A Wake-Up Call for Athletic Departments

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My youngest son, a high school athlete, had ordered it.

"It's just a supplement, not medicine," he said. "They say it helps with focus and performance."

My heart sank, and I realized that I had not had this very essential talk in my own family, mostly because I didn't know how much methylene blue was being marketed to young athletes.

"This MMA fighter I follow says it helps with focus and performance," he explained.

"Yes, I bet it does," I replied. "It's a monoamine oxidase inhibitor - the type of antidepressant we haven't used since SSRIs came out because of how much safer SSRIs are."

The Hidden Dangers Influencers Won't Tell You

Here's what those TikTok influencers aren't telling your athletes:

Regular methylene blue side effects alone are problematic for athletes:

• Blood pressure alterations (dangerous during training)
• Heat intolerance (catastrophic in summer sports)
• Nausea and vomiting (dehydration risk)
• Dizziness and confusion (injury risk)
• Rapid heart rate (performance impairment)

But if your student athletes are on antidepressants (SSRIs like Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro), it gets exponentially worse.

The interaction causes massive amounts of serotonin and possibly norepinephrine to be released, potentially causing:

• Severe hyperthermia (life-threatening for athletes)
• Extreme blood pressure spikes
• Profuse sweating and dehydration
• Muscle rigidity and tremors
• Rapid heart rate and arrhythmias
• Confusion and agitation
• Seizures

Think about your athletes: They're already pushing their bodies to the limit. They train in heat, manage intense physical stress, and maintain rigorous schedules. These side effects aren't just uncomfortable - they're potentially fatal in athletic environments.

If This Can Happen to Me, It Can Happen to Your Athletes

I'm the CEO of a mental health company serving student athletes. I work with athletic departments daily about medication safety. Yet my own son nearly ordered a supplement that could have been dangerous - and it happened in minutes, with just a few clicks.

The performance pressure makes this worse:

• Student athletes will try ANYTHING for an edge
• "Performance enhancement" bypasses their safety radar
• They're more likely to hide supplement use from staff
• Mental health stigma means they don't disclose antidepressants

The Science Behind the Danger

Methylene blue is a potent MAO-A inhibitor. When combined with SSRIs, it prevents proper serotonin processing, leading to dangerous buildup. Multiple documented cases show patients developing life-threatening symptoms from this exact combination.

Every Athletic Department Staff Member Has a Role

Athletic Directors: Set policies requiring supplement disclosure

Coaches: Create team cultures where athletes feel safe discussing medications

Athletic Trainers: Screen for ALL supplements during evaluations

Academic Support: Watch for "cognitive enhancers" among struggling students

Communications Staff: Help reduce mental health stigma through messaging

Strength Coaches: Educate about supplement-drug interactions

The Reality Check

• 1 in 5 student athletes may be on antidepressants
• These supplements are easier to buy than energy drinks
• One viral TikTok can reach your entire athletic program overnight
• Athletic environments amplify these dangerous side effects

Action Steps for Your Department

✅ Include supplement discussions in team meetings

✅ Create safe spaces for mental health conversations

✅ Partner with qualified mental health professionals

✅ Ask specifically about "cognitive enhancers" and "performance supplements"

✅ Develop clear policies about supplement disclosure

The Conversation That Could Save Lives

My son gets it now after our conversation. But how many student athletes in your program are ordering these "performance enhancers" without anyone knowing the risks?

Be aware of ALL supplements being taken by your athletes - especially in the name of performance.

To all athletic department staff: You see these athletes daily. You're often their most trusted mentors. This conversation could save lives.

Kim Quigley, MD is the CEO of Onrise, providing mental health and sports performance services to athletes at all levels. Connect with her to learn more about creating safer, more supportive athletic environments.

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