Drugs that Change Your Sense of Taste
Contents
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.
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