TGA warns GPs to act on vitamin B6 toxicity risks
25 Feb 2026
From 1 June 2027:
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Oral vitamin B6 products with 50–200 mg per daily dose will be rescheduled as Pharmacist Only Medicines.
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Products with 50 mg or less will remain available for general sale.
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Products containing more than 200 mg will continue to require a prescription.
Even though these changes don’t start until mid-next year, the TGA says doctors should consider B6 toxicity now, particularly in patients showing symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, such as tingling, numbness, or burning sensations.
“Health professionals should review patients’ vitamin B6 intake, including multivitamins, B-complex products, magnesium, zinc, and fortified foods and drinks,” the TGA advised.
The TGA also warned of a paradox: the most common symptoms of vitamin B6 toxicity can look similar to B6 deficiency. This means patients trying to treat deficiency with supplements could unintentionally worsen their symptoms.
Reports show consumers often don’t realise vitamin B6 is in their medicines, especially if it’s listed by its chemical name rather than “vitamin B6.” This can delay diagnosis and allow toxicity to progress.
Since March 2022, vitamin B6 products over 10 mg daily must carry safety warnings. By 31 October 2025, the TGA had received:
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250 reports of peripheral neuropathy linked to B6 products, with 152 noting “hypervitaminosis B6”
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162 additional reports of possible neuropathy symptoms linked to high B6 intake
The TGA advises doctors to check total B6 exposure in patients and consider stopping supplements if symptoms suggest toxicity.
https://www1.racgp.org.au/
Source: Therapeutic Goods Administration