Saturday September 02, 2006
Prescribing vitamin B6 with linezolid


Linezolid is found to be associated with 2 major side effects: cytopenias and peripheral neuropathy 1. When Vitimain B6 (PYRIDOXINE) was prescribed for peripheral neuropathy, interestingly it was found to help in reversing cytopenias more than peripheral neuropathy 2 . Dose of vitamin B6 used was 50 mg PO once a day.

So far we have only few case reports but Vitamin B6 is safe and inexpensive and most experts don't see any harm in prescribing it along with linezolid.



References: click to get article

1. Severe sensory neuropathy associated with long-term linezolid use - Neurology.2005; 64: 926-927

2. Reversal of linezolid-associated cytopenias, but not peripheral neuropathy, by administration of vitamin B6 - Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 2004 54(4):832-835