Loading...Q. When I was a teenager I had a brief bout with acne. A friend of my mother said I should take baker’s yeast. I took it for two weeks and it cleared up my skin. I hated the taste, though, so I switched to brewer’s yeast tablets. I have been taking five a day for 40 years.
Over the last few years I have had trouble with numbness in my feet. It’s a weird sensation, as though there were plastic wrap around them. A neurologist sent me for a battery of blood tests to rule out a vitamin B6 deficiency. He said it could cause peripheral neuropathy like mine.
My test results came back sky high. My B6 levels were seven times normal. Brewer’s yeast is high in vitamin B6. It turns out that either too little or too much of this vitamin can cause peripheral neuropathy.
A. Neurologists consider the nerve damage that occurs from vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) toxicity as a stocking-glove phenomenon. The numb sensation you described was a red flag. People are usually advised to keep their vitamin B6 intake under 100 mg daily.
JM
sg
I experience following symptoms after taking vitamin B complex supplement.
1. Tingling all over the body
2. Twitching all over the body predominantly legs stomach back right-side
3. Shocking sensation in body
4. Crawling sensation mainly in scalp and sometime on other part of body.
5. Numbness in foot and hands. In the night both hand feeling numb.
6. Insomnia, anxiety, stress
7. Sharp pinning/needling sensation in body,pain
I was taking Neurobion (Merck )containing Vitamin -B1 100MG, Vitamin B6- 200MG ,Vitamin B12-200MCG
I took one tablet each day for nearly 40 days. Without knowing these tablets are poisoning me each single day. I experienced symptoms on 25th day but I was thinking thease are not due to vitamin supplement. On the supplement pack it was written these tablets are good for back pain ,nerve tingling and prickling, Good Nerves health etc. I was so fool to look at this information and taking till 40th day.
At last I consulted neurology doctor he has advised me to do following blood test.
1. Calcium
2. Magnesieum
3. CK/CPK
All above test are normal. Then nerve conduction test and EMG also normal.
Finally doctor concluded I have binign fesuculation . he advised it comes and goes. Just ignore and asked me see psychologist.
I was desperate and suffering all above mentioned symptoms. I searched in internet for possible cause and in some website it was mentioned heavy metal toxicity is the one of the cause of twitching and tingling in body. I gone to private lab and ordered heavy metal toxicity test for nickel, arsenic, mercury, led, zinc etc
All above heavy metal toxicity reports came normal.
Finally I ordered all vitamin B complex panel blood test and my vitamin b-6 level was found 212 ng/Ml (normal range is 8.7-27.2) nearly 7 times high than normal range.
I stopped the vitamin B supplement. Today 65th day and I have still have moderate symptoms in the body but the magnitude of the symptoms have been reduced to some extent. This is good sign of recovery mode. I have no idea how much damage these vitamins have done and how long it takes to recover. now I am very careful with my diet now avoiding B6 rich food. Noticed whenever I eat B rich food my symptoms will increases . I eat Amaranth which has rich B6 and started numbness in foot hand and mild tingling. Burning in arms.it is very difficult to completely avoid B6 rich food.
In coming days I will keep update my progress of recovery.
It is too late for me to realize dangers of vitamin supplements…
Please share your experience of recovery . I do Sauna to sweat and 40 minutes walking
Nagaraju
Godavarikhani
When take BComplex tablet for numbness in limbs, it doesn’t work, instead increased. Recently I came to know excess pyridoxine cause numbness. Since, I have been testing, when I take BCOMPLEX tablets, then I have numbness in legs and arms frequently, until I stop medication. Even avacados causing numbness
Karen
Georgia
I have B6 toxicity due to SIBO! I have had peripheral neuropathy which likely originated with taking Levaquin some years back. I had terrible symptoms after taking a 5 day regimen of Levaquin and it took many months to get a diagnosis of small fiber neuropathy which required multiple skin biopsies and autonomic function tests. My vagus nerve is damaged. I developed SIBO a few years back. Again this took much time to get a proper diagnosis and the antibiotics prescribed to remove the intestinal bacteria overgrowth-primarily Xifaxan worked for a couple of years when taken off and on for symptoms. The other antibiotics don’t work, cause side effects and this overgrown bacteria is causing low iron and high B6! I don’t take B6 or eat a lot of B6 rich foods. It is all from the overgrowth of gut bacteria. The pain in my legs and even arms is miserable with little to do for it. Beware people of the floxy antibiotics. And if you ever have neuropathy symptoms immediately get a B6 level done, stop all supplements and get tested for other conditions such as small fiber neuropathy. If anyone knows of any way to rid oneself of excess B6 other than eliminating supplements and high B6 foods, please let me know.
Scoty
Central Texas
I wonder how many of you have ever taken Cipro, Avalox or Levaquin Antibiotics for infections. Reading these symptoms is in line with B6 toxicity, however they sound very much like PN caused by those antibiotics. If you have ever taken the above, even one time, you may be suffering Floxie caused PN. Seriously, don’t lay all blame on B6 especially if you were prescribed those toxic drugs. The FDA is considering removing this class of drugs, saying “it is clear they are just too dangerous” Think back, and if you ever took any of those drugs, you may very well have your answer to PN.
SunnySky
USA
100 mg is still a ridiculously high amount.
Dave
Florida
I’m one month into recovery from cubital and carpal tunnel surgeries (same day). While the carpal tunnel release went as expected, the cubital (elbow) ulnar nerve transposition procedure has left my elbow and arm in pain and the ulnar portion of my hand (ring, pinky finger and lateral side) numb.
I’m 67, lean and quite fit. I surf several days a week and enjoy outdoor cardio sports. I’ve been pushing my recovery with exercise, therapy, acupuncture and recently added RPH Nerve Support Formula. I awoke several nights ago in severe pain that radiated from the elbow down my arm to my wrist. I stopped all supplements for one week.
Last night, I again took the prescribed dosage of two capsules of RPH with dinner. BANG. Woke up two hours ago in terrible pain in my arm and elbow. I’m typing this as I wait for the codeine tablet ( which I HATE) to kick in and settle things down. My Point: RPH Nerve Support Formula may be great for maintaining your levels of B vitamins, but perhaps during recovery from surgery, or if you know your nerves are inflamed or traumatized, lay off the B6.
Darryl
Buffalo NY
Taking vitiamn b12 2000 units and b6 100 mg because I have diabetic neuropathy. Taking other vitiamn with iron for anemia. Am I taking too many vitiamns? Should I stop taking B 6. Also taking alpha lipoic acid. What should I do?
Terry Graedon
We generally suggest that people take no more than 50 mg of vitamin B6 daily. Since you are taking it to treat a medical condition, you should consult with your doctor about the proper dose.
P
Los Angeles
I had been having pain in both legs, constant headaches, thinning hair falling out, and vertigo.
Went to my Neurologist and he told me to stop taking B vitamins because my B6 was very high.
I told him I don’t take B vitamins, and also my B12 was high but did not create a problem. Come to find out, I am over in the B’s because of how I eat. What I thought to be healthy eating, seemed I had been eating too much of a good thing especially bananas, avocado’s, spinach which I would eat everyday. Other foods such as wheat, garbanzo beans, almonds & walnuts. Check you the foods you eat. Google side effects of too much vitamin B6.
The People's Pharmacy
You might ask your doctor to check again once you modify your diet a bit. It’s very unusual to develop problems with too much vitamin B (either 12 or 6) based on diet alone.
Lynn
CA
For those that have high blood levels of B12 or B6, it could be that you are not processing those Vitamins and it’s showing as excess in your blood but you are not benefiting from them. You may need to change to Methyl B12 and the active form of B6 which is P-5-P. Also, have your folate levels checked and the better choice for Folate is Methyl Folate. I found out this is my issue after doing a DNA testing and I have a MTHFR mutation which means I can’t break down the usual forms of B vitmains and need them in the active forms for my body to use them.
Susan
Lynn,
Some people with the MTHFR mutants cannot tolerate the converted B vitamins. I ended up in the ER with several panic attacks; one after the other. One needs to be tested for all the possible mutants along this pathway because others may need to be addressed before taking the converted B’s. It is important to start off with very small amounts if your going to try it.
John
Texas
I have high B6 from food supplements. I have nerve damage in my legs giving stiffness in my muscles and tendons, but little pain. I am waiting further blood tests to see if the B6 is coming down. I have stopped taking the multivitamin, but what can I do to reverse the nerve damage?
Tammy G
Nebraska
About 5 weeks ago, I came in from outside and went to my kitchen sink. I felt an odd sensation on my right foot, enough for me to look down to see if something was on my foot. It was a crawling tingly sensation that quickly moved up my right leg, and then was coming up my left leg. I realized that my legs were going numb and I was going down. I sunk to the floor and opened my eyes to find myself flat on my back wondering what the heck just happened. After 5 minutes, I got up and was struck with a blinding headache, an ache in my left shoulder area and a small pain on the right side of my chest.
The headache lasted for 4 days at some intensity and then just became a nuisance of a small headache for the next 2 weeks (I am not kidding). Saw my Dr. at the insistence of my family and he made contacts for me to see a neurologist and ordered lots of blood tests. Saw the neurologist who poked around my head and extremities, asked me tons of questions, ordered an MRI and more extensive blood work and a sleep study to test me for sleep apnea.
I developed restless feet and legs about a year ago. A few weeks before the kitchen incident I had noticed a constant feeling of vertigo. I manage a restaurant so contributed the dizziness to high stress and not enough sleep.
My Dr. had hinted at MS. Scared me to death. MRI came back with no abnormalities. That was good but I know I am not imagining all this stuff happening to me. Neurologists office called me today. Said that my B6 levels were highly elevated, which will cause neuropathy… the dizziness, tingling and numbing sensations, etc. and told me to quit taking any vitamins or supplements. I told her I don’t take anything. I have blood pressure medicine and take gabapentin for fibromyalgia and it also helps with RLS. I supplement with ibuprofen. I answered negative to energy drinks and being a vegetarian. She told me that a normal level of B6 in the body is 35 (that’s the high end) and my level was 53. She thought that was very strange that I wasn’t taking anything else and said she would have to talk to the neurologist and get back to me.
I am so tired of being constantly dizzy. Headaches come and go. The kitchen episode is the 2nd time that has happened, albeit the first time was about a year ago and we blew it off.
If too much B6 is my diagnosis, how did this happen and how do I fix it? They never called me back today but my googling led me here. Has anyone found answers?
LRE
Did you ever figure out why your levels were so high? Mine are 100 but I only take about 40 mg a day…
thanks!
Maureen
-South Australia-
Could it be that your body cannot metabolize the B group so it is accumulating in your blood. (i.e. floating around but not being absorbed into the tissues). Check out MTHFR gene mutation and the inability to absorb Folate Acid and need to supplement with Folinic Acid / with this condition also cannot absorb Vit B12 in form of hydroxocobalamin found in most Vitamin supplements.
With MTHFR gene mutation you need to supplement with co-methylcobalamin (Vit B12) starting with 1/5th of tablet as body will react to a large dose initially, need to start very gradually.
I have the double gene mutation from both mother and father. (C677T)
Need a doctor who understands this gene mutation. Can check out Ben Lynch’s site on MTHFR
Mindy
UT
Just curious if you found any answers for your problem with the B6? My 16 yr old son has had a constant headache for 8 yrs & ibuprofen & all the migraine med make it worse. They only thing that brings it down when it gets bad is muscle relaxer. He actually passed out while just standing there at church once & got a horrible concision, he is 6′ 5″ so he had a long way to fall! Just got his blood test back & his Vit B level was 80.
K.E.
Fl.
My son is very tall and thin and the Dr said because of this he would check him for excess protein loss, a urine test. His problem was discovered and corrected and he now has energy and no headaches.
Mindy
I forgot to add that he says when he stands still for long periods of time his legs start itching so bad
Jim
Colorado
Tammy G., Did you ever learn more about your PN and the associated dizziness? I’ve had very similar episodes and trying to figure out the cause. Was elevated B6 verified as your issue?
Matthew
Madison, WI
Do you wear glasses or contacts?
These can change your sense of balance….(hence possible causes of the vertigo and dizzyness).
Also
When I was taking 50 mg / day cozaar, (losartan) for blood pressure, I would feel dizzy when I stood up.
I backed off the blood pressure medicine to 25 mg/day and the dizzyness went away.
Better Late than Never
Matthew
Madison
For Tammy in Nebraska 2014….
Nathan G.
Oviedo, FL
I was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy on 3 Sept. 2014. I was also confirmed by my primary care doctor later that week. It was very severe, I could barely walk and keep balance. I didn’t have any pain in feet, though. Just seemed like severe swelling in bottom of feet, without the pain. It was like I had a pair of water-balloons strapped to the soles of my feet. No way to feel the ground to keep balance! Later the ‘water-balloons’ seemed to go away and it was more like a layer of gel or jello but it was still the same balancing problem when walking.
According to doc, my blood tests from the lab revealed a very low B6 level, and the doctor immediately prescribed Pyridoxine(B6) after over a month or two, my peripheral neuropathy has essentially disappeared. I also picked up some B-complex. Take all of them religiously now. Also plan to get the P-5-P or a coenzymated B6 / metabolically active form of vitamin B-6. I would much rather OD on B vitamins than ever go through that nightmare again. Take it from me, you don’t want to have neuropathy in your feet!
PS. after the neuropathy started to go away, I saw a fairly top-notch neurologist and he didn’t think I ever had neuropathy at all. Maybe myelopathy or lateral sclerosis. ER doc suggested spinal cord injury.
My supervisors were so freaked out by all of this of they forced me out on FMLA and unpaid leave for 2 months until I could get the doc to sign me back into the workforce. Not a pretty trip for me but it’s mostly over now.
Jean
Wilton, NY
I am struggling with neuropathy which has been labeled idiopathic. The only thing we can find is that my vitamin b6 is high, and when I was taking a multivitamin it was much higher. It all started when I went to a Functional Medicine Doctor. I have noticed that b6 in many supplements is way higher than the normal amount one should have. People think it is ok because b vitamins are supposed to be water soluble.
The People's Pharmacy
It is important to pay attention to vitamin B6. Taking too much (100 mg daily, possibly as little as 50 mg/day) can lead to nerve damage.
Jean
Doctors, especially functional medicine doctors, are crazy about b vitamins but they forget or are unaware that b6 can be toxic.
KM
I had progressing neuropathy in my feet, and after genetic testing, I found that I have an inherited condition called MTHFR. This mutated gene was “discovered” in 2001 and the medical community has yet to embrace it. B vitamins are seriously involved, and if one has MTHFR, they have to take the active form of B vitamins. I had really high levels of B12 on a blood serum test, but my B12 was like an ATM without a debit card. My body wasn’t able to convert the B12. Neuropathy is very common with this condition and it gets better or worse depending on the MTHFR treatment protocol. Google MTHFR and neuropathy and you will probably learn more than you want to know. I am constantly learning more and more about why I have neuropathy. Last night I read about Epsom salt foot soaks and tried it and my neuropathy after soaking for 20-30 minutes was much improved.
Jean
New York
I have one Mthfr mutation. Do you have one or both? Some doctors are familiar now but they say you have to have both mutations.
Lola W.
I also have numbness in my feet sometimes I get rls at night so I keep a pair of socks handy and when I get rls I wear them and go right to sleep but I’ve started taking b6 I heard it helps so I’ll let you know after I talk to my dr.
zqicvs
To Mary H,
I’m suffering from idiopathic peripheral neuropathy. took a teaspoon of bitter Brewer’s yeast for many, many years but only noticed the neuropathy 10 years ago after foot surgery for a Morton neuroma and a bunion on the left foot. Years later when I suffered excruciating pain from a Morton on the right foot and had surgery I developed neuropathy on that foot as well. So now both feet feel totally numb, some days more so than others and some nights the numbness which is more like a tight band around my toes, soles and ankle (so far only the left one) makes it difficult to sleep but when I do fall asleep I sleep through the night.
I also developed what I understand is called “trigger finger” on the ring finger of the right hand. I don’t know if there’s any relationship there with the neuropathy. I’m planning to see a hand specialist about that. About 10 days ago, I started taking 30 mgs of active Q10 (uniqinol) 80 mgs of benfotiamine and 50 mg of r-liopoic acid, no side effects or positive results as yet. I know I should increase the benfotiamine dose and will do so.
4 years ago lab tests showed I had a high level of vitamin B6 though I wasn’t taking any extra vitamins. Recently blood test showed vitamin B6 is down to normal levels and vitamin B12 is very high. The doctor didn’t seem concerned. I do eat a small banana every day at breakfast. Only 2 days ago I started to add once again after a 3 year break, a coffee spoon of brewer’s yeast with folic acid to my breakfast porridge. I eat healthy, no junk food and exercise 3x a week
I hear how painful neuropathic pain can be and thankful that so far I’m relatively pain free. If only I could get rid of this terrible numbness. I’ll try anything except the medication, anti depressants and anti epileptic drugs that my neurologist is pushing on me and which I refuse to take. There are neuropathic support formulas on sale on the internet, by 2 different makers, I wonder if anyone out there has tried either of them and if so what is / was the result.
Polly
California
Brewer’s yeast sometimes overgrows in the intestines. This would interfere with your body using the B6. When you stopped the brewer’s yeast, your B6 levels went down to normal. Perhaps your Brewer’s yeast isn’t a good supplement for you?
Yeast produce a toxin called acetaldehyde. One of the many nutrients that this interferes with is methyl-folate. You need the folate to use your B12.
When you have too much yeast in your intestines, you might become low on B1, taurine, active B6, alpha ketoglutaric acid, coenzyme Q10, asparagine, malic acid, and glutamine. You may also have low levels of protein because the active form of B6 is required for the absorption of your protein.
Mary H.
Both B6 and B12 were excessively high on my last lab test after I complained to the doc about numbness and tingling in both hands. Have neuropathy in both feet and ringing in both ears. The doc just said to stop taking any extra of the B vitamins. I was not taking either on a regular basis.
When I went back I asked why this had happen and he had no answer. How can anyone have high B6 and B12 when both are water soluble and are constantly leaving in the urine? Something is not right. I do take medications for pain. could some of these be the reason?
CASZQI
Any treatment for idiopathic neuropathy? (I have severe foot numbness but little pain) Blood tests show everything is in normal range.
Linda D.
Brewer’s yeast is a great nutritional supplement, though it’s a common misconception it contains Vitamin B12.
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/brewers-yeast-000288.htm
J.H.
Dear People’s Pharmacy,
what do you recommend for IDIOPATHIC neuropathy? I presently take Gabapentin but have read that it can increase eye pressure. I have Glaucoma so need an alternative to Gabapentin.
Thank you,
J.H.
Kate
Same exact thing happened to me with brewer’s yeast. I felt great when I was taking it until the peripheral neuropathy developed about four months later. Terribly uncomfortable tingling and pain in my feet and hands. That was about seven years ago. Now I can’t even eat bananas without it aggravating my peripheral neuropathy. It never goes away.
mege
I also had B6 levels at over 7 times the limit. I stopped taking all vitamins – trying to find a vitamin with no B6 is impossible. After 6 months had my levels re checked and they were within normal limits. Note that lot of grains can fortified with B6 – especially cereals. So if your vitamin is high and you eats foods high in them – might be an issue. I still have some neuropathy but nothing like it was.
Julie
I use 600 mg of Alpha Lipoic Acid once a day. ALA is a natural product that can be found at health food stores. Here is an article that explains the research and dosage recommendations: http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/Blog/Tara-Dairman/antioxidant_ala_eases_pain_from_diabetic_neuropathy/
lfp
I too have taken metformin for over 5 years. Metformin caused a depletion of my vitamin B12 levels, which in turn caused me to have decreased sensation in my 2 big toes for over a year. Just taking a B12 supplement for the last few weeks has made such a difference. I, once again, have normal toe sensations.
GA
I’ve heard 1-5 grams/day vitamin B5 (pantothenic Acid) clears up acne, which may explain why the yeast helped. It doesn’t seem to be toxic at that dose either.
max2tucker
I am diabetic and managed by metformin. I considered that the gradual neuropathy I was experiencing in my feet was a consequences of the progression of the disease. I do take vitamin supplements and other neutraceuticals to prevent gout. I’m wondering if these supplements may be a contributing factor. I have showed my doctor the list of things I am taking and he has not expressed concern. Is the condition noticeably reversible if I drop down on my B vitamin supplements?
PEOPLE’S PHARMACY RESPONSE: YOU’LL NEED YOUR DOCTOR’S HELP TO SORT OUT IF YOU ARE TAKING TOO MUCH B6 OR NOT ENOUGH B12. METFORMIN CAN CONTRIBUTE TO A B12 DEFICIENCY, WHICH ITSELF CAN CONTRIBUTE TO NEUROPATHY. DIABETES ALONE CAN ALSO CAUSE NEUROPATHY, SO THE PROBLEM IS COMPLEX. GET HELP!
JB
What do you recommend for numbness caused by diabetes in feet/leg area? Thank you
PEOPLE’S PHARMACY RESPONSE: ALPHA-LIPOIC ACID, A SUPPLEMENT, CAN SOMETIMES HELPS.
Leah O.
I have used brewers yeast for years for myself… sprinkle a small amount on my breakfast cereal and it is delicious in small amounts on popcorn!
But a vet once told me that sprinkling a small amount on my Cats food helps keep cats strong… thus they are never infected with fleas… I use no chemicals. Brewers Yeast is a Natural source of B-12.
dc
RE: B6 nerve damage.
Could excessive B6 (pyridoxine) consumption aggravate existing tinnitus?
Willy
I was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy (some caused by type 2 diabetes). My neurologists prescribed Cerefolin Generic Name: L-Methylfolate/B12/B6/B2 because my blood test came back showing my B6 level was on the low end.
After a few months my new blood test came back with my B6 was well over the high mark. I asked my neurologists if I should stop taking the Cerefolin and he said no that it will not hurt me. Does anyone know if this be dangerous? I would appreciate comments from a medical professional .