Methylene Blue Shows Potential in Bipolar Disorder

This requires registration and a log in but is worth the trouble. Methylene blue , a dye, was originally discovered by Paul Ehrlich in the 1870's and was used to stain bacteria, and subsequently nerve cells as well as RNA and DNA . It is a phenothiazine and arguably the first ever rationally synthesised drug, and the precursor for the first neuroleptic /antipsychotic  (chlorpromazine) which is still used to this day.   Ehrlich in fact used methylene blue from 1888 to treat neuritic conditions and arthritis in humans and it was shown to be analgesic . It also worked as an antimalarial. See Drug Discovery: A history by Walter Sneader  Methylene blue has also shown promising effects in clinical trials in Alzheimer's disease. It is worth considering whether its beneficial effects are due to its bactericidal actions.

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