Methylene Blue Injection 50 mg in 5 mL
Contains 50 mg/ 5 mL methylene blue trihydrate
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Methylene Blue Injection. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you being given Methylene Blue Injection against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about being given this medicine, ask your doctor.
Keep this leaflet in a safe place. You may need to read it again.
What Methylene Blue Injection is used for
Methylene Blue Injection is used to treat abnormal blood pigment levels. These abnormal blood pigments do not carry oxygen properly.
This medicine belongs to a group of medicines called dyes.
Methylene Blue Injection is also used:
- to stain bacteria to make them easier to see
- as a visible dye to help in the diagnosis of a number of conditions
- as a stain to dye certain body tissues during surgery.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you. Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
Methylene Blue Injection is not recommended for long-term use.
This medicine is only available with a doctor’s prescription.
Before you are given Methylene Blue Injection
When you must not be given it
You should not be given Methylene Blue Injection if you have an allergy to:
- any medicine containing methylene blue
- any other dyes.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
- shortness of breath
- wheezing or difficulty breathing
- swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
- rash, itching or hives on the skin.
You should not be given this medicine if you have glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. This is an inherited condition.
You should not be given this medicine if you have kidney problems.
You should not be given this medicine if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It may affect your developing baby if you are given Methylene Blue Injection during pregnancy.
You should not be given Methylene Blue Injection if the solution is discoloured, cloudy, turbid, or a precipitate is present. The solution is normally a clear, blue liquid.
You should not be given this medicine if when diluted with another solution it causes the solution to precipitate, become cloudy, turbid, discolour, or particles are visible.
The doctor or nurse will check to ensure the medicine is not past its expiry date and has not been tampered with.
If you are not sure whether you should be given this medicine, talk to your doctor.
Before you are given it
Tell your doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.
Tell your doctor if you have been given Methylene Blue Injection before and for how long.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved.
Tell your doctor if you are a diabetic. Methylene Blue Injection may need to be diluted with glucose solution. The amount of glucose may affect your blood glucose levels.
Tell your doctor if your have aniline poisoning.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you are given Methylene Blue Injection.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket, health food shop, herbalist or naturopath.
Some medicines and Methylene Blue Injection may interfere with each other. These include:
- medicines used to treat depression known as serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) such as Prozac, Zoloft and Aropax and others
- dapasone – a medicine used to treat bacterial infections.
These medicines may be affected by Methylene Blue Injection or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while being given this medicine.
How Methylene Blue Injection is given
Methylene Blue Injection must only be given by a doctor or nurse.
How it is given
Methylene Blue Injection can be given in two ways depending upon what it is being used for. It can be given:
- as an injection into a vein either diluted or undiluted
- by mouth after dilution.
How much is given
Your doctor will decide what dose of Methylene Blue Injection you will receive and how long you will receive it.
This depends on your medical condition and other factors such as your weight.
Sometimes only a single dose of Methylene Blue Injection is required.
If you are given too much (overdose)
As Methylene Blue Injection is always given to you in a hospital under the supervision of a doctor, it is unlikely that you will receive an overdose.
Symptoms of an overdose are the same as side effects but may be more severe.
The symptoms of a side effect are listed under Side effects below.
If you notice any symptoms of an overdose immediately contact your doctor or go to the Emergency Department at the nearest hospital.
Contact the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 for further advice on overdose management.
While you are being given Methylene Blue Injection
Things you must do
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you have been given Methylene Blue Injection.
Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who treat you that you have been given this medicine.
If you become pregnant while being given this medicine, tell you doctor immediately.
If you are about to have any blood tests, tell your doctor that you have been given this medicine. It may interfere with the results of some tests.
Keep all of your doctor’s appointments so that your progress can be checked. Your doctor may do some tests from time to time to make sure the medicine is working and to prevent unwanted side effects.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Methylene Blue Injection affects you. This medicine may cause dizziness in some people. If you feel dizzy do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous.
If you feel light-headed, dizzy or faint when getting out of bed or standing up, get up slowly. Standing up slowly, especially when you get up from bed or chairs, will help your body get used to the change in position and blood pressure. If this problem continues or gets worse, talk to your doctor.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or nurse as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are being given Methylene Blue Injection. This medicine helps most people but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.
Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor to answer any questions you may have.
Methylene Blue Injection will cause a blue colour in urine or bowel motions.
Tell your doctor or nurse if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea
- headaches, dizziness, mental confusion
- redness or swelling at the injection site
- change in the colour of your skin, saliva, urine and/or faeces to blue or blue/green
- dilated pupils (increase in the size of the black part of the eyes)
- pain when passing urine
If any of the following happen, tell your doctor immediately or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital:
- stomach pain
- chest pain
- fast or irregular heartbeat
- pain at the injection site
- high temperature
- sweating more than normal
- low blood pressure signs of which may include loss of consciousness, sever fatigue, feeling lightheaded, buzzing or ringing in the ear and blurring or loss of vision
- signs of anaemia such as tiredness and shortness of breath when exercising and/or dizziness or pale appearance
- rash
- having problems with speaking, writing or reading
- allergic reaction signs of which may include: shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, rash, itching or hives on the skin.
The above list includes very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.
Tell your doctor or nurse if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell. Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.
Some of these side effects (for example, changes in blood pressure) can only be found when your doctor does tests from time to time to check your progress.
After being given Methylene Blue Injection
Storage
Methylene Blue Injection will be stored in the surgery, pharmacy or ward of a hospital. The injection is kept in a cool, dry place where the temperature is below 25°C.
Methylene Blue Injection will be opened when it is time for you to have the injection.
Product description
What it looks like
Methylene Blue Injection 50 mg in 5 mL is a clear, blue solution in a clear glass vial sealed with a rubber stopper and aluminium seal with a plastic flip off cap.
It is available in a 5 mL vial.
Ingredients
Methylene Blue Injection contains 10 mg/mL of methylene blue trihydrate in water for injections.
It may also contain:
- hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide.
This medicine does not contain lactose, sucrose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes, alcohol or any preservatives.
Manufacturer
Methylene Blue Injection is made in Australia by:
Phebra Pty Ltd
19 Orion Road
Lane Cove West, NSW 2066
Australia
Methylene Blue Injection 50 mg in 5 mL vial.
Phebra product code INJ177
Aust R 223583
This leaflet was updated in September 2014.
Phebra and the phi symbol are trademarks of Phebra Pty Ltd.
Published by MIMS October 2015
