B6 Toxicity

[chimey]

This is more of a comment than a question, but I would welcome info from anyone who has any experience with this situation. I took a prescription called Folcaps (which had 25 mgs of pyridoxine in it) for a year. In February of 06 I began experiencing symptoms which have now been diagnosed as Pyridoxine (b6) Toxicity Induced Neuropathy. I did not get this diagnosis until August 15, after four MRIs, several specialists and balance testing. My b6 blood level was 81 - the maximum safe level in this test was 32. When reading about b6 toxicity one reads about tingling hands and feet and being "wobbly on your feet" and things of that nature. It can be much more than that. Be careful with Vitamin b6. It's not known if the neurological damage is reversible. Some studies show it is, some show it is not. The damage I have suffered extends to my thyroid, my blood pressure has been lowered (to an unsafe level - it was healthy before), my balance has been damaged - I don't know where my right foot is in space, I've had insomnia, my symptoms are too lengthy to list here. The fatigue that I have been experiencing for the past several months has started to lift now that I've stopped taking the medication, but it is still profound...another hallmark symptom of b6 poisoning. This is a serious toxic situation and one that is not understood by the medical community. I am waiting to find out how much of my life I will get back. I am rebuilding my stamina & neuropathways with an optimistic outlook. And getting the word out. MD's don't know about vitamins. Work with nutritionists. Don't go it solo

[richauthor]

I have the skin allergies you are asking about.  I have a very large, raised rash (almost like a huge hive or welt) over the top of my buttocks all the way across, at the beginning of my butt-cheek crack.  I have to sit on a rubber-lifesaver-like cushion to keep from irritating myself when I wear jeans.  (The seam in the butt of my jeans irritates the rash severely.)  

And I have another, almost like a bed-sore, about 1-1/2 " diameter on the outside of my left hip, where I lay on my left side while sleeping.  Both itch something fierce occasionally, but not all the time... kind of episodic.  I was diagnosed in mid-June of this year, and they are about the same condition as before I was diagnosed. At the time (before diagnosis), I had no clue about what had caused the rash until I started reading up on B6.  

I find that warm Epsom salts baths give me a few days' relief, but no lotions work on them.  They are the toxins, working themselves out of the body.  Good luck, my brother.

[Fireguy91128]

Guess what I really want to know is has anyone experiences skin allergies along with the tingling and burning sensations from b6 toxicity.  It seems like my whole system is just over sensitive.  

[smmhassan]

i have burning mouth syndrome which is gradually increasing pain in the oral area throughout the day. it may start out not feeling any pain when i wake up in the morning. However, as go through the day i will experience burning sensations in the back of my mouth from my tonsils to my tongue.

[Fireguy91128]

Can I ask what the medication is that the doctor put you on?

[Fireguy91128]

I'm new to this forum but wanted to tell my story with B6 and see if anyone has experienced any of the same things.  In December of 2011 I began to have the onset of what felt like burning sensation all over my skin.  Everywhere my clothes touch it feels like sandpaper, very sensitive.  I also started getting hives that would come and go on my skin.  I never had a hive problem proir  to any of these symptoms.  I ended up in the ER in December 2011 and the doctors of course could not figure out what was wrong.  My skin was bright red and flush and I felt like I was burning all over and had random hives that would come and go.  All possible causes of this being an allergy issue have been ruled out.   I then went to the mayo clinic and they ran every test known to man on me.  Every hormone level, blood lab, autoimmune test, nerve test, MRI of brain, spine, abdomen, pelvis, chest xray, etc.  The only test that showed anything was my B6 level. I  was told that my B6 was 208.  The only thing I was taking was a multivitamin with 50mg B6 in it.  I stopped the vitamins and was told to recheck my B6 level every 4-6 weeks with my primary care doctor.  Now let me tell you that this garbage that people say that b6 is water soluble and should go into normal range in a couple days is a bunch of BS.  My b6 numbers went like this: Feb. 208, April 95, May 90, June 60, July 50, I haven't rechecked it since then.  Well its the end of august now and I am still having intense symptoms and wondering if relief is ever coming.  I'm a 32 year old male extremely healthy otherwise.  Has anyone with a b6 toxicity ever experienced really sensitive skin to the point thier clothes hurt and has anyone experienced a heightened skin allergy problem?  I also get muscle twitching and sometimes makes me feel ill in my stomach.  Do your sympoms seem to flare up and down, good days and bad days?  I read in my research that b6 is very important for nerves and your immune system.  Could a toxicity make my immune system overreact?  I had to leave my job as a firefighter over these symptoms.  I hope relief is coming soon.  

[momofthreeJs]

I'm a little over a month of stopping B6 supplements.  I'm feeling slightly better.  I still get dizzy frequently, suffer from constipation, tingling, and anxiety.  
I was wondering if anyone has tried a liver detox.  I thought it might help to get rid of the B6 toxins.?