Might anyone know where I could buy a small amount of methylene blue powder or pyridium tablets?

[Oiverbotel]

I know it's a rather odd question to ask. I've tried at several chemists with no success. Does anyone know where I could buy a tiny amount of methylene Blue powder? If successful with this endeavour I thought I'd push my luck a bit and ask whether anyone knew where I could get my hands on a half-dozen pyridium tablets? I'm hoping to do an experiment demonstration for a group of teenagers. Alternatively, if anyone knows of an actual food item which would yield the same results I'd certainly consider that as an alternative. Thanks! Ollie

[buildersmate]

It seems you can get it from aquarium tank material suppliers as it is used in fish-keeping.
http://www.chemistdir...ene-blue_1_18104.html

Pyridium is a prescription drug used to treat cystitis.

[Oiverbotel]

Thank you for that builders! This was interesting. I've always known Methylene Blue solely as a dye used for tracking urine flow. It turns urine a bright royal blue. The same applies to Pyridium - however I did know Pyridium was used for other purposes as well. I had a browse through the BNF regarding the blue and saw no notations but will have a browse regarding the Pyridium as well. I won't consider using it until I get a 'clear' from my medical 'boss.' Thanks for that!
Oi!

[EDDIE51]

Metylene blue is sold as a cure for tropical fish skin problems. A good aquarium centre should have it.

[jomifl]

If you are thinking of injecting or ingesting Methylene blue read the following...
Gosselin et al. have given methylene blue a toxicity rating of 4 [Gosselin, et al., 1984]. Acute exposure to methylene blue by intravenous injection has been found to cause hypertension, sweating, chest pain, confusion, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and cyanosis, as well as urine and stool discoloration [Arena, 1986; Gennaro, 1985].


Large, oral doses of methylene blue may cause fever [McEvoy, 1989]. Methylene blue has also been reported to cause quadriplegia after intrathecal injection [Driesbach, 1980]. Subcutaneous injection of methylene blue may cause necrotic abscesses [Reynolds and Prasad, 1989].


Methylene blue induces hemolytic anemia in individuals with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) enzyme deficiency. Dark-skinned races have a higher incidence of methylene blue-induced hemolytic anemia than lighter skinned races, but the disease has not been noted in North American Indians or Eskimos [Thienes and Haley, 1972].


Methylene blue is a severe eye irritant [Lenga, 1988]. High concentrations of methylene blue have been found to induce corneal and conjunctival injury [Grant, 1986].



Case Reports

[Oiverbotel]

Greetings jomifl! I'm SO glad you posted this. Thank you very much indeed! All of you who responded deserve an explanation as to what I was considering doing. When I was a kid in boarding school we had a science project where our professor gave each of us a quarter tablet of MB to take. We were instructed to measure, if any, the results. Keep in mind this was forty-odd years ago. One half of us had the MB, the other half had a quarter tablet of Pyridium. The results created quite a stir as half of us were urinating Royal Blue urine - the other half bright orange. The course was to determine whether anyone had no results and to discuss why. During the week we had done the 'smell' test with asparagus and a few other items I can no longer recall. Ultimately the outcome was to discuss how and why some people's bodies didn't react to the process. The answer being different alkali levels as best I recall. When I wrote this asking, I was still at the 'thought' stage wondering whether there were other options for consideration. It was at such early stages I didn't even think I could get MB any longer. As I understand it the MB was originally used solely as a dye. I can't even imagine anyone in their right mind injecting the stuff...but crum...you never know nowadays! Crikey! But a few hours after writing the query and the first response regarding it being used in an aquarium I did some further research and saw the toxicity potential so abandoned the idea entirely. It would be appropriate for me to state unequivocally to anyone here that experimenting with anything without medical supervision is both dangerous and foolish. Again jomifl, Thank you for your detailed response! Ollie!

[theprof]

The USA National Toxicology Program website information posted by jomifl is by and large correct regarding Methylene Blue although there are a few minor corrections to be made due to more recent research on the biochemistry of the compound in the humans.

I realise that you've abandoned your plans by now Oliverbotel but I'd like to emphasise that your professor at boarding school was a very irresponsible person. Some of the adverse effects of Methylene Blue were known in the early sixties and certainly by the early seventies and I'm afraid that your professor was continuing an experiment that had been commonplace in boarding schools many years earlier. He should have known better. In fact, I have a 1920's copy of the chemistry volume of "The Science Master's Handbook" that details this very "experiment" with MB and Pyridium.

You would not have been able to buy MB nor Pyridium legitimately. Methylene Blue currently sells for around £50 for 25 grams ( the minimum quantity ) via Sigma-Aldrich and you couldn't have purchased it as a private individual.

Personally, I'd be grateful that you came out the other end of your mad science professor's experiment without any lasting side-effects. As you've learnt, you can't inflict such madness upon the current generation.

[Oiverbotel]

Thanks theprof! Yep, we all called him the Mad Geezer. Just goes to show that just because you've attended a posh school it doesn't mean you've received an equivalent education! Thanks again. Ollie