I started taking MB 6 days ago. I made a solution of 60mcg/drop, measuring the water with an oral syringe and the Kordon liquid with a milligram scale. Given the inaccuracy of the oral syringe and drop size, I'm assuming a possible deviation of anything up to 50% from the intended dose.
I've been interested in this chemical for at least a year, but have been on tramadol (SNRI and downstream SSRI) for about 3 years, and did not think it was safe to take until the recent discussions about MAOI and dosage. I was mostly interested in its long-term effects on neurological health; in other words, I was expecting no subjective effects at this dose.
I have to say that I've been pleasantly surprised by my experience so far. I've noticed a definite, unmistakable effect every time I've taken it. In magnitude, I'd say it's about on par with piracetam; some elements of my reactions to stimuli and texture of base consciousness are definitely altered, though in a way that's difficult to "point to," like you can with stronger substances like alcohol. Though it might be easier to distinguish for me than piracetam, because it acts upon processes which are more fundamental than complex cognitive tasks. But it does feel very natural.
The primary effect I experience is anxiolysis. I have always been a very calm and deliberate person, not typically "anxious" as a significant personality trait. But I do tend to experience a kind of low-level anxiety in a lot of situations, much of which is tied up with learned associations with attentional difficulties and my chronic pain condition of the past 5 years or so. MB has alleviated this in a fairly significant way. I find it much easier to do things I would typically avoid because I perceive them as unpleasant (though it's certainly not "motivating" in the same way as stronger dopaminergics). I usually "tense up" subtly when talking with people I'm not close and comfortable with, which leads to avoidance behavior; this has also been attenuated. Reading about stressful subjects like politics usually puts me in a more lastingly anxious state of mind, but I've found this much easier as well. This week I've found myself less reactionary toward stressful conversations and events; not that those reactions disappear, but don't affect me as fully and involuntarily. I guess I'd say that the effect is fairly subtle, yet remarkable; it doesn't feel anything like the stronger anxiolytics I've tried, but retains a high degree of their therapeutic effect with barely any of the subjective downsides. Very "targeted."
Interestingly, I've recalled one of Devin's comments about increased frankness a few times this week. I've been much more likely to comment when someone is talking to me in a way I don't like. I'm certainly not more irritable, but it just seems to make less sense to put up with someone acting insensitively, when I usually have a high threshold for it. Like I see more clearly the causes and impact of an exchange, and can say something about it in a fairly dispassionate way. I'm not sure if this is a good thing, or not, but it's certainly interesting.
Another effect I notice (which is probably closely linked, perhaps bidirectionally, with my anxiety reduction) is a subtle shift in attention. My mind is usually both racing, and wandering. Without some kind of assistance, I have a tremendously difficult time keeping on a single task, or train of thought, for any length of time. MB has a definite "narrowing" effect in this regard—which sounds potentially negative, but which I mean in a positive way. My mind feels calmer, and I'm able to concentrate on one thing better than usual. This effect is more subtle than the anxiolysis, and because my attention is a bigger problem, is not as great a solution. I guess I notice this most when just sitting and not doing much in particular, and I find myself less likely to be ruminating over irrelevancies. When trying hard to concentrate on something, I still find my mind wandering away. One of the hardest things for me to do is listen to audiobooks in the car; I can probably only catch and retain half or a quarter of what's being said (incredibly frustrating). I hear more and retain better what I do, though my mind is still prone to tangents.
I've noticed little effect on cognitive tasks, beyond the slight improvement in attention I just described. I find that it combines quite well with my usual 1.6g piracetam + 1.5g ALCAR. Piracetam usually helps me a lot when I want to sit and read or write something, but can tend to exacerbate the 'racing' aspect of my thinking. MB seems to be a very pleasing counterpoint, where I retain the enhanced verbal attention and fluidity of piracetam, but with the faster thinking reigned in a bit. All in all, I feel like it has a fairly neutral impact on most of my cognitive faculties, which is fine with me. I also tried it once with huperzine A, and had a very good day.
I've experimented with up to two drops (~120mcg). I find the higher dose to be more anxiolytic, but perhaps a little too calming. I've worked up to dosing twice a day, but I think that 2x 2 drops left me sleepy at the end of the day (and earlier than usual). The higher dose may have caused some increased sweating and transient headaches, as well. I think MAOI effects are unlikely at this dose, though I'm keeping the possibility in mind. Most negative effects have occurred toward the very end of the day, which seems inconsistent with the pharmacodynamics of transient MAO inhibition.. Right now I think that 1 drop twice daily (perhaps 6 hours apart) is working the best, though I might go back to one dose earlier in the day, as well.
A confounding factor is that I also started on neurontin earlier this month, and have been titrating my dosage upward. This has had several effects on my sleep, and may have also caused sweating on a day I didn't take MB. However, the MB effects I described above occur very predictably right after I take my dose, in a way consistent with normal drug onset. On days I have not taken MB this week, and in the mornings, the effects are very obviously absent. And though somewhat subtle, I'm quite confident at this point that there's no chance I'm describing a placebo effect.
All in all, I'm very impressed with methylene blue. I was expecting none of this, and thought the people reporting effects at 60mcg were either exaggerating, or experiencing the kind of thing some people report from ALA (i.e. either uncommon, or placebo). The effects are subtle yet significant, and fairly unique in their selectivity and combination. Though before anyone gets too excited by my report, this may well be unique to my neurochemistry and personality. This is something I'll probably be taking every day, which I haven't been able to say about a nootropic since I started piracetam. I'm very curious to see how it plays out going forward, and really hope the effects are maintained.
This turned out to be fairly long, because I like to report on trends, rather than posting my daily impressions
I'll report back when I've used it over a longer stretch, or something significant changes.
Edited by chrono, 12 November 2011 - 10:13 AM.
