[Vitamin B6 deficiency caused by the use of levodopa]

There are indications that the use of levodopa/carbidopa can cause symptomatic vitamin B6 deficiency. However, this has only been described for patients who used the product in the form of an intestinal gel.

We are describing 3 patients who developed vitamin B6 deficiency while using levodopa/carbidopa in tablet form. All 3 patients developed symptoms consistent with peripheral axonal polyneuropathy.

The cases of our patients are providing support for the idea that oral use of levodopa/carbidopa can cause symptomatic vitamin B6 deficiency.