Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

Category:

  • Vitamin

Description:

  • Dietary supplement; water-soluble vitamin

Indications:

  • Vitamin B6 deficiency

    • seen in some breast-fed infants, elderly, oral contraceptive users, alcoholics

  • necessary for proper red blood cell production

  • Adjunct to Isoniazid (INH) therapy

  • Unlabed uses:

    • hydrazine poisoing

    • premenstrual syndrome

    • hyperoxaluria type I

    • nausea and vomiting in pregnancy

Contraindications:

Precautions:

  • Pregnancy category A

  • Patients may develop hypervitaminosis B6 with excessive dosages.  Symtoms of hypervitaminosis B6 are ataxia and severe sensory neuropathy.  This takes up to six months to normalize once discontinued.

Adverse Reactions (Side Effects):

  • Relatively non-toxic in therapeutic doses

  • Sensory neuropathic syndrome (unstable gait, numb feet, awkward hands, perioral numbness, decreased touch sensations, paresthesia)

  • Low serum folic acid levels  

Dosage:

  • Dietary sources: meats, cereals, lentils, nuts, bananas, avocados, potatoes

  • Administered in oral soft gelatin capsules or injection

  • Dietary supplementation (RDA: recommended daily allowance):

    • Adult males: 2m per day

    • Adults females: 1.6m per day

  • Dietary deficiency: 10-20mg per day for 3 weeks

  • Vitamin B6 dependency syndrome: 600mg per day initially, then 30mg per day for life

  • Isoniazid deficiency: 50-200mg per day

  • Isoniazid poisoning: 4 grams IV initial, followed by 1 gram IM every 30 minutes

 

Source: Operational Medicine 2001,  Health Care in Military Settings, NAVMED P-5139, May 1, 2001, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy, 2300 E Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20372-5300  

Gynecology and Obstetrics CD-ROM
Volumes 1-6
2004 Edition
 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Copyright 2004
All Rights Reserved