Pyridoxine Deficiency Follow-up
- Author: Richard E Frye, MD, PhD; Chief Editor: George T Griffing, MD more...
Deterrence/Prevention
- Prophylactic administration of pyridoxine should be provided when a patient is using certain medications, such as isoniazid (30-450 mg/d, which may be based gram for gram) and penicillamine (100 mg/d).
- Estrogen-induced reduction in tryptophan metabolism may require supplementation of 20-25 mg/d.
Complications
- Care should be taken when supplementing pyridoxine, because high pyridoxine states can cause a neuropathy characterized by ataxia and burning pain in the feet, beginning approximately 1 month to 3 years following supplementation. Although this usually occurs at very high supplementation doses, complications have been reported with doses as low as 50 mg/d.
- Care should be taken when prescribing pyridoxine supplementation to postpartum women who are breastfeeding, because high doses of pyridoxine can cause hypolacticemia.
- Injecting pyridoxine into an infant or neonate can cause a precipitous decrease in blood pressure.
- Pyridoxine has the highest adverse outcome per toxic exposure for any vitamin, although no deaths have been reported.
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