Praktické lekárnictvo 3/2017

Pyridoxine use in children with epilepsy: a pharmacist’s point of view

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) plays a pivotal role in development and functioning of central nervous system. As with other vitamins of the B group, pyridoxine deficiency is rare, but it may occur as a result of some specific genetic disorders of metabolism. This may lead into functional deficiency of vitamin B6 and devolve into pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy in children. Pyridoxin dosing in this indication is based strictly on individual patient’s response and when reeded doses as high as 1g daily are administered orally. Especially with high dose pyridoxine regimens in paediatric population, it is preferable to avoid crushing tablets for administration and choose a suitable concentration of extemporaneously prepared oral liquid forms. In some types of neonatal and infantile seazures, therapeutic trial with pyridoxal-5’-phosphate is more appropriate choice yielding more successful results.

Keywords: vitamin B6, pyridoxine hydrochloride, pyridoxal-5-phosphate, epilepsy, neonatal seizures, extemporaneous preparation