Toxic Neuropathy and B6 Toxicity

[Bostongirl228]

I have been just diagnosed with B6 toxicity and toxic neuropathy.  I have been suffering for 6 months now with numbness, tingling in lower legs, hands and face.   Nauseaus, dizzy and have passed out a couple of times.  Neuro doc finally figured this out after two hospital stays and 4 ER visits.   My problem is, I do not take B6 supplements and have read that you can not overdose from B6 by just eating food.   I have cut b6 pretty much out of my diet (not sure what I can eat) but am concerned because I also have low blood pressure and sometimes low potassium.   Does anyone have any suggestions on what to eat and if there could be another underlying toxicity that I am dealing with?  Thank you!

[johnsam]

are you still active on this site?

[missy 59]

Hi, I have small fiber neuropathy from B6 toxicity and I was wondering if you got to the bottom of this.   I started taking supplements after I already had numbness and tingling in my feet so I think I was already toxic.  Did you find any relief?  Thanks, Melissa

[Bostongirl228]

Sorry, just saw these comments.   I have cut out B6 pretty much and my levels went down, but a new neurologist isn't sure that was the problem.   I cut out carbs, sugar, and dairy and I seem to feel better for some reason.  I do still have a problem with my vitamins.   Vitamin K was high for some reason.   Still trying to figure out why my body gets toxic on vitamins when i don't take any supplements.   Before this happened, I ate a healthy diet which consisted of lots of B6 foods and carbs.  Now I eat a horribly unhealthy diet!   Good luck to you.  

[chiledog2k]

In case anyone actually reads this, I think I was wrong about potatoes and b6. The more likely problem with the potatoes is blood sugar, since that's supposedly one of the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy. And I'm sure the way I was eating potatoes was messing up my blood sugar.

[chiledog2k]

One other thing. I was also eating a lot of baked hubbard squash (something I'd never tried before) with my potatoes, when my fingers started going numb. And just before that, I was eating a lot of baked sweet potatoes. And I'd never had those before either. The market I go to doesn't have any more sweet potatoes, unfortunately. So I've just been baking a lot of regular (red) potatoes, that everyone sells around here. And I also started eating a lot of bell pepper, that I bake with my potatoes (or eggplant), and those are high in b6.So anyway, it seems like too much of foods high in b6 can cause some problems with nerve function. So like most things, you probably have to eat these things in moderation.

[chiledog2k]

I think I have a similar problem. I recently started eating a lot of potatoes, along with my usual assortment of fruits and vegetables, and not too long after I started eating all those potatoes, the fingers in both of my hands got numb. And sometimes I'll get dizzy, or my legs will get weak. And I just had a bunch of potatoes that I sliced up, and baked in my toaster oven. And shortly after, my I noticed my symptoms getting worse. I thought it might be a pinched nerve, but too much b6 is looking like the most likely cause now. I never used to have this problem. But I've been combining my foods differently, to improve digestion and nutrient absorption, and it's apparently working really well for vitamin b6:) I'm going to cut back on high b6 foods (mainly potatoes) for a while, and see if that fixes the problem.

[Bostongirl228]

I also have no idea how I got the B6 toxicity, since I don't take supplements, but its really hard to find something to eat that still has potassium, and low B6.  I feel like I am not eating enough of my other nutrients.   What do you eat to help lower B6?  Thanks so much for writing back to me!

[Bostongirl228]

Its funny you say that because my primary doc wanted me to have but here in Florida they send you to a cardiologist for it.  Since my cardio tests came back fine, I cant get anyone to do the tilt table test for me.  Just this week, I made an appointment at the Beth Israel Center for autonomic and peripheral neuropathy in Boston and that is the first test they take.  Its not for another 6 weeks, but since I have been like this for 7 months, whats another month!?   I do eat a lot of salt and drink G2, which helps with my blood pressure, not sure if you tried that to help you.   What state are you in?  Here in FL. there aren't any neurologist that will do or have ever heard of that test.  Hope you get answers soon, I totally understand how frustrating it is.  

[Stitch13]

I also have a toxic B level and I have severe low blood pressure. I have passed out numerous times and  the last time I hit my head on the sidwalk and had a concussion and amnesia. A new neurologist is testing me for autonomic dysfunction. Apparently not a lot of neurologists are knowledgeable on this condition, so I am going to doctor who specializes in this. Unfortunately it takes months to schedule and have all the necessary testing but I hope to have some answers soon. Autonomic dysfunction might be something you might want to ask you neurologist about. You didn't mention if you had had a tilt table test. This will give you more of an idea what's causing the low blood pressure.

[Bostongirl228]

They took an EMG which came back positive for toxic neuropathy and then bloodwork which showed high levels of B6.  Yes, my diet most definitely contained high levels of b6.  I was eating pretty healthy but had a lot of bananas for potassium,. which runs low, ginger powder for nausea, fish, pork, nuts, etc.   Trying to eat a low B6 diet, which is hard to find something to eat!  

[nzkiwilife]

Ask the doctor that said you have B6 toxicity how he came to this diagnosis.
Are you eating those diet items in normal amounts or are you eating some things in excessive amounts? If so,  which ones?

[nzkiwilife]

Ask the doctor that said you have B6 toxicity how he came to this diagnosis.
Are you eating those diet items in normal amounts or are you eating some things in excessive amounts? If so,  which ones?

[Bostongirl228]

Thanks for writing back to me.  This is a mystery to me.  I was eating a very high b6 diet,  bananas, ginger powder, salmon, nuts, kale, sweet potatoes...etc.  I don't take vitamins.  I literally have no idea what I should be eating.  

I'm thinking there is more to this than just B6 toxicity.    Working on trying to find more answers.  

[nzkiwilife]

What are you eating that is giving you so much B6? If you are eating a balanced whole foods plant based diet and supplementing B12 You should not be having any problems? Low blood pressure will make you dizzy.  Jmho though I'm not a doctor.
Alk the best to you