severe peripheral neuropathy and vitamin B6

Oh so sorry it didn’t work for you.

Good morning, @mayo4, @pinoaktree

As you say, what works for some, may not work for others. My experience with B6, guided by my neurologist, has had all to do with distinguishing between the two kinds of B6: pyridoxine hydrochloride, the so-called "bad" kind, and pyridoxal phosphate, the so-called "good" kind. All I can offer is my own experience as testimony. I was diagnosed with idiopathic large-fiber polyneuropathy (no pain, but poor balance) by EMG in August 2022, a condition (I'm guessing) I'd had for 10 years or more at the time of the EMG. The neurologist (not right away, but a few months after) advised that I avoid all supplements containing B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride) (what I'd be getting in food would be minuscule and not to be concerned about) and stick strictly to the "good" kind of B6 (pyridoxal phosphate), found in certain "medicinal foods." He prescribed a particular medicinal food (which one, because I'm not a doctor, I won't name), and after a second EMG in November 2023 and the medicinal food's use to this day, I'm able to report (about myself only!) that my neuropathy has not progressed (not worsened); it hasn't vanished, but it has not progressed, and that's both a pleasant surprise and something for which I'm very, very grateful. My best to both of you and …

Happy New Year!
Ray (@ray666)

Thank you for your detailed response. My neurologist feels my neuropathy stems from my being treated for rheumaotid arthritis and its affliation. The higher levels of B6 showed up in blood tests. I will have to back track to see which B6 was included in my mega vitamin meds and take it from there.

I am without a practicing neurologist at present so I am just coasting and seeing what is out there that has been successful for others.

Hope we all have a healthy 2025.

'Tis a puzzle, @pinoaktree, as much for our neurologists as it is for us poor suffering PNers. I've been known to grab my Sherlock Holmes magnifying glass to read the ingredients on my vitamin supplement bottles, only to discover (as my neurologist said I would) that the trace B6 in my supplements is almost always pyridoxine hydrochloride, the sort that may build to toxic levels and mimic certain neuropathy symptoms.

I applaud your sentiment that we all have a healthy––and happy––2025!
Ray (@ray666)

i recently logged in and just saw your message

b6 has dual action and i take b6 too.
only in very doses it can cause worsening of symptoms. i think in lower doses it helps with neuropathy .
there is a popular supplement called Metanx with b6 b12 that has been studied and helps neuropathy and even help nerves

are you still taking b6
what did your doctors say
thx

i have peripheral neuropathy trying to see what other people are using and seems to work .

i am using lyrica and b vitamins supplements like Metanx

are u still using pyridoxal phosphate ? how is it helping ?
did u check levels ?
thanks

My one a day multi had 75 mg of b6. When i started on vitamins and alternative health in 1997, and all the reading from dr.s using alternative treatments, i looked for vitamins with at least 50 mg of b's. so many only have 2 mg......i guess they are using RDA, but, RDA has everything too low. Check out NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH WEBSITE ......in google, type in is B6 toxic, and of several websites , that one will pop up, and give you some info. it says rare cases of toxicity at 500 - 1,000 mg of b6. But very saft under 200 mg. Silly thing, i thought, about 20 yrs ago, my toe curved and wouldn't straighten out. after a few days, i saw my naturopath Dr., who said........take b vitamins. I said my multi has it, she said, well take extra. So, thinking that was the dumbest thing i ever heard for a crooked toe, i got a bottle of 50mg b complex.
So, now i had the 75 mg in my multi, plus 50.........Boom,, the next day, my toe was back to normal............For a few years, i was using at least 100 mg of b complex............after over 25 yrs of using alternative things, not just vitamins/herbs, but many other things , at 82, i am on NO drugs, NO surgeries. So, for me, the higher doses of B vitamins, did no harm. We are all facing a puzzle, with the problems we all have, trying to figure out what to do. so every piece of info we get from each other helps up with our personal puzzle, to see if that bit of info fits our scenario. Somehow, i dont' think we will ever get the 1,000 piece puzzle together, but, every little bit gives us a better picture. this wasn't very helpful, but, it is just one more piece of your puzzle.........maybe helped a little. Check out National Inst for a little more infor.

I have a dry very irritating cough for about 2 weeks. No apparent reason except low B12 can cause and neuropathy can cause irritation to lungs. Is there anything neuropathy doesn't make worse? It is the most frustrating and debilitating disease without a treatment. I do take a spin off new supplement to Metanyx called EB-N6. Prescribed by my podiatrist; the only doctor who has really helped me. I have ideopathic neuropathy not diabetic but my doc said it is an improvement over metanxy and provides you with the correct amounts of B6 and B12. Twice a day with food. I take no other B supplements so I am not overdoing the B6 or 12. Anyone else have a cough? I haven't gone to Urgent care or primary but I will since it is not a cold or upper respiratory. Guess I should have a chest X Ray.

If you now have peripheral neuropathy how do you know it is not caused by the excessive b6 you are taking?

Yeh, I’ve got a cough, but didn’t think it was neuropathy. I take all manner of supplements for PN, but the cough is still around.