Health Library
- Spanish Health Illustrated Encyclopedia
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Condition Symptom Links
- Lookup
- Drug Category
- Supplement Depletion Links
- Supplement Warning Links
- Herb
- Condition
- Depletion
- Herb Interaction
- Herb Side Effect Links
- Supplement Use Links
- Supplement
- Supplement Side Effect Links
- Herb Warning Links
- Herb Use Links
- Supplement Interaction
- Treatment
- Wellness Tools
- Thomson DrugNotes
- In-Depth Reports
- Pregnancy Center
- Care Guides
- Spanish Surgery and Procedures
- Health Illustrated Encyclopedia
- Thomson DrugNotes Spanish
- Spanish Pregnancy Center
- Surgery and Procedures
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Possible Interactions with: Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
Interactions
If you are being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use vitamin B6 supplements without first talking to your health care provider.
Drugs that reduce levels of B6 in the body -- If you take any of these medications, be sure to get enough B6 in your diet:
- Cycloserine (Seromycin), used to treat tuberculosis
- Hydralazine (Apresoline), used to treat high blood pressure
- Isoniazid, used to treat tuberculosis
- Penicillamine, used to treat rheumatoid arthritis
- Theophylline (TheoDur), used to treat asthma
Antibiotics, Tetracycline -- All B complex vitamins, including vitamin B6, interfere with the absorption and effectiveness of antibiotic tetracycline. You should take tetracyclien at different times from vitamin B6 and other B vitamins.
Antidepressant Medications -- Taking vitamin B6 supplements may improve the effectiveness of certain tricyclic antidepressants such as nortriptyline (Pamelor), especially in elderly people. Other tricyclic antidepressants include amitriptyline (Elavil), desipramine (Norpramin), and imipramine (Tofranil).
On the other hand, antidepressants called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) may reduce blood levels of vitamin B6. Examples of MAOIs include phenelzine (Nardil) and tranylcypromine (Parnate).
Chemotherapy drugs -- Vitamin B6 may reduce certain side effects of 5-fluorouracil and doxorubicin, medications used to treat cancer, without reducing the effectiveness of the chemotherapy. Talk to your doctor before taking any supplement if you are undergoing chemotherapy.
Erythropoietin (EPO) -- Erythropoietin therapy, used to treat severe anemia, may decrease vitamin B6 levels in red blood cells and may require B6 supplementation.
Levodopa (L-dopa) -- Vitamin B6 reduces the effectiveness of levodopa, a medication used to treat Parkinson's disease. However, your doctor may be able to determine a dose of B6 that can help reduce side effects of levodopa without interfering with the drug's action. Taking vitamin B6 along with levodopa should be done only under the strict guidance of a physician.
Phenytoin (Dilantin) -- Vitamin B6 reduces the effectiveness of phenytoin, a medication used to treat seizures.
Drug Interactions
Antipsychotic Medications Birth Control Medications Hydralazine Levodopa Phenytoin-containing Medications Tetracycline Theophylline-containing Medications Tricyclic Antidepressants
Alternative Names
Pyridoxine; Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
Review Date: 2007-09-04
Reviewed By: Steven D. Ehrlich, N.M.D., private practice specializing in complementary and alternative medicine, Phoenix, AZ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
Keywords: ,
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only--they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- 2010 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.