Vitamin B6 Toxicity in Australia: Symptoms, Safe Dosages & New TGA Rules (2025 Guide)
Vitamin B6 (also called pyridoxine) is an essential nutrient that helps your body use energy from food, supports brain function and keeps your immune system healthy. But in Australia, health authorities are increasingly warning about vitamin B6 toxicity, especially from high-dose supplements and multiple products taken together.
In recent years, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has recorded growing numbers of Australians developing peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage) linked to vitamin B6, sometimes at doses below 50 mg per day and often from more than one supplement at once.
This guide explains what vitamin B6 toxicity is, why it is a particular concern in Australia, the latest TGA restrictions on B6 supplements, and how to stay within a safe dose.
What Is Vitamin B6 and Why Do We Need It?
Vitamin B6 is one of the water-soluble B-group vitamins. It is involved in more than 100 enzyme reactions in the body, including:
- breaking down proteins, fats and carbohydrates
- making neurotransmitters such as serotonin and GABA
- forming haemoglobin in red blood cells
- supporting immune function and brain development
Most Australians can meet their B6 needs through a balanced diet that includes foods such as poultry, fish, potatoes, bananas, chickpeas and fortified cereals. True deficiency is considered rare in Australia. 1
Vitamin B6 Toxicity: Why Australia Is Concerned
Unlike many other water-soluble vitamins, high doses of vitamin B6 taken over time can damage nerves. This condition is called peripheral neuropathy. The TGA has issued several safety alerts stating that neuropathy has occurred in people taking doses both above and below 50 mg per day, especially when using multiple products containing B6 (for example, energy drinks, multivitamins, magnesium–B6 combinations and standalone B6 tablets). 2
Key concerns in Australia include:
- an increasing number of reports of serious and sometimes permanent nerve damage from B6 supplements
- symptoms often being misdiagnosed or missed by both consumers and health professionals
- cumulative intake from multiple supplements, fortified foods and drinks
- people assuming “more vitamins = better health” and taking long-term high doses without medical advice
A 2025 TGA review of the poisons standard reported over 100 individuals with severe health effects from vitamin B6 toxicity in Australia, including persistent neuropathy, muscle weakness and significant impacts on employment and daily life. 3
Symptoms of Vitamin B6 Toxicity
According to Healthdirect Australia and TGA safety alerts, the most common signs of B6 toxicity are related to nerve damage in the hands and feet. 4
Early symptoms
- tingling, burning, “pins and needles” sensations in fingers or toes
- numbness or reduced sensation
- mild muscle weakness
- difficulty feeling temperature changes
More advanced symptoms
- problems with balance or walking
- clumsiness or loss of coordination
- sharp nerve pain
- loss of reflexes
These symptoms usually start in the extremities and may gradually spread up the limbs. If vitamin B6 intake continues, the nerve damage can progress and in some cases become irreversible. 5
If you notice any of these signs and you are taking supplements that contain vitamin B6, you should stop them and speak to your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible.
How Much Vitamin B6 Is Too Much? (Safe Dose in Australia)
B6 requirements vary by age and sex, but typical recommended daily intakes for adults are around 1.3–1.7 mg from food and normal multivitamins. Toxicity is not caused by food; it is almost always linked to long-term high-dose supplements. 6
Australian regulators have progressively tightened rules because neuropathy has occurred at lower doses than previously thought:
- The TGA warns that peripheral neuropathy has been reported at less than 50 mg/day of vitamin B6. 7
- Products with daily doses above 50 mg have required a strong warning label for several years. 8
- In 2025, an interim and then final decision recommended stricter scheduling of pyridoxine, citing evidence that B6 poses a real risk of neuropathy at doses well below 200 mg/day. 9
New TGA Rules for High-Dose B6 Supplements (from 2027)
Recent announcements mean that, from June 2027:
- Supplements with more than 50 mg of vitamin B6 per day will be removed from general sale and no longer available on open shelves.
- Products with doses over 50 mg will be kept behind the pharmacy counter and those with more than 200 mg will require a prescription. 10
For most people, there is no evidence that doses anywhere near these high levels are needed. In fact, multiple Australian sources stress that deficiency is rare and long-term high-dose supplementation should only occur under medical supervision. 11
Who Is Most at Risk of Vitamin B6 Toxicity?
Australian reports suggest that people most at risk of B6 toxicity are those who:
- take more than one supplement containing vitamin B6 (for example, a multivitamin plus a “B-complex”, magnesium–B6 product or energy drink)
- use high-dose B6 tablets for months or years without medical monitoring
- are treated with B6-containing medicines for conditions like nausea in pregnancy and also take other B6 products at the same time 12
- are unaware that common products (protein powders, energy drinks, “stress” formulas) often contain added B-vitamins
Because symptoms grow slowly, many Australians do not connect numbness and tingling with their supplements until damage is advanced. The Brain Foundation notes that increased awareness among both the public and health professionals is urgently needed. 13
How to Check Your Supplements for Vitamin B6
To minimise your risk, follow these steps:
- Read every label – look for “vitamin B6”, “pyridoxine”, “pyridoxal” or “pyridoxamine”.
- Add up your total daily dose – include multivitamins, B-complex tablets, magnesium–B6 products, sleep/stress formulas and any fortified drinks or powders.
- Aim to stay within low doses unless your doctor has advised otherwise.
- Avoid stacking products that contain B6 unless a health professional has specifically reviewed your total intake.
- Report side effects such as tingling or burning to your GP and consider submitting a report to the TGA’s adverse event system.
Keywords and Search Phrases to Include in Your Reading
If you are researching this topic further, some of the most commonly searched phrases around vitamin B6 toxicity in Australia include:
- “vitamin B6 toxicity Australia”
- “vitamin B6 toxicity symptoms”
- “vitamin B6 nerve damage tingling numbness”
- “pyridoxine toxicity peripheral neuropathy”
- “how much vitamin B6 is too much”
- “is 50 mg vitamin B6 safe”
- “vitamin B6 side effects Australia”
- “vitamin B6 supplements TGA warning”
These keywords reflect what Australians are most worried about: toxicity, nerve damage, safe dose and new regulations. This article has been written to directly address those concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vitamin B6 Toxicity (Australia)
1. Can vitamin B6 really cause nerve damage?
Yes. The TGA confirms that peripheral neuropathy is a known side effect of vitamin B6, presenting as tingling, burning or numbness, usually in the hands and feet. Continued high intake can lead to more severe and sometimes permanent nerve damage. 14
2. What are the first symptoms of vitamin B6 toxicity?
Early signs usually include pins and needles, burning sensations, or numbness in the fingers and toes. You might also notice mild weakness or clumsiness. If you keep taking high-dose supplements, these symptoms can spread and become more intense. 15
3. How much vitamin B6 is too much?
There is no single “toxic dose” for everyone, but Australian safety alerts show that neuropathy has occurred at doses below 50 mg/day, especially when people take more than one B6-containing product. As a result, the TGA advises staying within low, medically supervised doses and has moved to restrict products above 50 mg from general sale. 16
4. Is 50 mg of vitamin B6 safe long term?
Not necessarily. Case reports submitted to Australian regulators describe peripheral neuropathy in people taking 50 mg/day for several months, and even at lower intakes when multiple B6 sources were combined. Because sensitivity varies between individuals, any long-term use of moderately high doses should be supervised by a doctor, and symptoms like tingling or numbness should never be ignored. 17
5. Can vitamin B6 toxicity be reversed?
In some cases, symptoms improve after stopping all B6 supplements and allowing time for nerves to recover. However, TGA documents and patient reports show that for some people the damage is only partially reversible or permanent, which is why early recognition and prompt action are so important. 18
6. Do I need a vitamin B6 supplement at all?
Most healthy Australians can meet their B6 needs through food alone; deficiency is uncommon. Supplements may be appropriate in certain medical situations, but they should only be taken on the advice of a health professional who has reviewed your diet, medications and other supplements. 19
Key Takeaways
- Vitamin B6 is essential, but more is not better—long-term high-dose use can cause nerve damage.
- Australian regulators have documented more than 100 serious cases of B6 toxicity and are tightening rules on high-dose products.
- Symptoms such as tingling, numbness or burning in the hands and feet should be treated as red flags, especially if you use multiple supplements.
- Check labels, avoid stacking B6-containing products and talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using high doses.
Used carefully and at appropriate doses, vitamin B6 remains an important nutrient. The challenge—and the focus of new Australian regulations—is making sure supplements are taken safely, with a clear awareness of toxicity risks and early warning signs.
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