Pyridoxine
Pyridoxine is vitamin B6, the ingredient used alongside doxylamine to ease morning sickness. On PockDose it is sold as generic Diclegis tablets, 10/10mg.
What pyridoxine is
Pyridoxine is the form of vitamin B6 used in supplements and medicines, and it is the B6 in the tablets sold here. The body needs it for normal brain development and for keeping the nervous system and immune system in good order. It acts as a coenzyme, a helper molecule that allows enzymes to process amino acids, the building blocks of protein. Poultry, fish, potatoes, chickpeas, bananas and fortified cereals all supply it.
When the body runs short
Kidney disease, conditions that stop the small intestine absorbing nutrients from food, some autoimmune disorders and certain epilepsy medicines can leave someone low on B6, and long spells of heavy drinking do the same. A shortage may bring anaemia (too few healthy red blood cells), confusion, low mood and a weaker immune system, and it usually arrives alongside low levels of other B vitamins.
Pyridoxine for morning sickness
Nausea and vomiting are among the most common symptoms of pregnancy. In mild to moderate cases, vitamin B6 — alone or together with doxylamine — is the first treatment tried. Doxylamine is an antihistamine, and the two ingredients are used as a pair to ease the nausea itself. Symptoms typically begin between weeks four and ten of pregnancy, and for most people they settle by around week twenty. "Morning sickness" often lasts all day, despite the name.
The pyridoxine listing on PockDose
One product here contains pyridoxine: generic Diclegis, a tablet with 10mg of doxylamine succinate and 10mg of pyridoxine. That makes it the combination option — both ingredients in a single tablet — rather than plain vitamin B6 on its own. It sits in the Women's Health category.
Taking it, side effects and storage
Doxylamine is the ingredient that makes people sleepy, which is why these tablets are usually taken at bedtime rather than at the start of the day. Drowsiness and a dry mouth are the effects most often noticed. Alcohol adds to the drowsiness, so drinking while taking them can leave you very sleepy.
Pyridoxine on its own is well tolerated at ordinary amounts. Problems come from taking large doses of B6 supplements for months or years: numbness, unsteadiness on the feet and skin that reacts badly to sunlight are the signals that the dose is too high. Keep the pack somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight.
Sources
- Vitamin B-6 - Mayo Clinic — Mayo Clinic
- Vitamin B6 - Health Professional Fact Sheet — NIH Office of Dietary Supplements
Is Pyridoxine available to order in Hong Kong?
Pyridoxine can be ordered online with delivery to Hong Kong. It is sold as generic Diclegis tablets, a combination tablet of 10/10mg with doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine. Every order ships in plain, unbranded packaging with nothing on the outside about the contents.
How are Pyridoxine prices shown?
Diclegis is priced per pack: its page lists every strength and pack size with the current price in HKD or your chosen currency.
Do I need a prescription to order Pyridoxine?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order pyridoxine. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What is another name for doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine?
Diclegis is a brand name of doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine, which are also sold as Doxinate. Here, doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine can be bought online as generic Diclegis. These are generics, not the original brand.
Is pyridoxine the same as vitamin B6?
Yes. Pyridoxine is one of the forms of vitamin B6, and it is the form used in most supplements and in medicines. The vitamin occurs naturally in foods such as fish, chickpeas and bananas, while the pyridoxine in a tablet is measured out to give a set amount each time.
Can I drink alcohol while taking pyridoxine?
Alcohol does not cancel out a pyridoxine tablet, but long spells of heavy drinking lower the body's vitamin B6 levels. With the Diclegis combination there is a second point: alcohol adds to the drowsiness doxylamine causes, so the two together can leave you very sleepy.
Does pyridoxine make you drowsy?
Not on its own at usual amounts. The sleepiness people notice with generic Diclegis comes from doxylamine, the antihistamine it is paired with, which is also why the tablets are commonly taken at bedtime rather than in the morning.
Can you take too much vitamin B6?
From food, no — the amounts are small. From supplements, yes: large doses taken for months or years can bring numbness in the hands and feet, unsteadiness, and skin that reacts badly to sunlight. It is the long-term, high-dose end of supplement use that carries this risk.