Vitamin B6, otherwise known as pyridoxine, is an important water-soluble vitamin. Since vitamin B6 is water-soluble, many may assume that any excess vitamin B6 will be excreted without adverse side effects; however, excess vitamin B6 will not be excreted on its own. This can cause several serious complications for people taking vitamin B6 supplements. The Nutritional Supplements Health Guide indicates that vitamin B6 supplements first originated for those with vitamin B6 deficiency. However, the ability of vitamin B6 to improve mental agility and performance and to ward against osteoporosis, heart diseases or even Alzheimer's have made many people want to protect themselves with vitamin B6 supplements. You should only take a supplement like vitamin B6 after consulting your doctor.
Sensory Nerve Damage
Ingesting vitamin B6 at higher levels than 200 mg per day may cause toxicity symptoms, such as decreased neurological functions. Although this is counter intuitive for many who take vitamin B6 to protect against neurological trouble, vitamin B6 is actually only needed at a small level in the body and overdose can cause serious implications. The Nutritional Supplements Health Guide indicates that a gradual loss of sensory nerve damage may begin with tingling in the outer extremities, followed by a sense of numbness. If you do not seek medical care, this nerve damage can become permanent and progress to paralysis.
Drug Interactions
The Office of Dietary Supplements indicates that vitamin B6 supplements have the ability to interfere with other prescribed medications. You should always inform your doctor of any supplements you are taking to ensure that this does not occur. For example, L-DOPA is prescribed to treat many neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's disease; however, L-DOPA lowers the efficacy of vitamin B6 and vitamin B6 lowers the efficacy of L-DOPA. Moreover, several drugs utilized to treat tuberculosis also disrupt vitamin B6 metabolism. These are just examples of possible medication interactions and not an exhaustive list. You will need to discuss this with your doctor or pharmacist.
Allergic Reaction
Drugs.com indicates that you may have an allergic reaction to taking vitamin B6 supplements immediately after ingestion. You should contact a doctor if you start to experience any tightness in your chest or trouble breathing. Skin rashes and hives are also an indication of allergic reaction.
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