Pyridoxine (vitamin B6)
Pyridoxine is vitamin B6. It is used as a medicine when deficiency is present or likely, and for specific drug-related or metabolic situations. Although it is a vitamin, prolonged high doses can damage peripheral nerves.
At a glance
Quick facts
- Drug class
- Vitamin B6 preparation
- Main uses
- Prevention or treatment of vitamin B6 deficiency; prevention/treatment of deficiency associated with selected medicines such as isoniazid; specific metabolic indications
- Route
- Oral; injectable formulations exist
- WHO ATC
- A11HA02
- Key safety
- Chronic excessive vitamin B6 exposure can cause sensory neuropathy, so high-dose supplements should not be assumed harmless.
- Monitoring
- Indication, total vitamin B6 intake from all supplements/combination products and neurologic symptoms during high-dose or prolonged therapy.
Names & terminology
How this medicine may be named or searched
- Canonical page name
- Pyridoxine (vitamin B6)
- INN / generic name
- Pyridoxine
- Aliases / salts
- pyridoxine · vitamin B6 · pyridoxine hydrochloride
- Russian support entity
- pyridoxine.ru — entity relationship only, not a clinical source
Structured drug profile
Drug profile
What is Pyridoxine (vitamin B6)?
Pyridoxine is vitamin B6. It is used as a medicine when deficiency is present or likely, and for specific drug-related or metabolic situations. Although it is a vitamin, prolonged high doses can damage peripheral nerves.
What is Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) used for?
Prevention or treatment of vitamin B6 deficiency; prevention/treatment of deficiency associated with selected medicines such as isoniazid; specific metabolic indications. The exact approved indication depends on the product, route and country. [1]
How it works
Converted to pyridoxal phosphate, a coenzyme required for amino-acid metabolism, neurotransmitter synthesis, haemoglobin formation and other enzymatic reactions.
Forms and formulations
Immediate and extended-release tablets; injectable pyridoxine for selected indications. Different formulations may have different indications, strengths, excipients and instructions and should not be assumed interchangeable.
Country / market layer
Availability and formulations by market
Brand names, strengths, prescription status and approved uses vary by jurisdiction. Check the exact national product record before relying on a formulation.
Availability depends on the active ingredient, route and formulation; not every medicine in this reference has a current UK product.
U.S. authorization and formulation availability may differ substantially from Europe and other markets.
How it is used
Use the dose appropriate to the indication. Nutritional supplementation, prevention during certain drug therapies and treatment of confirmed deficiency use different doses. Check multivitamins and energy products so total daily intake is not unintentionally duplicated.
For prescription treatment, use the patient-specific regimen rather than copying a dose from another person or another formulation.
Side effects
Standard replacement doses are usually well tolerated. High or prolonged doses can cause numbness, burning, loss of balance and sensory neuropathy.
Important warnings and monitoring
New numbness, tingling or gait problems during high-dose vitamin B6 use should prompt discontinuation review and clinical assessment. Unexplained neurologic symptoms should not be treated indefinitely with supplements without diagnosis.
Monitoring context: Indication, total vitamin B6 intake from all supplements/combination products and neurologic symptoms during high-dose or prolonged therapy.
Interactions
Pyridoxine can reduce the effect of levodopa when levodopa is used without a peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor. It is deliberately co-prescribed with some medicines, such as isoniazid, to prevent deficiency-related neuropathy.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Vitamin B6 is required during pregnancy, and pyridoxine is used in pregnancy for specific indications. High-dose use should still be guided by an appropriate clinical regimen.
Overdose and accidental extra doses
Acute toxicity is uncommon, but chronic excessive intake is the major concern because of potentially persistent sensory neuropathy.
Practical clinical context
The most important distinction is between the medicine entity and a specific marketed product. Strength, salt, route, modified-release design, age authorization and prescription status can change between products. When safety or dosing decisions matter, use the exact package leaflet, prescribing information or national regulator record for the product actually being used.
This page deliberately separates general evidence from the project’s Russian-language support site pyridoxine.ru; that site identifies the cross-language entity but is not treated as an authority for clinical claims.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Pyridoxine is one form of vitamin B6 used in medicines and supplements.
Yes. Prolonged excessive intake can cause sensory neuropathy.
Isoniazid can interfere with vitamin B6 metabolism, so pyridoxine is used in selected patients to prevent or treat neuropathy.
Yes when levodopa is used without a peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor; modern combination products change this interaction.
No. Numbness has many causes, and excessive B6 itself can cause neuropathy.
Sources
Clinical statements in this reference are based on named public-health, regulatory or guideline sources. Product-specific labeling remains authoritative for exact indications, dosing and contraindications.
- 1. MedlinePlus. Pyridoxine Drug Information. Source ↗
- 2. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin B6 Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Source ↗
This medicine reference is evidence-based and is awaiting clinician review. It is not a substitute for personalized medical advice.