Australia's TGA issues interim report to remove supplements high in B6 from shelves as toxicity cases rise

[canetoad]

Major changes have been proposed to restrict access to a common over-the-counter vitamin linked to a growing number of poisoning cases. Vitamin B6 — often listed as pyridoxine, pyridoxal, or pyridoxamine — is present in thousands of products in Australia as an additive, including medicines, multivitamin and mineral supplements, energy drinks and weight loss shakes.

More than 170 reports of peripheral neuropathy, peripheral sensory neuropathy, small fibre neuropathy or chronic polyneuropathy for products containing B6 have been reported to the medicines regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), though medical practitioners predict the true number is significantly higher.

"While most of them have no side effects, if you are taking large doses of B6 your risk of peripheral neuropathy goes up.

"We know that reported cases of peripheral neuropathy are a massive underestimate of the problem in the community because so many people are unaware that vitamins can cause these symptoms."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-28/tga-takes-action-over-b6-toxicity/105470210

[LSparkle]

1. Back in the mid-80s I was taking lots of B6 resulting in numb feet

Went from GP to podiatrist to getting orthotics to finally a neurologist who diagnosed B6 overdose. Took a year to regain full sensitivity but I was eventually able to get back to figure skating which I thought would be impossible. Even decades later, though, I still avoid B6.