Contra-Indications:
Renal insufficiency, patients allergic to methylene blue, intraspinal injection
Special precautions:
Photosensitization- may occur. Take protective measures.
G6PD deficiency - methylene Blue may induce hemolysis ingluscose-6-phosphate dehydrgenase (G6-PD) deficient patients.
Anemia- continued administration may cause a markedanemia due to accelrated destruction of erythrocytes. Therefore perform hemoglobin checks.
Cyanosis and cardiovascular abnormalities - have acompanied treatment in humans.
Additional methemoglobin- inject slowly IV slowly over a period of several minutes to prevent local high concentrations of the compound from producing additional methemoglobin.
Patient Information:
Ref - USP PDI Vol II 17th Edition (1997)
1.Allergies-
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to
methylene blue. Also tell your healthcare care professional if you are allergic
to any other substances such as foods. preservatives or dyes.
2.Pregnancy-
Studies have not been done in humans or animals.
3. Breast-feeding-
It is not known whether methylene blue passes into breast milk.
Mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast feed should discuss
this with their doctor.
4.Children-
Babies are especially sensitive to the effects of methylene blue. This may
increase the chance of side effects during treatment.
5.Older adults-
Although there is no specific information comparing use of methylene blue
in the elderly with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to
cause different side efects or problems in older people than in younger
adults.
6. Other medicines-
Tell your doctor if you are using any other OTC or prescribtion
medicine
7. Other medical problems-
Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems
especially-
Glucose -6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6-PD) deficiency-
Methylene blue may cause anemia to become worse.
Kidney disease- in patients with kidney disease methylene blue
may accumulate in the body, smaller doses of this medicine may
be needed
Methemoglobinemia to treat cyanide toxicity- methylene blue may
make cyanide toxicity worse by releasing the amount of cyanide
in the blood