. Anne-Sophie Fluri told MailOnline and Newsner that methylene blue’s effects on the brain are far from understood in healthy people.
“Without solid evidence in humans, these claims are at best speculative and at worst potentially dangerous,” she said.
She warned against treating the brain like a “machine you can casually ‘optimise’ like a smartphone.”
Potential Side Effects
Using methylene blue without medical supervision carries risks.
Side effects may include confusion, agitation, seizures, shivering, sweating, and diarrhoea. A telltale sign? Blue-stained urine—and, yes, your tongue.
Even if some users report feeling sharper, experts say more research is needed before this so-called limitless pill gets a scientific stamp of approval.