Comparison
AOD-9604 vs Methylene Blue
Side-by-side of AOD-9604 and Methylene Blue. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
AOD-9604
AOD 9604 peptide: 16-amino-acid hGH fragment 176-191. Preclinical lipolytic activity, phase 2 obesity trial showed no weight loss vs placebo.
Methylene Blue
Methylene blue as a nootropic: low-dose cognitive enhancement, mitochondrial electron cycling, brain oxygen uptake, SSRI interaction risk, typical 0.5 to 4 mg.
Effects at a glance
AOD-9604
- •Modified 16-amino-acid synthetic fragment of human growth hormone (residues 176-191)
- •Preclinical models show lipolytic activity in adipose tissue without GH-axis growth effects
- •Phase 2 obesity trial (Heffernan 2001) showed no significant weight-loss difference versus placebo
- •Anecdotal protocols use 250 to 500 mcg subcutaneously daily on an empty stomach
- •No FDA approval; the obesity drug development program was discontinued in 2007
- •Granted GRAS status in some jurisdictions for compounded use; not validated for fat loss in humans
Methylene Blue
- •FDA approved for methemoglobinemia and ifosfamide-induced encephalopathy
- •Mitochondrial electron-transport support at low doses (0.5 to 4 mg/kg) via cytochrome c shuttle
- •Potent MAO-A inhibitor; serotonin syndrome risk with SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs, fentanyl, tramadol, St John's wort
- •Causes harmless blue-green urine and sweat coloration; useful adherence marker
- •G6PD deficiency is an absolute contraindication; can trigger massive hemolysis
- •Cognitive-enhancement evidence is preliminary, mostly preclinical and small fMRI trials
Side-by-side
| Attribute | AOD-9604 | Methylene Blue |
|---|---|---|
| Category | peptide | pharmaceutical |
| Also known as | hGH fragment 176-191, Human Growth Hormone Fragment 176-191 | Methylthioninium chloride, Provayblue, tetramethylthionine chloride |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 0.5 | 5.5 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 0.3 | 70 |
| Dosing frequency | daily | 1 to 3 times daily for cognitive use; single IV dose for methemoglobinemia |
| Routes | subcutaneous | oral, intravenous |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 1 |
| Peak (hr) | 2 | 1.5 |
| Molecular weight | 1815.17 | 319.85 |
| Molecular formula | C78H125N23O23S2 | C16H18ClN3S |
| Mechanism | Modified C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone proposed to stimulate beta-3 adrenergic receptor signaling in adipocytes, increasing lipolysis and fatty-acid oxidation without engaging the GH receptor or activating IGF-1. | Mitochondrial electron carrier at low doses (cytochrome c shuttle to complex IV) and methemoglobin reductase substrate at higher doses; potent MAO-A inhibitor across the dose range. |
| Legal status | Not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market in most jurisdictions | Prescription (injectable, FDA approved); supplement form (oral) widely available; not scheduled |
| WADA status | unknown | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status | Not scheduled in the US |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data; not recommended | Contraindicated |
| CAS | 221231-10-3 | 61-73-4 |
| PubChem CID | 71300630 | 6099 |
| Wikidata | Q4654106 | Q409021 |
Safety profile
AOD-9604
Common side effects
- injection-site reactions
- transient mild headache (anecdotal)
- minimal in clinical trials
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- lactation
- no established human safety profile for chronic use
Interactions
- beta-blockers: theoretical antagonism of beta-3 adrenergic lipolytic signaling(minor)
Methylene Blue
Common side effects
- blue-green urine and sweat
- skin and oral mucosa staining
- GI upset
- headache
- dizziness
Contraindications
- G6PD deficiency
- pregnancy
- concurrent serotonergic medication
- severe renal impairment
- infants under 6 months
Interactions
- SSRIs and SNRIs: serotonin syndrome, potentially fatal(major)
- MAOIs: additive MAO inhibition, serotonin syndrome risk(major)
- fentanyl, tramadol, meperidine: serotonin syndrome risk(major)
- dextromethorphan: serotonin syndrome risk(major)
- St John's wort: serotonin syndrome risk(major)
- lithium: additive serotonergic risk(major)
Which Should You Take?
Methylene Blue comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, controlled substance, oral dosing, with a Tier-A outcome catalogued. AOD-9604 is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is fat loss, pick AOD-9604.
- → If your priority is body composition, pick AOD-9604.
- → If your priority is focus or working memory, pick Methylene Blue.
- → If your priority is mitochondrial function, pick Methylene Blue.
Edge case: If you cannot self-administer injections, Methylene Blue is the only oral option in this pair.
Default choice: Methylene Blue. Wider use case, a Tier-A evidence outcome catalogued, and broader goal coverage. Reach for AOD-9604 only if your priority sits squarely in the goals it owns above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between AOD-9604 and Methylene Blue?
AOD-9604 and Methylene Blue differ in category (peptide vs pharmaceutical), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, AOD-9604 or Methylene Blue?
AOD-9604 half-life is 0.5 hours; Methylene Blue half-life is 5.5 hours.
Can you stack AOD-9604 with Methylene Blue?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper