• Pharmacologic Category: Antidote

• It is used to treat cyanide poisoning.
• It is used to treat methemoglobinemia.
• Methylene blue helps the body make hemoglobin. Hemoglobin carries oxygen in the body.
• It gets rid of cyanide from the body.

How to take

• Oral:
• Take after meals.
• Take with a full glass of water.
• Injection:
• It is given as a shot into a vein.

Missed Dose

• Oral:
• Take a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
• If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
• Do not take two doses or extra doses.
• Injection:
• Call your doctor to find out what to do.

Storage

• Store tablets at room temperature.
• Protect tablets from water. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.
• The shot will be given to you in a doctor's office. You will not store it at home.

Warnings

• Unsafe reactions may happen. This drug cannot be taken while you are taking some other drugs. Check all the drugs you are taking with your doctor.

Avoid

• If you have an allergy to methylene blue or any other part of this drug.
• Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs. Make sure to tell about the allergy and what signs you had. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other signs.
• If you have kidney disease.
• If you are taking any of these drugs: Citalopram, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, or sertraline. Do not use within 2 weeks of other antidepressants.
• Stop fluoxetine for at least 5 weeks before starting this drug.

Precautions

• If you have anemia, talk with your doctor.
• Be careful if you have G6PD deficiency. Anemia may happen.
• Check all drugs you are taking with your doctor. This drug may not mix well with some other drugs.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.
• Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.

Side Effects

• Headache.
• Upset stomach or throwing up. Many small meals, good mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
• Loose stools.
• Change in color of urine or stool to blue or green.

Monitoring

• Change in the health problem being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?

Contact a healthcare provider

• If you think there was an overdose, call your local poison control center or ER right away.
• Signs of a very bad reaction to the drug. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Very bad dizziness or passing out.
• Change in thinking clearly and with logic.
• Big change in balance.
• Very bad headache.
• Very upset stomach or throwing up.
• Any rash.
• Health problem is not better or you are feeling worse.

General Statements

• If you have a very bad allergy, wear an allergy ID at all times.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
• Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Most drugs can be thrown away in household trash after mixing with coffee grounds or kitty litter and sealing in a plastic bag.
• In Canada, take any unused drugs to the pharmacy. Also, visit http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/med/disposal-defaire-eng.php#th to learn about the right way to get rid of unused drugs.
• Keep a list of all your drugs (prescription, natural products, vitamins, OTC) with you. Give this list to your doctor.
• Call your doctor for help with any side effects. You may also call the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or Health Canada's Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.
• Talk with the doctor before starting any new drug, including OTC, natural products, or vitamins.

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