1. < Neuropathy

B-6 vitamin danger!

Posted by Lynsorensen @lynsorensen, Dec 11, 2017

With the assistance of a neurologist at Mayo Clinic, I have almost completely eliminated the uncontrolled muscle spasms now. First and foremost: beware of taking multi-vitamin capsules that have B6 listed. B-6 overdosage (which is contained in every multivitamin I found in stores and on the internet) can cause loss of muscle control and spasms in some people. So can gluten found in many foods so now I am also gluten free. I now work out with a personal trainer 3 days a week and do water aerobics another 2 days. Got off gabapentin and also clonazepam. Using CBD oil capsules each morning (no more opioids or chemicals) and using a CBD topical ointment to rub on my leg muscles each night. He says I don't need him anymore! And I don't. No more shaking or muscle cramps or pain. Still a little numbness but that is receding also.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuropathy Support Group.

vcranford | @vcranford | Jan 16, 2019

I'm new to this site.... found it by googling neuropathy. I have always had mild numbness in my toes on both feet, however, it seems to have really escalated in the past 3 months. Had an MRI of lumbar and sacral spine that has not shown any nerve impingement. I have been racking my brain to figure out what I am doing that is different. The only thing I can think of is starting B6 vitamins. My daily dose is about 6-8 MG. Could B6 be the culprit?

REPLY
2 replies
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jan 16, 2019
In reply to @vcranford "I'm new to this site.... found it by googling neuropathy. I have always had mild numbness..." + (show)
@vcranford

I'm new to this site.... found it by googling neuropathy. I have always had mild numbness in my toes on both feet, however, it seems to have really escalated in the past 3 months. Had an MRI of lumbar and sacral spine that has not shown any nerve impingement. I have been racking my brain to figure out what I am doing that is different. The only thing I can think of is starting B6 vitamins. My daily dose is about 6-8 MG. Could B6 be the culprit?

Jump to this post

Hello @vcranford -- welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. From the research I've done vitamin B6 is different from the other B vitamins in the way the body absorbs and gets rid of it. Too much is definitely a bad thing. Here are a few sites that discuss B6 induced neuropathy.

NIH - Nutritional Neuropathies
-- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4199287/

Vitamin B6 Toxicity Revisited: A Case of Reversible Pyridoxine-associated Neuropathy and Disequilibrium. (P4.021)
-- http://n.neurology.org/content/90/15_Supplement/P4.021

Have you been diagnosed with neuropathy? I have idiopathic small fiber PN with only numbness as a symptom. I went over 20 years before getting a diagnosis, mainly because the doctor told me there's not much they can do. Then I decided to start being my own advocate and research of treatments. Still haven't found much that helps with just numbness.

REPLY
steeldove | @steeldove | Jan 16, 2019
In reply to @vcranford "I'm new to this site.... found it by googling neuropathy. I have always had mild numbness..." + (show)
@vcranford

I'm new to this site.... found it by googling neuropathy. I have always had mild numbness in my toes on both feet, however, it seems to have really escalated in the past 3 months. Had an MRI of lumbar and sacral spine that has not shown any nerve impingement. I have been racking my brain to figure out what I am doing that is different. The only thing I can think of is starting B6 vitamins. My daily dose is about 6-8 MG. Could B6 be the culprit?

Jump to this post

@vcranford Not likely at that small dose of B6.

REPLY
moodyfamily6 | @moodyfamily6 | Jan 20, 2019

I've been dealing with B6 toxicity for 6 months now. Levels were at 190 for a range of 20-125. I was taking a 100 mg supplement for about 2 months when I started noticing tingling in my upper back. I had my B6 levels tested right after I learned about B6 toxicity. The levels came down very quickly but I was left with the same tingling in back and fingers, muscle twitches, joint pain (mostly in fingers), and brain fog with other random symptoms that come and go rather quickly. This has been a nightmare! Has anyone had similar symptoms and improved or found relief? Doctors have not been much help as they don't seem to educated about the effects of B6. I've read most everything I can find on the internet, but stumbled across this thread today. Not even sure if the discussion is still going or if someone can point me to another discussion?

REPLY
2 replies
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jan 20, 2019
In reply to @moodyfamily6 "I've been dealing with B6 toxicity for 6 months now. Levels were at 190 for a..." + (show)
@moodyfamily6

I've been dealing with B6 toxicity for 6 months now. Levels were at 190 for a range of 20-125. I was taking a 100 mg supplement for about 2 months when I started noticing tingling in my upper back. I had my B6 levels tested right after I learned about B6 toxicity. The levels came down very quickly but I was left with the same tingling in back and fingers, muscle twitches, joint pain (mostly in fingers), and brain fog with other random symptoms that come and go rather quickly. This has been a nightmare! Has anyone had similar symptoms and improved or found relief? Doctors have not been much help as they don't seem to educated about the effects of B6. I've read most everything I can find on the internet, but stumbled across this thread today. Not even sure if the discussion is still going or if someone can point me to another discussion?

Jump to this post

Hi @moodyfamily6, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. This discussion is still fairly active. If you go to the top below the discussion description and click the Newest to Oldest you will see the newest posts at the top. I don't have B6 toxicity but here is some information that may help.

Vitamin B6 Toxicity
http://www.easy-immune-health.com/vitamin-b6-toxicity.html
B Vitamins for Neuropathy and Neuropathic Pain
https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/b-vitamins-for-neuropathy-and-neuropathic-pain-2376-1318-1000161.php?aid=90896
B6 section it explains -- too much or too little gives neuropathy
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4199287/
FDA Safety Alert: Biotin Can Affect Medical Test Results
http://cle.clinic/2G6Mp4y
NIH - Nutritional Neuropathies
-- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4199287/

Vitamin B6 Toxicity Revisited: A Case of Reversible Pyridoxine-associated Neuropathy and Disequilibrium. (P4.021)
-- http://n.neurology.org/content/90/15_Supplement/P4.021

Are you still taking any supplements?

REPLY
3 replies
vcranford | @vcranford | Jan 20, 2019

No, I stopped a couple of days ago

REPLY
moodyfamily6 | @moodyfamily6 | Jan 20, 2019
In reply to @johnbishop "Hi @moodyfamily6, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. This discussion is still fairly active. If you go..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hi @moodyfamily6, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. This discussion is still fairly active. If you go to the top below the discussion description and click the Newest to Oldest you will see the newest posts at the top. I don't have B6 toxicity but here is some information that may help.

Vitamin B6 Toxicity
http://www.easy-immune-health.com/vitamin-b6-toxicity.html
B Vitamins for Neuropathy and Neuropathic Pain
https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/b-vitamins-for-neuropathy-and-neuropathic-pain-2376-1318-1000161.php?aid=90896
B6 section it explains -- too much or too little gives neuropathy
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4199287/
FDA Safety Alert: Biotin Can Affect Medical Test Results
http://cle.clinic/2G6Mp4y
NIH - Nutritional Neuropathies
-- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4199287/

Vitamin B6 Toxicity Revisited: A Case of Reversible Pyridoxine-associated Neuropathy and Disequilibrium. (P4.021)
-- http://n.neurology.org/content/90/15_Supplement/P4.021

Are you still taking any supplements?

Jump to this post

No, I stopped the supplements 6 months ago. Definitely won’t be taking them again. Thank you for these links!

REPLY
pfbacon | @pfbacon | Jan 20, 2019

My doctor told me to take B12. Is it toxic too?

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jan 21, 2019
In reply to @pfbacon "My doctor told me to take B12. Is it toxic too?" + (show)
@pfbacon

My doctor told me to take B12. Is it toxic too?

Jump to this post

@pfbacon, I take two 3000 mcg capsules of B12 in the morning and two in the evening as part of the supplements I take for my neuropathy. It's not a cure (there is no cure) but it seems to be helping me and it's not hurting anything. I have no medical background or training but from my research B12 has not been known to cause any harm. The National Institutes of Health has some good information on it.
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB12-Consumer/

REPLY
1 reply
pfbacon | @pfbacon | Jan 21, 2019
In reply to @johnbishop "@pfbacon, I take two 3000 mcg capsules of B12 in the morning and two in the..." + (show)
@johnbishop

@pfbacon, I take two 3000 mcg capsules of B12 in the morning and two in the evening as part of the supplements I take for my neuropathy. It's not a cure (there is no cure) but it seems to be helping me and it's not hurting anything. I have no medical background or training but from my research B12 has not been known to cause any harm. The National Institutes of Health has some good information on it.
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB12-Consumer/

Jump to this post

Thank you, John. I took Human Biology, Anatomy, and Nutrition but that was 10 years ago; new research may have yielded new results that I am unaware of. At that time, I learned that the B vitamins are water soluble, whatever our body doesn't use gets excreted in the urine harmlessly; B Vitamins do not build up in the body, as do oil soluble vitamins, A, D, E.

REPLY
1 reply
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.