Comparison
DHEA vs Methylene Blue
Side-by-side of DHEA 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.
DHEA
DHEA supplement profile: adrenal androgen precursor, typical 25-50 mg dose, DHEA-S targets, evidence for adrenal insufficiency and vaginal atrophy, side effec.
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
DHEA
- •Adrenal androgen precursor; serum DHEA-S declines progressively after the third decade of life
- •OTC dietary supplement in US under DSHEA 1994; prescription in EU, UK, Canada, Australia
- •FDA approved as Intrarosa (6.5 mg vaginal insert) for postmenopausal dyspareunia in 2016
- •Acts as tissue-specific prohormone converted intracrinologically to testosterone and estrogens
- •Best evidence: adrenal insufficiency replacement and vaginal atrophy; weaker on cognition and longevity
- •WADA banned in competitive sport; banned in NCAA, MLB, NFL, IOC settings
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 | DHEA | Methylene Blue |
|---|---|---|
| Category | hormone | pharmaceutical |
| Also known as | dehydroepiandrosterone, prasterone, Intrarosa | Methylthioninium chloride, Provayblue, tetramethylthionine chloride |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 12 | 5.5 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 25 | 70 |
| Dosing frequency | daily, typically morning | 1 to 3 times daily for cognitive use; single IV dose for methemoglobinemia |
| Routes | oral, vaginal, topical | oral, intravenous |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 1 |
| Peak (hr) | 1 | 1.5 |
| Molecular weight | 288.42 | 319.85 |
| Molecular formula | C19H28O2 | C16H18ClN3S |
| Mechanism | Steroid prohormone converted intracrinologically to testosterone and estrogens in target tissues; also exerts direct effects via sigma-1 receptor, GABA-A modulation, and glucocorticoid receptor interaction. | 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 | OTC supplement in US (DSHEA 1994); prescription in EU, UK, Canada, Australia | Prescription (injectable, FDA approved); supplement form (oral) widely available; not scheduled |
| WADA status | banned | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | OTC supplement in US (not scheduled); Rx in EU, UK, Canada, Australia | Not scheduled in the US |
| Pregnancy | Contraindicated in pregnancy | Contraindicated |
| CAS | 53-43-0 | 61-73-4 |
| PubChem CID | 5881 | 6099 |
| Wikidata | Q411733 | Q409021 |
Safety profile
DHEA
Common side effects
- acne
- oily skin
- hirsutism (women)
- gynecomastia (men, higher doses)
- irritability
- insomnia
Contraindications
- hormone-sensitive cancer (breast, ovarian, prostate)
- active liver disease
- uncontrolled lipid disorder
- pregnancy and lactation
Interactions
- warfarin: case reports of altered INR; monitor(moderate)
- estrogens (HRT): additive estrogenic effect via conversion; monitor(moderate)
- insulin: may improve insulin sensitivity slightly; monitor glucose(minor)
- anastrozole: may reduce DHEA-derived estrogen; clinical relevance unclear(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?
DHEA comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 2 catalogued goals, OTC dietary supplement, oral dosing, with a Tier-A outcome catalogued. Methylene Blue is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is hormonal optimization, pick DHEA.
- → If your priority is healthspan extension, pick DHEA.
- → If your priority is focus or working memory, pick Methylene Blue.
- → If your priority is mitochondrial function, pick Methylene Blue.
Edge case: If you want to avoid controlled substance, DHEA is the more accessible choice.
Default choice: DHEA. Lower friction to source, a Tier-A evidence outcome catalogued, and broader goal coverage. Reach for Methylene Blue 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 DHEA and Methylene Blue?
DHEA and Methylene Blue differ in category (hormone vs pharmaceutical), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, DHEA or Methylene Blue?
DHEA half-life is 12 hours; Methylene Blue half-life is 5.5 hours.
Can you stack DHEA 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