Could I be getting too much vitamin B6 from my supplements?

Why is the TGA reviewing vitamin B6 labels?

The TGA wants to make it easier for people to recognise when a product contains B6 and understand how much it supplies. Its proposals include a standard label statement, changes to the existing warning and a lower dose threshold for requiring that warning.

This matters because someone may choose products for different reasons without noticing a shared ingredient. Clearer information could help people recognise their combined intake before adding another supplement. The TGA will consider consultation feedback before deciding whether to introduce the changes. Proposed labelling changes

How can you take B6 without realising it?

Yes—taking several supplements containing vitamin B6 can increase your intake without you realising it. Some magnesium products and multivitamins contain B6, and excess supplementary B6 can damage nerves. Check all your labels together. If you develop tingling, burning or numbness in your hands or feet, stop taking the B6-containing products immediately and seek medical advice as soon as possible.

Imagine taking a multivitamin with breakfast and a magnesium supplement later in the day. Depending on their ingredients, both could contribute to your B6 intake.

The TGA identifies B6 in products including multivitamins, magnesium, zinc and iron supplements, and some formulas marketed for stress. Checking the ingredients is more useful than relying on the product name.

B6 is an essential nutrient, and most people get enough through food. Normal dietary intake has not been associated with the nerve damage linked to excess supplementary B6. TGA consumer information

What should you look for on the label?

B6 may appear under an ingredient name such as:

• pyridoxine hydrochloride
• pyridoxal 5-phosphate
• pyridoxal 5-phosphate monohydrate.

The label may also give an equivalent amount of vitamin B6. TGA ingredient information

A useful way to prepare for a review is to gather every supplement you take, including occasional products. Photograph the ingredients and dosage instructions, and note how many tablets, capsules or scoops you actually use.

Check whether the amount shown is for one tablet or a larger daily serving. If the units or ingredient names are confusing, have the labels handy for your GP or pharmacist rather than trying to work out unfamiliar conversions yourself. Include any drinks or foods fortified with B6 in the discussion. TGA advice for reviewing intake

What are the signs of vitamin B6 toxicity?

Too much supplementary B6 can damage peripheral nerves—the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. This is called peripheral neuropathy.

The TGA advises that if you develop tingling, burning or numbness in your hands or feet, you should stop taking the B6-containing product immediately and seek medical advice as soon as possible. The effects can be severe and sometimes permanent. TGA symptom advice

A low number on an individual label does not establish that a combination is safe for you. The TGA has reported neuropathy at doses below 50 mg a day and in people taking several B6-containing products. Individual susceptibility varies, and no minimum dose or duration that explains every case has been identified. TGA safety review

What changes in June 2027?

A separate decision has already been made about access to some B6 medicines.

From 1 June 2027, oral preparations supplying more than 50 mg and up to 200 mg of B6 per recommended daily dose will be pharmacist-only medicines. Purchasing them will require a conversation with a pharmacist.

That future access change is separate from the current labelling consultation. You can seek advice about your supplements before either takes effect. TGA announcement

Talk through your supplements with HerDoc

Supplements deserve a place in the conversation about your health, alongside prescriptions and other medicines.

Contact HerDoc to discuss what you take and what you want it to help with. Have your product labels, usual doses and any symptom history handy. Useful questions include:

• Am I doubling up on B6 across different products?
• Do I still need each supplement?
• Could anything I’m taking be contributing to my symptoms?
• What assessment or follow-up would you recommend?

You don’t need to arrive with the answers. Your HerDoc GP can review your concerns and help plan the next step, including an in-person assessment when needed.

Contact HerDoc to discuss your supplements with a GP.