Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin that helps convert the food you eat into energy. It also helps with your neurological activity and boosts your immunity. Vitamin B6 supplement is needed to treat people with Vitamin B6 / Pyridoxine deficiency or to prevent deficiency. Besides treating vitamin B6 deficiency, it can also be used to treat patients with neurological diseases such as seizures associated with isoniazid overdose.
Deficiency of Vitamin B6 is often caused by alcoholism or liver disease, which gives symptoms such as skin rashes, tiredness, tingling hands and feet.
Vitamin B6 can be taken by mouth or by injection.
If you are taking it for Vitamin B6 deficiency, usual doses range from 20-50 mg one to three times a day. If you are receiving Vitamin B6 injection, you will receive 10-20 mg daily for 3 weeks.
If you are taking it for preventing neurological diseases associated with isoniazid, your doctor would prescribe Vitamin B6 according to your risks. If you are of low risks, the usual adult dose is 10 mg/day. If you are of high risks, the usual adult dose is 25-50 mg/day.
If you are taking it for treating neurological diseases associated with isoniazid, the usual adult dose is 100-200 mg/day.
Vitamin B6 is water-soluble and accumulation in the body is unlikely. It has mild potential side effects such as a tingling sensation and sleepiness.
Common dosing schedule:
This schedule is for reference only, adjustments may be made according to individual needs.
Some common medications that Vitamin B6 may interact with:
In Hong Kong, many types of Vitamin B6 are over-the-counter medicines and can be purchased without a prescription from any retail outlet in Hong Kong. This includes grocery stores, convenience stores, medicine shops, and pharmacies.
The injection form of Vitamin B6 is a prescription only medicine and requires a prescription from a doctor to be purchased in a pharmacy. Vitamin B6 can also be obtained from doctors or used in hospitals. To find a pharmacy near you, refer to the list of pharmacies (“Authorized Sellers of Poisons”) from the Hong Kong Department of Health.
For more information about drug names and ingredients, you can visit Hong Kong’s Drug Office at https://www.drugoffice.gov.hk
Need more information?
For detailed information about the use of Vitamin B6 in children, pregnancy and breastfeeding, and for questions about drug interactions, please check with your pharmacist or doctor.
Disclaimer: our goal is to provide you with the most relevant drug information and common dosage for Hong Kong. This information does not constitute medical advice. For specific treatment recommendations and advice, always discuss with your doctor or pharmacist, and follow the instructions included with your specific medicine.
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