Weird Taste in Your Mouth? One of These Medications or Health Conditions Could Be the Cause

How do we taste things? Our sensory system for taste is very sensitive, made possible by our taste buds. Each taste bud is made up of taste receptor cells that bind to small molecules related to flavor. Through sensory nerves, the receptors communicate information about tastes to the brain. This process allows us to experience tastes such as sweet, salty, and sour.  

If you’ve ever experienced a weird taste in your mouth, it’s normal to wonder if any medications you’re taking could be the culprit. The same goes for any health conditions you may have. An unpleasant taste in your mouth or a lack of taste can impact your appetite and quality of life.

Which medicines can cause a weird taste in your mouth?

Different medications can affect our sense of taste in a variety of ways. While some may lead to a bitter taste in the mouth, others may promote a more metallic or sour taste.

Let’s dive into medications and other things that may cause a weird taste in your mouth — broken down by the specific tastes they may cause.

A bitter taste or dry mouth

Stimulants that treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may cause a bitter taste and dry mouth. Some of these stimulants include:

• Adderall (amphetamine salts)

• Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)

• Concerta (methylphenidate ER)

• Ritalin (methylphenidate)

Adderall, in particular, can cause mouth changes. People sometimes refer to these changes as “Adderall tongue.” Xerostomia (dry mouth) is the likely culprit. When your mouth is dry, there is less saliva. So it can actually cause foods to taste more bitter.

There are a variety of other medications that can cause dry mouth, too, including:

• Antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

• Antidepressants such as sertraline (Zoloft)

• Opioids such as oxycodone / acetaminophen (Percocet)

• Benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax) 

A metallic or sour taste

Other medications can leave a metallic or sour taste in your mouth. Certain antibiotics that treat bacterial infections are top examples, including:

• Penicillins such as amoxicillin and amoxicillin / clavulanate (Augmentin)

• Cephalosporins such as cefazolin and cephalexin

• Clarithromycin

• Clindamycin

• Metronidazole (Flagyl)

• Tetracycline

Research suggests that antibiotics such as these may lower the absorption of zinc in your body. Your taste buds need this mineral to do their job optimally.

Other medications associated with a metallic taste include:

• Allopurinol (Zyloprim)

• Baclofen (Fleqsuvy, Lyvispah)

• Flurazepam

• Lithium (Lithobid)

• Phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek)

• Metformin

Good to know: One of the most commonly reported side effects of the COVID-19 treatment Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir / ritonavir) is a metallic or bad taste in the mouth. It’s commonly referred to as “Paxlovid mouth.” But it may actually just be a side effect of COVID — not necessarily the medication. This is still being researched.

Persistent weird taste in the mouth

Blood pressure medicines called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors can cause a persistent weird taste in the mouth, also called dysgeusia. Like the antibiotics mentioned earlier, these medications are also thought to disrupt taste by causing zinc deficiency (low zinc levels). Enalapril (Vasotec, Epaned), captopril, and lisinopril (Zestril, Qbrelis) are common ACE inhibitors.

Certain cancer medications may have this effect, too, including cetuximab (Erbitux) and imatinib (Gleevec).

A diminished taste or lack of taste

Some medications reduce our ability to taste things (hypogeusia). Others may cause us to lose our sense of taste altogether (ageusia).

Isotretinoin (Claravis, Accutane) is one example. It’s used to treat severe acne. You may notice that it’s harder to taste foods while taking this medication. Experts believe isotretinoin lowers people’s ability to smell. Taste and smell have a strong link. If it’s harder for you to smell food, you’re likely to have trouble tasting it, too.

Medications that treat heart disease can also lower your ability to taste. Diltiazem (Cardizem), hydrochlorothiazide, and spironolactone (Aldactone, CaroSpir) are a few examples.

There are other medications that can impair your sense of taste, as well, including:

• Carbamazepine (Tegretol, Equetro)

• Levodopa (part of Sinemet)

• Dicyclomine (Bentyl)

• Hyoscyamine

• Oral terbinafine

• Methimazole

I’m not taking any medication. Why do I have a weird taste in my mouth?

If you’re not taking any medications, you might have a medical condition that’s causing a weird taste in your mouth.

Health conditions, treatments or lifestyle considerations such as these have been linked to taste changes in certain cases:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

• Cancer

• Upper respiratory infections

• Allergies

• Sinus infections

• Problems with your teeth or gums

• Ear, nose, or throat surgery

• Autoimmune disorders such as Sjögren’s disease (dry eyes and mouth) 

• Tobacco use

• Contact with insecticides

• Liver problems

• Vitamin or mineral deficiencies related to B12 or zinc

• Neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, head injury, or multiple sclerosis

• Hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormones)

• Diabetes

• Kidney disease

• Advanced age

Contact your healthcare provider so they can help you figure out what might be causing a weird taste in your mouth.

Is a weird taste in your mouth a symptom of COVID-19?

Many people who test positive for COVID lose their sense of taste and smell. Typically, these changes happen together. And they may occur before other symptoms of COVID start. One study that looked at data in 2021 found that about 60% of people with COVID reported a loss of taste or smell.

Researchers have also found that COVID could affect chemesthesis, which refers to our ability to identify chemicals in herbs or spices. These chemicals help us know when foods taste like they are burning, cooling, or tingling.

How do you get rid of a weird taste in your mouth?

If your medications are altering your sense of taste, your symptoms will likely resolve after you finish taking your medication. Medications very rarely cause permanent taste changes. And if your healthcare provider determines that a health condition is causing the weird taste in your mouth, treating the condition will often resolve the problem as a secondhand benefit.

Here are some other strategies you can try:

• Chew sugar-free gum.

• Prepare foods with spices to add flavor.

• Drink plenty of fluids.

• Brush or scrape your tongue. Brush your teeth regularly, too.

• Avoid smoking.

• Check with your provider about trying a zinc supplement.

If these treatments don't help, some experts may recommend clonazepam (Klonopin). Research shows this medication has been successful in treating dysgeusia in people who have head and neck cancers.

Always check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist before stopping any medication due to the risk of side effects from quitting. You can also ask them about other medication options for chronic health conditions.

When should I contact my healthcare provider if I still have a weird taste in my mouth?

Reach out to your healthcare provider if the weird taste in your mouth is bothering you or doesn’t go away. They can check if any health conditions could be the cause. For instance, you may need an antibiotic to treat a lingering sinus infection.

It’s also a good idea to keep a current medication list handy. Your pharmacist can check to see if any medications or supplements you take could be causing the issue.

Together with your healthcare team, you can pinpoint the likely cause of your taste changes.

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Written by:

Jennifer Gershman, PharmD, CPh, PACS

Jennifer Gershman, PharmD, is a licensed pharmacist in Florida. She has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 15 years and is currently a medical writer.

Edited by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

Reviewed by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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