Does vitamin B6 help motion sickness?
Verdict: Untested
Untested for motion sickness. B6 has a real evidence base in pregnancy-related nausea, which is a different condition with a different mechanism — and B6 is one of the few vitamins with a genuine ceiling on safe intake.
What it's claimed to do
Widely sold for nausea and frequently suggested for travel sickness on the strength of its reputation in morning sickness.
- YesTested for motion sickness and it held up.
- ProbablyReal trial support, but modest or from a single study.
- MixedTrials disagree — some found an effect, better-designed ones did not.
- Untestedthis remedyNo one has tested this for motion sickness. It may still be sensible.
- NoTested for motion sickness and it did not beat a placebo.
Levels describe the state of the published research on motion sickness specifically — not on nausea in general, and not how well something worked for any individual. “Untested” means no trial has looked; it is not the same as a remedy having been tested and failed.
What the research actually says
Search interest in vitamin B6 and nausea is dominated by pregnancy, and that is where its reputation comes from: pyridoxine, alone or with doxylamine, is established first-line treatment for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy in major obstetric guidance. Motion sickness is a different problem. It originates in a mismatch between vestibular and visual signals, not in the hormonal and gastrointestinal changes of early pregnancy, and we could not find trials testing B6 against motion sickness. That absence is the answer. The reason this page exists rather than being folded into a general list is the safety point, which is unusual among vitamins and often unknown to people buying it. B6 is not harmlessly excreted at any dose — sustained high intake is associated with peripheral neuropathy, a nerve condition causing numbness and tingling that is not always fully reversible. Several regulators have reviewed this in recent years. A vitamin with a real toxicity ceiling and no evidence in your condition is a poor trade.
No studies to list. We could not find a controlled trial testing this for motion sickness. That is the finding, and we would rather show you an empty table than fill it with research about a different condition.
Safety & what to watch for
- High-dose vitamin B6 taken over time can cause peripheral neuropathy — nerve damage producing numbness, tingling and unsteadiness, which may not fully resolve when the supplement is stopped.
- It is easy to take more than you realize, because B6 appears in multivitamins, B-complex products, energy drinks and fortified foods as well as standalone supplements. Add up everything you take.
- Do not use pregnancy dosing as a guide for yourself. Those regimens are prescribed and monitored for a specific condition.
- If you are pregnant and nauseated, speak to a midwife or doctor — there is genuinely effective, evidence-based care available and it should be chosen with a clinician.
- Nothing on this page is a recommendation to take B6. There is no motion sickness evidence to support doing so.
If you want to try it
- For motion sickness specifically, spend your effort on the measures with evidence — a forward view, controlled breathing, seat position — rather than on this.
- If you already take a supplement containing B6 for another reason, check the total daily amount across all your products against the guidance on the label.
- If you have unexplained numbness or tingling in your hands or feet and take B6, mention it to a doctor.
- For nausea in pregnancy, take the question to a midwife or doctor rather than to a supplement aisle.
Something with better evidence: Does ginger help motion sickness — verdict probably, and it costs nothing to try.
Looking for something drug-free?
Try Dizzout Free
We make a free, drug-free app that plays calibrated sound through headphones you already own. We hold it to the same standard as everything on this page: it is not a medication, it will not suit everyone, and if a forward view and slow breathing are enough for you, use those first.
Frequently asked questions
Is vitamin B6 good for travel sickness?+
There is no trial evidence that it is. Its reputation for nausea comes from pregnancy, where pyridoxine is established first-line care — a different condition with a different cause.
Why is B6 different from other vitamins on safety?+
Most water-soluble vitamins are excreted when you take more than you need. Sustained high-dose B6 is associated with peripheral neuropathy, so there is a real upper limit and it is worth respecting.
What should I take for nausea in pregnancy?+
That is a question for a midwife or doctor. Effective, well-studied options exist, and they should be chosen with a clinician who knows your pregnancy rather than from a general article.
Check another remedy
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When it isn't motion sickness. Severe or lasting dizziness, a spinning sensation at rest, hearing loss, ringing in one ear, double vision, a bad headache, chest pain, fainting, or vomiting you cannot stop are not motion sickness. Seek medical care rather than a travel remedy.
Dizzout is not a medical provider and nothing here is medical advice. These pages summarize published research so you can weigh it — they cannot account for your health, your medicines or your pregnancy. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before starting any supplement or medication, especially if you take other drugs, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are buying for a child. Evidence summaries reflect the published literature as of July 2026 and describe findings in groups of people, which cannot predict your individual response. Product and brand names are trademarks of their respective owners; Dizzout is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.