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B-6 vitamin danger!
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.
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Hello Joseph @jhkeffer, Welcome to Connect. Thank you for sharing how B6 toxicity affected your wife. It's great to hear that discontinuing the multivitamins made a difference. Most people don't understand the impact and just think it's only vitamins...vitamins are good for you. A person really has to be their own advocate and learn as much as they can about their health. It's awesome that your wife has her own live in doctor who can be her advocate. Thanks again for sharing on Connect.
There is another discussion on Connect that you may be interested in (just in case).
> Groups > Neuropathy > Burning Feet syndrome
-- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/burning-feet-syndrome/
You won’t believe this! My first neurology visit in June 2018 had me leaving with a food grade vitamin RX called Metanx, you call the company directly and they mail it to your home. Of course I was very excited and hoping for relief and began taking them immediately - within a few days my tingling burning numbness pain increased tremendously, I cut it back to one time per day instead of two, felt somewhat better, so totally eliminated it and was back to my baseline. THEN I did my research and deduced that it was the 70 mg. of B6 which I didn’t need, based on my primary care doctor ordered bloodwork. This neurologist never even checked my vitamin levels before prescribing this! He was 'fired'.
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2 ReactionsHi @wisfloj. So glad you were able to find the cause on your own. For a blood test result, the doctor has to specifically ask for each test. I don’t think there is a general test to check all vitamin levels. Unfortunately some doctors do not look at vitamins for causes of side effects. That is why I believe each person has to learn about there own body through trial and error. How did you suspect a B6 toxicity? Were you taking the supplement for a long time, over a year? Any side effects besides neuropathy? I know some foods are fortified with vitamin Bs.
Let me clarify- I initially went to my primary care doctor because of tingling in my hands and feet, she ordered some general bloodwork and did detect low B 12 so I started supplementing with that, after spine x-rays and MRIs, plus a brain MRI she suggested I see a neurologist since she didn’t know what was causing the symptoms which in the mean time were increasing from tingling to pain and burning by this point. The neuro. did the usual vibration and reflex tests then prescribed Metanx not knowing my B levels or any vitamin levels at the time. I had only taken it for about 7 to 10 days when I felt like all the nerves in my body were activated and painful, hard to describe but it definitely wasn’t helping me. Upon returning to my primary care doctor I asked to be checked for B1,B6 and B 12 again, the B 12 Was way too high so I had to reduce my supplement to one time a day.
So basically I have idiopathic neuropathy aka “don’t know the cause and there is no cure”
WISFLOJ Do you remember what your b-12 was. Mine is 2,000 .,but no one says it's too high although it's not in the range.
@peggyn the last time my B12 level was checked it was around 1244 but it has been over 2000 but I don't think it's a cause for concern. There's a lot of good information on B12 here:
https://www.easy-immune-health.com/vitamin-b-12-deficiency-symptoms.html
I have severe, painful neuropathy in feet, legs, hands, arms, and mouth. I have also been tested for B6, and have high levels (around 80 ng/ml). I stopped taking a multivitamin with B6 last October 2018 when I first tested high for B6, but my levels have not decreased. Does anyone know how to lower your B6 levels. I don't eat much red meat or any other food that has high B6 that I know of.
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2 ReactionsVitamin B12 is an essential vitamin present in foods from animal sources such as eggs, cheese, milk, yogurt, and meats. Perhaps vegans are more at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency. Pernicious anemia is a result of not enough vitamin B12. The Shillings test can be used to determine if someone has pernicious anemia.
@cwallen9 here are a couple of references I've found for how to lower B6 levels. You might already be doing some of them but maybe there is some tips that will help.
Livestrong.com - How to Lower B6
-- https://www.livestrong.com/article/522968-how-to-lower-b6/
Detox From Dangerous Supplements and B6 Toxicity
-- http://www.drorestesg.com/blog/detox-from-dangerous-supplements-and-b6-toxicity-
Linus Pauling Institute » Micronutrient Information Center B6
-- Food sources of B6: https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vitamins/vitamin-B6#food-sources
-- Fact Sheet for Consumers: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB6-Consumer/
Initially it was low at 383. I then started 2000 mcg. Daily of methylcobalamin and it went up to 1740. Per my dr. I then reduced my B12 to 1000 mcg. per day and it is now 865. My bloodwork lists the range as 200 -1100