Quick answer

NIH's LactMed database says vitamin B6 is naturally found in human milk and that maternal supplements raise milk levels in a dose-dependent way. It says higher doses used for B6-responsive conditions have not been studied in lactation but would not be expected to expose the infant to a harmful amount. Ask your doctor first.¹

Key facts

LactMed says vitamin B6 is naturally found in human milk and maternal supplementation increases milk levels in a dose-dependent manner.¹
The label of a doxylamine and pyridoxine tablet says pyridoxine is excreted into breast milk and there have been no reports of adverse events in infants presumably exposed to it that way.²
The same label says not to breastfeed while using the tablets, because the antihistamine doxylamine can pass into milk and cause sedation or irritability in infants.²
NIH's US upper limit is 100 mg a day for adults and 80 mg for ages 14 to 18, the same during lactation.³
Europe's 2023 upper limit of 12 mg a day for adults explicitly includes lactating women.⁴

What does LactMed say about vitamin B6 and nursing?

LactMed is the National Library of Medicine's database of medicines and supplements during breastfeeding. Its entry on vitamin B6, updated in March 2025, says B6 is an essential nutrient that is naturally found in human milk, and that a mother's supplements increase milk levels in a dose-dependent manner.¹

It says that a supplement taken to correct B6 deficiency should give milk levels that provide an adequate intake for an exclusively breastfed infant, while lower doses raise milk levels somewhat but may not be enough if the mother is deficient. On higher doses, it says amounts used for some B6-responsive diseases have not been studied during lactation but would not be expected to expose breastfed infants to a harmful amount.¹

What does the label of a B6 and doxylamine tablet say?

The prescription tablet that combines pyridoxine with doxylamine, an antihistamine, has a lactation section with two parts. It says pyridoxine hydrochloride is excreted into breast milk and that there have been no reports of adverse events in infants presumably exposed to it that way.²

It then says women should not breastfeed while using the tablets. The reason is the antihistamine: passage of doxylamine into milk can be expected, and excitement, irritability and sedation have been reported in nursing infants, with infants who have apnea or other breathing problems possibly more vulnerable. So the warning in that label is about doxylamine and not about vitamin B6.²

What upper limits apply while breastfeeding?

NIH's upper limit for vitamin B6 counts food, drinks and supplements together, and it is the same in lactation as for other adults and teens. It does not apply to people taking B6 for medical reasons under a doctor's care. The European Food Safety Authority's 2023 limit is much lower and states that it includes lactating women.^3,4

Upper limits for vitamin B6 for adults, as set by two authorities^3,4
Authority	Upper limit a day	Includes lactation
US Food and Nutrition Board (via NIH)	100 mg (80 mg at ages 14 to 18)	Yes
European Food Safety Authority, 2023	12 mg	Yes

What about a B complex or multivitamin?

The sources checked address B6 alone. A B complex or multivitamin brings several vitamins at once, and each has its own sources. NIH's fact sheets note that B6 is in multivitamins and B complex products, and that people who already take another B6 product should count it. Our own page on vitamin B12 while breastfeeding covers that vitamin separately.^3,5

Who should ask a doctor before taking vitamin B6 while breastfeeding?

Anyone offered the doxylamine and pyridoxine tablets, since the label says not to breastfeed while using them.²
Anyone taking a high-dose B6 supplement beyond a multivitamin or B complex, to compare it with the limits.^3,4
Anyone taking an anti-seizure medicine or levodopa, which NIH lists as interacting with B6.³
Anyone who also takes other B vitamins or a prenatal vitamin, to add up the total.³

Questions people ask

Can you take vitamin b while breastfeeding?

For B6, LactMed says it is naturally found in human milk and that supplements raise milk levels in a dose-dependent way. For other B vitamins, check each one's sources. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about any B complex.¹

Is it safe to use a vitamin b complex while breastfeeding?

The sources checked cover vitamin B6 alone, and LactMed says higher B6 doses have not been studied in lactation. A B complex has several vitamins, so ask your doctor or pharmacist to review the label.¹

Is vitamin b6 safe for a breastfed baby?

The label of a doxylamine and pyridoxine tablet says there have been no reports of adverse events in infants presumably exposed to pyridoxine through breast milk. The same label says not to breastfeed while using the tablets because of the antihistamine. Ask your baby's doctor.²

Does vitamin b6 get into breast milk?

Yes. LactMed says vitamin B6 is naturally found in human milk, and the tablet label says pyridoxine is excreted into breast milk.^1,2

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Sources

This page is information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.