Vitamins
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
Also called: pyridoxine, pyridoxal phosphate, P5P
A B vitamin for protein metabolism, the brain and making red blood cells.
- Why people take it
- Morning sickness, PMS, nerve health.
- What the evidence says
- Helps nausea in pregnancy (recommended by many guidelines). Evidence for PMS is mixed.
- How it is usually taken
- Usually 1.5 to 25 mg a day; keep long-term use under 100 mg a day (some advise under 10 to 25 mg) to avoid nerve damage. Found in chickpeas, bananas, potatoes and fish.
- Be careful
- Long-term high doses (above about 100 mg a day, sometimes less) can damage nerves, causing numbness. Check how much is in all your products.
- Medicines it can interact with
- High doses reduce the effect of levodopa (without carbidopa), phenytoin and phenobarbital.
Other vitamins
Common questions
What is Vitamin B6?
A B vitamin for protein metabolism, the brain and making red blood cells.
Why do people take Vitamin B6?
Morning sickness, PMS, nerve health.
Does Vitamin B6 work?
Helps nausea in pregnancy (recommended by many guidelines). Evidence for PMS is mixed.
How much Vitamin B6 do people take?
Usually 1.5 to 25 mg a day; keep long-term use under 100 mg a day (some advise under 10 to 25 mg) to avoid nerve damage. Found in chickpeas, bananas, potatoes and fish.
Is Vitamin B6 safe?
Long-term high doses (above about 100 mg a day, sometimes less) can damage nerves, causing numbness. Check how much is in all your products.
Does Vitamin B6 interact with medicines?
High doses reduce the effect of levodopa (without carbidopa), phenytoin and phenobarbital.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed 31 October 2026. Written by Satya Babu.
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