Vit B6

Uses

Vit B6 (vitamin B6) is used to prevent or treat low levels of vitamin B6 in people who do not get enough of the vitamin from their diets. Most people who eat a normal diet do not need extra vitamin B6. However, some conditions (such as alcoholism, liver disease, overactive thyroid, heart failure) or medications (such as isoniazid, cycloserine, hydralazine, penicillamine) can cause low levels of vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 plays an important role in the body. It is needed to maintain the health of nerves, skin, and red blood cells.

Vit B6 has been used to prevent or treat a certain nerve disorder (peripheral neuropathy) caused by certain medications (such as isoniazid). It has also been used to treat certain hereditary disorders (such as xanthurenic aciduria, hyperoxaluria, homocystinuria).

Vit B6 is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Backache, Dizziness, Fever, Headache, Hepatic; Functional Disturbance, Hepatitis, Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA), Ketosis, Macrocytic anemia, Menière's Disease, Menstrual Distress (Dysmenorrhea), Metabolic Acidosis, Motion Sickness, Nausea and vomiting, Neuralgia, Sciatic, Neuritis, Neurological Conditions caused by B Vitamin Deficiency, Secondary anemia, Soreness, Muscle, Toothache, Toxinfectious state, Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN), Vitamin B1 deficiency, Vitamin B12 Deficiency, Vitamin B6 Deficiency, Vitamin Deficiency, Minor aches and pains, Minor pain, Nutritional supplementation, Supplementation, Vitamin supplementation, Wellness of the Liver

How Vit B6 works

Vitamin B6 is the collective term for a group of three related compounds, pyridoxine (PN), pyridoxal (PL) and pyridoxamine (PM), and their phosphorylated derivatives, pyridoxine 5'-phosphate (PNP), pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) and pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate (PMP). Although all six of these compounds should technically be referred to as vitamin B6, the term vitamin B6 is commonly used interchangeably with just one of them, pyridoxine. Vitamin B6, principally in its biologically active coenzyme form pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, is involved in a wide range of biochemical reactions, including the metabolism of amino acids and glycogen, the synthesis of nucleic acids, hemogloblin, sphingomyelin and other sphingolipids, and the synthesis of the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).

Dosage

Vit B6 dosage

ADULTS:

BY MOUTH:

• For hereditary sideroblastic anemia: Initially, 200-600 mg of vitamin B6 is used. The dose is decreased to 30-50 mg per day after an adequate response.
• For vitamin B6 deficiency: In most adults, the typical dose is 2.5-25 mg daily for three weeks then 1.5-2.5 mg per day thereafter. In women taking birth control pills, the dose is 25-30 mg per day.
• For abnormally high levels of homocysteine in the blood: For reducing high levels of homocysteine in the blood after childbirth, 50-200 mg of vitamin B6 has been taken alone. Also, 100 mg of vitamin B6 has been taken in combination with 0.5 mg of folic acid.
• For preventing macular degeneration: 50 mg of vitamin B6 in the form of pyridoxine has been used daily in combination with 1000 mcg of vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) 1000 mcg and 2500 mcg of folic acid for about 7 years.
• For hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis): A specific supplement (Kyolic, Total Heart Health, Formula 108, Wakunga) containing 250 mg of aged garlic extract, 100 mcg of vitamin B12, 300 mcg of folic acid, 12.5 mg of vitamin B6, and 100 mg of L-argininedaily for 12 months.
• For kidney stones: 25-500 mg of vitamin B6 has been used daily.
• For nausea during pregnancy: 10-25 mg of vitamin B6 taken three or four times per day has been used. In people who don't respond to vitamin B6 alone, a combination product containing vitamin B6 and the drug doxylamine (Diclectin, Duchesnay Inc.) is used three or four times per day. Also, another product containing 75 mg of vitamin B6, 12 mcg of vitamin B12, 1 mg of folic acid, and 200 mg of calcium (PremesisRx, KV Pharmaceuticals) is used daily.
• For symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS): 50-100 mg of vitamin B6 is used daily, alone or along with 200 mg of magnesium.
• For treating tardive dyskinesia: 100 mg of vitamin B6 per day has been increased weekly up to 400 mg per day, given in two divided doses.

INJECTED INTO THE MUSCLE:

• Hereditary sideroblastic anemia: 250 mg of vitamin B6 daily, reduced to 250 mg of vitamin B6 weekly once adequate response is achieved.

CHILDREN:

BY MOUTH:

• For kidney stones: Up to 20 mg/kg daily in children aged 5 years and up.

INJECTED INTO THE VEIN OR MUSCLE:

• For seizures that respond to vitamin B6 (pyridoxine-dependent seizures): 10-100 mg is recommended.

The daily recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) of vitamin B6 are:

• Infants 0-6 months, 0.1 mg
• Infants 7-12 months, 0.3 mg
• Children 1-3 years, 0.5 mg
• Children 4-8 years, 0.6 mg
• Children 9-13 years, 1 mg
• Males 14-50 years, 1.3 mg
• Males over 50 years, 1.7 mg
• Females 14-18 years, 1.2 mg
• Females 19-50 years, 1.3 mg
• Females over 50 years, 1.5 mg
• Pregnant women, 1.9 mg
• Breast-feeding women, 2 mg
• Some researchers think the RDA for women 19-50 years should be increased to 1.5-1.7 mg per day.

The recommended maximum daily intake is:

• Children 1-3 years, 30 mg
• Children 4-8 years, 40 mg
• Children 9-13 years, 60 mg

Adults, pregnant and breast-feeding women:

• 14-18 years, 80 mg
• over 18 years, 100 mg

Side Effects

Vit B6 usually has no side effects when used in recommended doses.

If your doctor has prescribed this medication, remember that he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Vit B6 can cause side effects when taken in large doses for a long time. Tell your doctor right away if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: headache, nausea, drowsiness, numbness/tingling of arms/legs.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Toxicity

Oral Rat LD50 = 4 gm/kg. Toxic effects include convulsions, dyspnea, hypermotility, diarrhea, ataxia and muscle weakness.

Precaution

Before taking pyridoxine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

During pregnancy, this vitamin has been found to be safe when used in recommended doses.

This vitamin passes into breast milk and is considered to be safe during breast-feeding when used in recommended doses. Consult your doctor for more information.

Interaction

The effects of some drugs can change if you take other drugs or herbal products at the same time. This can increase your risk for serious side effects or may cause your medications not to work correctly. These drug interactions are possible, but do not always occur. Your doctor or pharmacist can often prevent or manage interactions by changing how you use your medications or by close monitoring.

To help your doctor and pharmacist give you the best care, be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products) before starting treatment with this product. While using this product, do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any other medicines you are using without your doctor's approval.

Some products that may interact with this vitamin include: altretamine, cisplatin, phenytoin.

This vitamin may interfere with certain laboratory tests (including urine test for urobilinogen), possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this vitamin.

Food Interaction

Vit B6 Disease Interaction

Moderate: malabsorption

Volume of Distribution

Vit B6 main active metabolite, pyridoxal 5’-phosphate, is released into the circulation (accounting for at least 60% of circulating vitamin B6) and is highly protein bound, primarily to albumin.

Elimination Route

The B vitamins are readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, except in malabsorption syndromes. Vit B6 is absorbed mainly in the jejunum. The Cmax of pyridoxine is achieved within 5.5 hours.

Half Life

The total adult body pool consists of 16 to 25 mg of pyridoxine. Its half-life appears to be 15 to 20 days.

Elimination Route

The major metabolite of pyridoxine, 4-pyridoxic acid, is inactive and is excreted in urine

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding use

Category A: Controlled studies in women fail to demonstrate a risk to the foetus in the 1st trimester (and there is no evidence of a risk in later trimesters), and the possibility of foetal harm remains remote.

Innovators Monograph

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