Drugs that Change Your Sense of Taste

Drugs that Change Taste

There are many drugs that cause a change in your sense of taste. Some just have a weird taste but others can change the taste of everything you eat for hours afterword giving things a bitter, metallic taste. Some people call it medicine mouth, the drug companies refer to it as Taste perversion.

Below is a list of the drugs that can alter or change your sense of taste. The drugs listed in bold print have an incident rate of bad taste in 3% or more of patients.

Z

  • ABILIFY® – Otsuka America (aripiprazole) Tablets
  • ABILIFY® – Bristol-Myers Squibb (aripiprazole) Tablets
  • ACTIQ® – Cephalon (oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate)
  • ADALAT® CC – Bayer (nifedipine) Extended Release Tablets
  • ADVAIR DISKUS – GlaxoSmithKline
  • AGENERASE® – GlaxoSmithKline (amprenavir) Capsules
  • AGENERASE® – GlaxoSmithKline (amprenavir) Oral Solution
  • ALFERON N INJECTION® – Hemispherx Interferon alfa-n3 (human leukocyte derived)
  • ALPHAGAN® P – Allergan (brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution) 0.15%
  • ALTACE® – King (ramipril) Capsules
  • ALTOPREV? Extended-ReleaseTablets – Andrx Labs (Lovastatin)
  • AMBIEN® – Sanofi-Synthelabo (zolpidem tartrate)
  • AMERGE® – GlaxoSmithKline (naratriptan hydrochloride) Tablets
  • ANTABUSE® – Odyssey (Disulfiram Tablets
  • ANZEMET® Injection – Aventis (dolasetron mesylate injection)
  • ANZEMET® – Aventis (dolasetron mesylate) Tablets
  • AQUAMEPHYTON® – Merck (Phytonadione) Aqueous Colloidal Solution of Vitamin K1 Injection
  • ARAVA® – Aventis (leflunomide) Tablets
  • ASACOL® – Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals (mesalamine) Delayed-Release Tablets
  • ATROVENT® – Boehringer Ingelheim (ipratropium bromide) Nasal Spray
  • AVINZA® – Ligand (morphine sulfate extended-release Capsules)
  • AXERT® – Ortho-McNeil (almotriptan malate) Tablets
  • AZACTAM® – Elan (aztreonam for injection)

B

  • BACTROBAN NASAL® – GlaxoSmithKline brand of mupirocin calcium ointment
  • BENEFIX® – Wyeth-Ayerst COAGULATION FACTOR IX (RECOMBINANT)
  • BEXTRA® – Pharmacia & Upjohn valdecoxib tablets
  • BIAXIN® FILMTAB® – Abbott (clarithromycin tablets)
  • BIAXIN® XL FILMTAB® (clarithromycin extended-release tablets)
  • BIAXIN® GRANULES (clarithromycin for oral suspension)
  • BICILLIN® L-A – King (penicillin G benzathine suspension) INJECTION FOR DEEP IM INJECTION
  • BREVIBLOC – Baxter health care, Concentrate, Injection, Premixed Injection, Double Strength Injection, Double Strength Premixed Injection
  • BRIMONIDINE TARTRATE – Bausch & Lomb Ophthalmic Solution 0.2% STERILE OPHTHALMIC SOLUTION

C

  • CADUET® – Pfizer (amlodipine besylate/atorvastatin calcium)
  • CAMPRAL® – Forest (acamprosate calcium) Delayed-Release Tablets
  • CAPTOPRIL Tablets – Mylan
  • CARNITOR® – Sigma-Tau (levocarnitine) Injection vial
  • CARTEOLOL HYDROCHLORIDE – Bausch & Lomb Ophthalmic Solution USP, 1% STERILE OPHTHALMIC SOLUTION
  • CATAPRES-TTS – Boehringer Ingelheim
  • CEDAX® – Shionogi (ceftibuten Capsules) and (ceftibuten for oral suspension) FOR ORAL USE ONLY
  • CELEBREX® – Searle, celecoxib Capsules
  • CELEXA® – Forest (citalopram hydrobromide) Tablets/Oral Solution
  • CELEXA® – Forest (citalopram hydrobromide) Tablets/Oral Solution
  • CIPRO® XR – Bayer (ciprofloxacin* extended-release tablets)
  • CIPRODEX® – Alcon (ciprofloxacin 0.3% and dexamethasone 0.1%) Sterile Otic Suspension
  • COLAZAL® – Salix (balsalazide disodium) Capsules
  • COMBIVENT® – Boehringer Ingelheim (ipratropium bromide and albuterol sulfate) Inhalation Aerosol Bronchodilator Aerosol
  • COMTAN® – Novartis (entacapone) Tablets
  • COPAXONE® – Teva Neuroscience (glatiramer acetate injection)
  • COSOPT® – Merck (dorzolamide hydrochloride-timolol maleate ophthalmic solution) Sterile Ophthalmic Solution
  • COUMADIN – Bristol-Myers Squibb Tablets and Injection
  • COZAAR® – Merck (losartan potassium tablets)
  • CRIXIVAN® – Merck (INDINAVIR SULFATE) Capsules
  • CUBICIN® – Cubist (daptomycin for injection)
  • CUPRIMINE® – Merck (Penicillamine) Capsules
  • CYTOVENE®-IV – Roche Laboratories (ganciclovir sodium for injection)
  • CYTOVENE® – Roche Laboratories (ganciclovir Capsules)
  • CYTOVENE®-IV – Roche Laboratories (ganciclovir sodium for injection) FOR INTRAVENOUS INFUSION
  • CYTOVENE® (ganciclovir Capsules) FOR ORAL ADMINISTRATION

D

  • DANTRIUM® – Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals (dantrolene sodium) Capsules
  • DENAVIR® – Novartis Consumer, a brand of penciclovir cream, 1%
  • DEPACON® – Abbott VALPROATE SODIUM INJECTION
  • DEPAKENE® – Abbott VALPROIC ACID Capsules and SYRUP
  • DEPAKOTE® – Abbott, DIVALPROEX SODIUM COATED PARTICLES IN Capsules, Sprinkle Capsules
  • DEPAKOTE® – Abbott, DIVALPROEX SODIUM Delayed-Release Tablets
  • DEPAKOTE® ER – Abbott (divalproex sodium) Extended-ReleaseTablets
  • DIFLUCAN® – Pfizer (Fluconazole Tablets) (Injection, Oral Suspension and Tablets)
  • DILAUDID® – Abbott (hydromorphone hydrochloride) Dose Vials, Oral Liquid, Powder, Suppositories, Tablets and injection
  • DILAUDID® – Abbott (hydromorphone hydrochloride)
  • DIPRIVAN® – AstraZeneca (propofol) Injectable Emulsion FOR IV ADMINISTRATION
  • DOXIL® – Tibotec (doxorubicin HCl liposome injection) FOR INTRAVENOUS INFUSION ONLY
  • DUONEB® – Dey (Ipratropium Bromide 0.5 mg/Albuterol Sulfate 3.0 mg*) Inhalation Solution

E

  • EFFEXOR® – Wyeth-Ayerst (venlafaxine hydrochloride) Tablets, XR Capsules
  • ELDEPRYL® – Somerset (SELEGILINE HYDROCHLORIDE) Capsules
  • ELIGARD® 7.5 mg – Sanofi-Synthelabo (leuprolide acetate for injectable suspension)
  • ELOXATIN? – Sanofi-Synthelabo (oxaliplatin for injection)
  • EMEND® – Merck (aprepitant) Capsules
  • ENBREL® – Amgen (etanercept)
  • ESKALITH® – GlaxoSmithKline (lithium carbonate) Capsules
  • ESKALITH CR® (lithium carbonate) Controlled-Release Tablets
  • EVOXAC® – Daiichi (cevimeline hydrochloride) Capsules
  • EXELON® – Novartis (rivastigmine tartrate) Capsules
  • EXELON® – Novartis (rivastigmine tartrate) Oral Solution

F

  • FACTIVE® – Ocient (gemifloxacin mesylate) Tablets
  • FLONASE® – GlaxoSmithKline (fluticasone propionate) Nasal Spray
  • FLOXIN® OTIC SINGLES? (Daiichi) (ofloxacin otic) solution
  • FLOXIN® – Ortho-McNeil (ofloxacin) tablets
  • FLUMADINE® – Forest (rimantadine hydrochloride tablets) Tablets and SYRUP
  • FML® – Allergan (fluorometholone ophthalmic suspension)
  • FML FORTE® – Allergan (fluorometholone ophthalmic suspension)
  • FORTOVASE® – Roche Laboratories (saquinavir) SOFT GELATIN Capsules
  • FOSAMAX® – Merck (alendronate sodium) Tablets and Oral Solution
  • FOSAMAX® – Merck (alendronate sodium) Tablets and Oral Solution
  • FUZEON? – Roche Laboratories (enfuvirtide) for Injection

G

  • GABITRIL® – Cephalon (tiagabine hydrochloride) Tablets
  • GASTROCROM® – Celltech (cromolyn sodium) Oral Concentrate
  • GENGRAF® – Abbott (cyclosporine Capsules
  • GLEEVEC® – Novartis (imatinib mesylate) Tablets

H

  • HIVID® – Roche Laboratories (zalcitabine) Tablets
  • HYZAAR® 50-12.5 – Merck (losartan potassium-hydrochlorothiazide) tablets

I

  • IMITREX® – GlaxoSmithKline (sumatriptan succinate) Injection, Nasal Spray and Tablets
  • INFED® – Watson (IRON DEXTRAN INJECTION)
  • INFERGEN® – InterMune (Interferon alfacon-1)
  • INTRON® A – Schering Interferon alfa-2b, recombinant For Injection
  • INVANZ® – Merck (ertapenem for injection)
  • INVIRASE® – Roche Laboratories (saquinavir mesylate) Capsules

J

  • JANTOVEN? – Upsher-Smith (Warfarin Sodium Tablets)

K

  • KALETRA® – Abbott (lopinavir/ritonavir) Capsules and oral solution
  • KOGENATE® FS – Bayer health care, Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant) Formulated with Sucrose
  • KYTRIL – Roche Laboratories (granisetron hydrochloride) Injection

L

  • LAMICTAL® – GlaxoSmithKline (lamotrigine) Tablets and Chewable Tablets
  • LAMISIL® – Novartis (terbinafine hydrochloride tablets) Tablets
  • LESCOL® – Novartis (fluvastatin sodium) Capsules, Tablets
  • LESCOL® – Reliant (fluvastatin sodium) Capsules
  • LESCOL® XL (fluvastatin sodium) Extended-Release Tablets
  • Levaquin – Ortho-McNeil, Injection, Tablets, in 5% Dextrose Injection
  • LEXAPRO® – Forest (escitalopram oxalate) Tablets/Oral Solution
  • LIPITOR® – Parke-Davis (Atorvastatin Calcium) Tablets
  • Lotensin HCT Tablets – Novartis
  • LOTRONEX® – GlaxoSmithKline (alosetron hydrochloride) Tablets
  • LUPRON DEPOT® – TAP (leuprolide acetate for depot suspension)
  • LUPRON® – TAP (leuprolide acetate) Injection

M

  • MAXAIR? AUTOHALER? (3M) (pirbuterol acetate inhalation aerosol) For Oral Inhalation Only
  • MAXZIDE® and MAXZIDE® – Mylan Tablets BRAND OF (TRIAMTERENE AND HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE)
  • MEPRON® – GlaxoSmithKline (atovaquone) Suspension
  • MERIDIA® – Abbott (sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate) Capsules
  • METFORMIN – multiple manufacturers
  • METROGEL-VAGINAL® – 3M (metronidazole vaginal gel) 0.75% Vaginal Gel
  • MEVACOR® – Merck (Lovastatin) Tablets
  • MIACALCIN® – Novartis (calcitonin-salmon) Nasal Spray
  • MIRAPEX® – Pharmacia & Upjohn pramipexole dihydrochloride tablets
  • MIRAPEX® – Boehringer Ingelheim (pramipexole dihydrochloride)
  • MOBIC® – Boehringer Ingelheim (meloxicam)
  • MS CONTIN® – Purdue Frederick (Morphine Sulfate Controlled-Release) Tablets
  • MSIR – Purdue Frederick, Oral Solution Concentrate and Oral Tablets

N

  • NASONEX® – Schering (mometasone furoate monohydrate) Nasal Spray
  • NAVELBINE® – GlaxoSmithKline (vinorelbine tartrate)
  • NEORAL® SOFT GELATIN Capsules – Novartis (cyclosporine Capsules) MODIFIED
  • NEORAL® Oral Solution (cyclosporine oral solution) MODIFIED
  • NEULASTA? – Amgen (pegfilgrastim)
  • NEURONTIN – Parke-Davis, Capsules, Tablets, and Oral Solution
  • NEXIUM® – AstraZeneca LP (esomeprazole magnesium) Delayed-Release Capsules
  • NIPENT® – SuperGen (pentostatin for injection)
  • NORVASC® – Pfizer (amlodipine besylate) Tablets)
  • NORVIR® – Abbott (ritonavir Capsules) Soft Gelatin (ritonavir oral solution)

O

  • ORAMORPH® SR – AAI Pharma (MORPHINE SULFATE) Sustained-Release Tablets
  • ORAP® – Gate (pimozide) Tablets
  • OXYCONTIN® – Purdue Pharma (Oxycodone HCl Controlled-Release) Tablets

P

  • PACERONE® – Upsher-Smith (Amiodarone HCl) Tablets
  • PARCOPA? – Schwarz (carbidopa-levodopa orally disintegrating tablets)
  • PATANOL® – Alcon (olopatadine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution 0.1%)
  • PAXIL CR? – GlaxoSmithKline (paroxetine hydrochloride) Controlled-Release Tablets and Oral Suspension
  • PEG-INTRON® – Schering (Peginterferon alfa-2b) Powder for Injection
  • PEPCID® – Merck (Famotidine) Injection, Oral Suspension and Tablets
  • PERMAX® – Valeant (pergolide) Tablets
  • PLAVIX® – Bristol-Myers Squibb (clopidogrel bisulfate tablets)
  • PLAVIX® – Sanofi-Synthelabo (clopidogrel bisulfate tablets)
  • PRAVACHOL® – Bristol-Myers Squibb (pravastatin sodium) Tablets
  • PREVACID – TAP, Delayed-Release Capsules, Oral Suspension, I.V. and Orally Disintegrating Tablets
  • PREVACID® NapraPAC? 375 – TAP (lansoprazole) delayed-release Capsules, Solu Tabs and tablets kit
  • PREVACID® NapraPAC? (lansoprazole) delayed-release Capsules and tablets
  • PREVPAC® – TAP (lansoprazole 30-mg Capsules, amoxicillin 500-mg Capsules, USP, and clarithromycin 500-mg tablets)
  • PRILOSEC OTC? – Procter & Gamble Acid Reducer
  • PRIMAXIN® I.M. and I.V. – Merck (Imipenem and Cilastatin)
  • PRINIVIL® Tablets – Merck (Lisinopril)
  • PRINZIDE® Tablets – Merck (Lisinopril-Hydrochlorothiazide)
  • PROLEUKIN® – Chiron Aldesleukin For Injection
  • PROSOM? – Abbott (estazolam tablets) I.V. and Tablets
  • PROTOPIC® – Fujisawa (tacrolimus) Ointment 0.03% and 0.1%
  • PROVIGIL® – Cephalon (modafinil) Tablets
  • PROZAC® – Lilly FLUOXETINE HYDROCHLORIDE

R

  • REBETOL® – Schering (ribavirin) Capsules and Oral Solution
  • REBETRON® – Schering Combination Therapy containing REBETOL® (ribavirin) Capsules and INTRON® A (interferon alfa-2b, recombinant) Injection
  • REFACTO® – Wyeth-Ayerst Antihemophilic Factor, Recombinant
  • RELAFEN® – GlaxoSmithKline brand of nabumetone tablets
  • RELPAX® – Pfizer (eletriptan hydrobromide) Tablets
  • RESCRIPTOR® – Pfizer brand of delavirdine mesylate tablets
  • RETROVIR – GlaxoSmithKline, Capsules, Syrup, Tablets and I.V. Infusion
  • REYATAZ® – Bristol-Myers Squibb (atazanavir sulfate) Capsules
  • RIBAVIRIN – Schering, Capsules
  • RITUXAN® – Biogen Idec Rituximab
  • RITUXAN® – Genentech Rituximab
  • ROFERON®-A – Roche Laboratories (Interferon alfa-2a, recombinant)
  • RYTHMOL® SR – Reliant (propafenone hydrochloride) extended release Capsules

S

  • SALAGEN® – MGI (pilocarpine hydrochloride) Tablets
  • SANDOSTATIN LAR® DEPOT – Novartis (octreotide acetate for injectable suspension)
  • SEROQUEL® – AstraZeneca (quetiapine fumarate)
  • SONATA® – King (zaleplon) Capsules
  • SORIATANE® – Connetics (acitretin) Capsules
  • SPECTRACEF® – Purdue Pharmaceutical cefditoren pivoxil Tablets
  • SPORANOX® – Janssen (itraconazole) Oral Solution
  • STALEVO® – Novartis (carbidopa, levodopa and entacapone) Tablets
  • STRIANT® – Columbia (testosterone buccal system) mucoadhesive
  • SULAR® – First Horizon (Nisoldipine) Extended Release Tablets
  • SURMONTIL® – Odyssey (trimipramine maleate)
  • SUSTIVA® – Bristol-Myers Squibb (efavirenz) Capsules and tablets
  • SYMBYAX? – Lilly (olanzapine and fluoxetine HCl Capsules)

T

  • TAMBOCOR? – 3M (flecainide acetate) Tablets
  • TASMAR® – Valeant (tolcapone) Tablets
  • TAXOTERE® – Aventis (docetaxel) Injection Concentrate
  • TEQUIN – Bristol-Myers Squibb, Injection and Tablets
  • TESTIM® – Auxilium (testosterone gel)
  • TIMENTIN® – GlaxoSmithKline (sterile ticarcillin disodium and clavulanate potassium) for Intravenous Administration ADD-VANTAGE® VIAL
  • TINDAMAX? – Presutti (tinidazole) Tablets
  • TRILEPTAL® – Novartis (oxcarbazepine) Tablets, Oral Suspension
  • TOBI® – Chiron, Tobramycin Solution for Inhalation
  • TOPAMAX® – Ortho-McNeil (topiramate) Tablets, Capsules, and Sprinkle Capsules
  • TORADOL® – Roche Laboratories (ketorolac tromethamine) IV/IM, Oral Suspension and tablets)

U

  • UNIVASC® – Schwarz (moexipril hydrochloride) tablets

V

  • VANTIN® – Pharmacia & Upjohn (cefpodoxime proxetil) Tablets and Oral Suspension
  • VASERETIC – Merck, Tablets
  • VASOTEC – Merck, I.V. Injection
  • VFEND® I.V. – Pfizer (voriconazole) for Injection, Tablets and Oral Suspension
  • VOSPIRE ER? – Odyssey (Albuterol Sulfate) Extended-Release Tablets
  • VYTORIN – Merck/Schering Plough, Tablets

W

  • WELLBUTRIN SR® – GlaxoSmithKline (bupropion hydrochloride) Sustained-Release and Extended-Release Tablets

X

  • XANAX® – Pharmacia & Upjohn alprazolam tablets

Z

  • ZEGERID? – Santarus (omeprazole) Powder for Oral Suspension
  • ZEMPLAR® – Abbott (paricalcitol injection) Fliptop Vial
  • ZITHROMAX® – Pfizer (azithromycin Capsules) (azithromycin tablets) and (azithromycin for oral suspension)
  • ZITHROMAX® – Pfizer (azithromycin for injection)
  • ZITHROMAX® – Pfizer (azithromycin tablets) and (azithromycin for oral suspension)
  • ZOCOR® – Merck (simvastatin) Tablets
  • ZOMIG® NASAL SPRAY (Medpointe) (zolmitriptan)
  • ZONEGRAN® – Eisai (zonisamide) Capsules
  • ZOSYN® – Wyeth-Ayerst (Piperacillin and Tazobactam for Injection)
  • ZOSYN® – Wyeth-Ayerst (Piperacillin and Tazobactam for Injection)
  • ZYBAN® – GlaxoSmithKline (bupropion hydrochloride) Sustained-Release Tablets
  • ZYMAR? – Allergan (gatifloxacin ophthalmic solution)
  • ZYPREXA – Lilly, IntraMuscular, Tablets, and ZYdis Orally Disintegrating Tablets
  • ZYRTEC® – Pfizer (cetirizine hydrochloride) Tablets, Chewable Tablets and Syrup
  • ZYRTEC-D 12 HOUR® – Pfizer (cetirizine hydrochloride) Extended Release Tablets
  • ZYVOX? – Pharmacia & Upjohn (linezolid) injection, tablets, and oral suspension

What can I do about medicine mouth?

Self-care solutions that others have found helpful include:

  • Drink tart juices to “mask” the taste of medicine mouth: cranberry, lemonade, pineapple juice, orange juice, etc.
  • To clear your taste buds, rinse your mouth out with ginger ale, tea, salted water, or a spoonful of baking soda dissolved in a glass water.
  • Eat cold or frozen foods to numb your taste buds: ice chips, fruit slushes, sorbet, sherbet, frozen grapes, or frozen pieces of watermelon, cantaloupe, or orange slices. Or use sports drinks to make frozen popsicles
  • Increase the amount of strong herbs and spices used in your food: garlic, rosemary, mustard, thyme, basil, oregano, chili powder, cumin, mint, or even onion.
  • Use wine, vinegar, or soy sauce to marinate your main meat dishes: fish, turkey, chicken, or beef.
  • Use sugar-free candies and gum to get rid of bad tastes: mints, zinc lozenges, gum, etc.

If medicine mouth persists beyond a few days then check with your doctor for underlying causes.

Feedback

To read feedback about bad breath, bitter taste, medicine mouth, or any kind of strange taste, etc. click here.

Last post: July 12, 2017

If you find this page useful share it with others. Use the form below to add your feedback. Please note that all addresses are held confidential.