Burning sensation on the face

[Kosakosia]

I started taking B12 injections (hydroxocobalamin 1000mg) in October 2017. After 3-4 months I have stopped taking it every other day and take every four days. I had neuralgia, so I take medicines. I was taking gabapentin and changed (because of stomach issues) to pregabalin. I take it twice a day. 2 hours before the next dose I feel bad, and also my neuralgia symptoms are slowly coming back.

I have a new symptom which is the burning of the face. I also have it 2 hours before the second dose of pregabalin. It seems that it is getting worse. How can it be if I take a lot of B12? I take folate 400mg daily and B6. So I should not be deficient in those.

I also struggle with histamine overload (I think it is due to Mast Cell Activation Syndrome) and I wonder if histamine can damage nerves as well. I take more medicines for this, but it seems not to calm my mast cells. Anybody can give me advice.

I am so thankful for this forum! Wishing you all health!

[Gambit62 Administrator]

How much B6 are you taking? - there are a lot of studies showing that taking large amounts on a regular basis can cause neurological problems - and in some instances they don't reverse when supplementation stops

[Kosakosia in reply to Gambit62]

Yes, I heard about it. I take 25 mg of P-5'-P. This is the only form of B6 which I tolerate.

[Kosakosia in reply to Kosakosia]

I have checked the norms and I take tooooooo much. I was so happy to tolerate it. I have to change it. Maybe this is the reason. Is the norm different when we take big doses of B12 or it is the same. Have no idea!

[Foggyme Administrator in reply to Kosakosia]

Hi Kosakosia. Assume that you're talking off taking too much vitamin B6 here...and over-supplementing with B6 can cause neurolgical problems, so,could well be the cause of your burning skin and perhaps other neurolgical symptoms, if you have them.

The requirement for B6 does not increase simply because high or frequent doses of B12 are being taken...it's one of those vitamins that it's best to take only if you know that B6 levels are low...and then only at a dose designed to right the deficiency, rather than as a regular 'thing'. For some this means righting low or deficiency levels and then stopping the supplement, with perhaps occasion re-testing of B6 levels to ensure that they're being maintained.

Only a small amount over what's actually needed by the body is enough to cause neurolgical problems 😉.

Would suggest that rather than change the B6 for a lower dose, perhaps give it a miss, at least for now, and see how things go...or rather, see if the burning face goes (your levels will probably be way higher than‘s needed if you've been over-supplementing and irreversible damage is a possibility...so I would advise caution with this supplement.

B6 can be quite tricky and we often hear from those who have been inadvertently over-supplementing.

Good luck 👍

[Kosakosia in reply to Foggyme]

Foggyme,

thank you so much!

I will try to give it up. I am on a strict (poor) diet and because of that, I have to take a lot of supplements. But I have to give a try.

I have to read how it is with people like me who cannot tolerate normal B6. (I did not make the test for methylation). What test is reliable for the B6 level?

[Foggyme Administrator in reply to Kosakosia]

Hi Kosakosia. Sorry but I'm not sure what your mean about not tolerating 'normal' B6 and just want to check that we're discussing the same issue.

Within the context of our discussion, I think the issues is the you're over-supplementing on vitamin B6 - taking too much (rather than not tolerating it).

If you're on a strict diet for medical reasons, your medical practitioner should be keeping an eye on your vitamin and mineral levels and advising you what you need to take - testing B6 is a routine test that they should be able to do - simply ask to have your vitamin B6 levels tested. If you're doing this privately, search on the internet for 'vitamin B6 blood test' (sorry can't recommend anyone).

Here's some information about safe upper levels for a range of vitamins and minerals:

cot.food.gov.uk/sites/defau... (Safe Upper Levels for Vitamins and Minerals)

efsa.europa.eu/sites/defaul... (Tolerable Upper Intake Levels for Vitamins and Minerals)

Good luck 👍

[Kosakosia in reply to Foggyme]

Thank you!

I wish I had a specialist who will keep an eye on me..... Feeling medically lonely.

[Foggyme Administrator in reply to Kosakosia]

I’m sorry for that Kisakosia.

Many here will know exactly how you feel, me included.

It's a tough business trying to get well when doctors don’t always do the things they should be doing.

We’re not medics here but we can at least lend our ears and try and make you feel less alone.

Keep strong and keep looking for answers.

Take care x

[Kosakosia in reply to Foggyme]

Foggyme, thank you! You are a gem here!

I wish you health!

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Kosakosia,

not clear why you say you need a methylated form of B6? is this the result of a genetic test?

B6 is used in the methylation cycle

puregenomics.com/methylatio...

working with the CBS enzyme per the above diagram. I'm not a geneticist or a medic but it doesn't look to me as if it needs B6 to be in a particular form.

This article on the metabolism of B6 implies that ingesting P-5-P isn't going to have any advantage over other forms of B6 because it needs to be pyroxodal to get into your cell and then converted back to P-5-P in the cell (section 2).

I know there seems to be a lot about P-5-P being better but then there is also a lot about methylcobalamin being a better form because it is the form used in cells - whilst forgetting that the mechanism for getting it into your cells makes this irrelevant. The sites promoting P-5-P do seem to have a commercial interest in pushing it as better so they can sell it to you, which makes me a bit sceptical.

[Kosakosia in reply to Gambit62]

I was going to make those test but my neuralgia and other health problems were more important. I am on a strict diet because of my histamine intolerance and sulphites intolerance. Because of that diet, I do not get enough of B6.

I could never take it because I was itchy after that. Surprisingly, I have no symptoms after P-5-P. So I was happy to take it. Is it methylation problem, I do not know.

I found Solgar P-5-P and I cut it to half because it is a big dose. Even though it seems to be too much.

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Kosakosia]

thanks for clarifying. All I can suggest it that you talk to your doctor or a pharmacist about finding a useful source of B6 that isn't such high dose.

[carolinehp]

Hi

I have b12 injection and I did take pregablin. I found pregablin only masked the situations. I also found by research that we need to balance electrolytes etc with other bits and minerals. I found b12 depletes other vitiam and minerals. This all with pregablin maybe the reason your feeling ill. In my opinion Drs push drugs onto us.

[carolinehp]

I found that eating the correct foods.

Cooking fresh vegetables, meat, fish, fruit pulses.

[Kosakosia in reply to carolinehp]

I think I am OK with minerals. I only supplement magnesium. Maybe after years of B12 deficiency, our bodies need more vitamins and minerals. For sure my metabolism is higher, now! Having more energy, being less cold. I love it!