Migraines, nerve damage: The Australians poisoned by over-the-counter vitamins

Hundreds of patients who have developed twitches, migraines, nerve damage and other neurological symptoms after taking over-the-counter supplements have joined a class action investigation against wellness giant Blackmores, as the medicines watchdog considers restricting access to products containing a vitamin linked to a growing number of toxicity cases.

Vitamin B6 is an essential nutrient found naturally in meat and plant sources, and occasionally added to popular over-the-counter supplements to aid the metabolic process.

Dominic Noonan-O’Keeffe, with partner Judit and daughter Ona, has experienced debilitating symptoms from taking B6 supplements. Credit: Simon Schluter

It has generally been considered toxic only when consumed in high doses over a long period, but the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) last month noted there was no scientific consensus on a safe threshold. Symptoms include nausea, hypersensitivity and nerve damage that can lead to tingling, burning and numbness throughout the body.

Melbourne injury law firm Polaris Lawyers announced in May that it was pursuing a class action investigation against Blackmores on behalf of anyone who has suffered injuries after taking its supplements “containing higher than recommended levels of vitamin B6”.

The firm’s principal, Nick Mann, said the response had been overwhelming, with more than 300 inquiries into joining the potential suit. The majority of respondents suffered injuries after taking Blackmores supplements containing vitamin B6, either exclusively or alongside supplements made by other companies, he said.

“One of the things that surprised me has been the number of people who’ve told us about really significant and ongoing impacts of B6 toxicity long after they’ve ceased taking the supplement,” Mann said. “The impacts on them have been permanent and ongoing.”

A Blackmores spokesperson said all its products, including those containing vitamin B6, are developed “in strict accordance” with the TGA’s regulatory requirements.

Mann said companies had a duty to protect customers and there was strong precedent for successful legal claims against the manufacturers of products approved by regulators but later proven to be harmful.

“Asbestos was legal and cleared for sale from a regulatory perspective for a number of years,” he said. “We’re not breaking new ground here in asserting that companies that market products to consumers have a legal obligation, both in contract and common law, that’s above and beyond what the regulator permits.”

Mann began investigating the action on behalf of Dominic Noonan-O’Keeffe, a father of one from Frankston in Melbourne’s east, who reported suffering severe and long-term injuries after taking Blackmores supplements.

Noonan-O’Keeffe began taking multivitamins in May 2023, based partly on the advice of podcasters, including American neuroscientist Andrew Huberman.

He attributed his initial fatigue to sleepless nights with a newborn baby, but by mid-November, his symptoms had grown to include intense nerve pain, extreme migraines and visual disturbances.

CT scans, blood tests and visits to his GP and physiotherapist failed to identify the cause until February last year, when his stepsister – a radiographer whose colleague had suffered B6 toxicity – asked if he was taking any supplements.

“It was a big light bulb moment,” he said. “I stopped all my supplements straight away, got a blood test, and within a week, I had a diagnosis of B6 toxicity.”

Noonan-O’Keeffe, who would be the lead plaintiff in the suit, said he still suffers from nerve pain in his neck, numbness and tingling in his fingers, and reduced cognitive function.

“I’m hoping I’m at the tail end of a big flareup, and this is the start of [my] recovery, even though we know the recovery prospects are pretty unknown,” he said.

Katrina Puchalski, a dentist working in Sydney’s south, switched to Blackmores magnesium supplements in June last year. Within three months, she had body twitches, a restless leg, and auditory hallucinations.

She stopped taking the supplements after discovering the link between her symptoms and B6 toxicity. While her most severe symptoms subsided after about three months, the ordeal has left her frustrated and with lingering numbness in her fingers.

“I would be crying to my partner, wondering what was happening to me and when it was going to stop,” she said. “I’m a health professional, [and] I cannot believe there are not more stringent regulations.”

In an interim decision published last month, the TGA said it was considering changes that would require any supplements with greater than 50mg of vitamin B6 to be stored behind the counter, meaning customers would need to consult a pharmacist before purchasing.

The changes wouldn’t take effect until February 2027.

University of Sydney Associate Professor Joanna Harnett, an expert in complementary medicine, said most supplements would meet the TGA’s threshold. However, it was normal for people to take several supplements at the same time, exposing themselves to unsafe levels of one ingredient.

“People who use complementary medicines believe it’s natural, therefore safe,” Harnett said. “Everything at a certain dose can be harmful to the body, including things that are derived from nature.”

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