B6 Safety & Side Effects
Our assessment
Based on the provided FDA data, the most critical safety finding for vitamin B6 is that taking high amounts from supplements for a year or longer can cause severe nerve damage, leading to loss of control over bodily movements. This condition is serious but typically stops when supplement use is discontinued FDA FAERS ↗.
Safety profile
Data on specific adverse event report counts from the FDA is not available in the provided information. Other symptoms of taking too much vitamin B6 include painful, unsightly skin patches, extreme sensitivity to sunlight, nausea, and heartburn FDA FAERS ↗.
How it works
People almost never get too much vitamin B6 from food or beverages. The risk of toxicity is specifically associated with long-term, high-dose supplement use FDA FAERS ↗. The daily upper limits for vitamin B6 include intakes from all sources, but specific numerical limits are not provided in the data FDA FAERS ↗.
Our recommendation
Be cautious if you are taking cycloserine (Seromycin), an antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis, as vitamin B6 supplements might interact with this drug and worsen any seizures and nerve damage that the drug might cause FDA FAERS ↗. If you experience symptoms such as loss of bodily control, painful skin patches, or extreme sensitivity to sunlight, stop taking the supplement and consult a healthcare provider FDA FAERS ↗.
AI-assisted analysis. Data sourced from NIH ODS and FDA.
Safety Overview
People almost never get too much vitamin B6 from food or beverages. However, taking high amounts of vitamin B6 from supplements for a year or longer can cause severe nerve damage, leading people to lose control of their bodily movements. The symptoms usually stop when they stop taking the supplements. Other symptoms of too much vitamin B6 include painful, unsightly skin patches, extreme sensitivity to sunlight, nausea, and heartburn. The daily upper limits for vitamin B6 include intakes from all sources—food, beverages, and supplements—and are listed below. These levels do not apply to people who are taking vitamin B6 for medical reasons under the care of a doctor. Some experts recommend lower limits for vitamin B6. For example, in 2023 the European Food Safety Authority set an upper limit for vitamin B6 of 12 mg per day for all adults, with lower amounts ranging from 2.2 to 10.7 mg per day for infants and children, depending on age.
Drug Interactions
Yes, vitamin B6 supplements can interact or interfere with medicines that you take. Here are several examples. Vitamin B6 supplements might interact with cycloserine (Seromycin), an antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis , and worsen any seizures and nerve cell damage that the drug might cause. Taking certain epilepsy drugs could decrease vitamin B6 levels and reduce the drugs' ability to control seizures. Taking theophylline (Aquaphyllin, Elixophyllin, Theolair, Truxophyllin, and many others) for asthma or another lung disease can reduce vitamin B6 levels and cause seizures. Tell your doctor, pharmacist , and other health care providers about any dietary supplements and medicines you take. They can tell you if those dietary supplements might interact or interfere with your prescription or over-the-counter medicines or if the medicines might interfere with how your body absorbs , uses, or breaks down nutrients .