Loss of taste

Posted , 16 users are following.

This is my second round of PMR.  I am on 11mg of pred now, down from 20 mg.  A few weeks ago I noticed my tongue feeling tingly and burny and now I have very little taste😕   Has anyone else experienced this?  I was on pred for almost 2 yrs the last time and had no problem.  

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  • Posted

    It could be thrush or a herpes infection (like cold sores, it doesn't always form a cold sore as such). Both can cause a tingling sensation in the mouth and taking long term pred can make you more liable to develop them. I get a sore tongue and lips at times and I suspect it could be "cold sores" since using acyclovir cream helps.

    Have you had your vit B levels checked?

    • Posted

      I am due for blood work in 2 weeks.  I'll make sure I check.  Thx!
  • Posted

    Oh my... Yes. My self and another lady whom I haven't seen on forum in while.

    Dry mouth severely and thrush for couple weeks. Then raw tongue for several months, lost taste buds for about 4-5 months. 

    Sorry for you. It makes eating even more difficult, plus I had the acid reflux which got worse and worse. 

    I just avoided acid foods in case it was inflammation contributing, also lost taste for wine so guess that was good to make me stop the wine. 

    Also lost weight, ha, go figure... When nothing taste good, ugh.

    hang in there. Learn to eat for nutrition only.  Bless your heart, I hope it doesn't last long for you.

    • Posted

      Good to know its not just me....I guess it's one way to lose weight!   
  • Posted

    Nanduff

    I too have experienced tongue issues with using Pred 20 mg. Felt like my tongue had been scalded. Burning along with loss of taste. And sensitive teeth, metalic taste. I had no visible signs but, doc treated me for THRUSH. One week of clotrimazole losenges lessened the symptoms. It's been 9 days

    It has been annoying to say the least but, better than some of the harsher Pred side effects. Or worse yet, no Pred at all.

    Good luck. Hope it's better soon.

  • Posted

    I experienced the same, loss of taste, sore tongue, only stong spicy foods had any real taste at all. My favourite drink, a good strong cuppa tastes horrible. I have been drinking tonic water and more water than usual. A. bonus is a looser waistband but the cramp as I type is a nuisance.
  • Posted

    I have had PMR for 6 years and about 4 years ago I lost my taste and sense of smell. Its hard to say whether it was the steroids or not but they have not returned, I have had to get used to it, I can taste salt & sweet but nothing else.

    (I still manage to put on weight with the Pred so it hasn't stopped me eating!!!)

    • Posted

      I can also find myself pouring on the salt for more taste😕  
    • Posted

      That's awful. Hopefully your taste will return once you've stopped the Pred.

      Ugh

    • Posted

      I can only hope, but I have been "down" to 1.5mg twice and then had a flare, on 7.5mg at present and only just managing..but I know I could be a lot worse so heres hoping....
  • Posted

    Luckily I haven't had any loss of taste as yet (love to eat, me) but I do have a nasty taste in the back of my throat/tongue about half hour after I've eaten or drank something. It's a bit of a swine in as much as I have to stop myself going to the kitchen to get something to eat which, as the Pred has given me a BIG appetite, is something I have to avoid at all costs.

    Just have to accept this as one more thing to endure until this "thing" has run it's course.

  • Posted

    I too suffer from sore tongue, mouth sores and dry mouth. My dentist thinks its Sjogrens Disease, which is also an autoimmune disorder which can travel along with arthritis. I am not on a high dose of pred now, but I have been in the past and will have to resume a higher dose due to increased pain/stiffness.
    • Posted

      Yep, I was tested for Sjogrens too. Both from blood and biopsy inside mouth.  Thankfully not Sjogrens.  

      Im really beginning to think Prednisone causes dryness not only of skin, but my nose, mouth, hair, though doctors will not agree. All have gotten somewhat better since I'm down to 6 mg and holding. 

  • Posted

    Wow!  I just started experiencing the loss of taste.  Never really had any other effect just tastes have diminished dramatically.  My wife made a shrimp dish the other night and it was like chewing rubber, can also taste salt and sweet.  When i say sweet that is just it.  Cake, ice cream just tastes sweet.
    • Posted

      I know. It's terrible to look forward to eating something and not be able to taste it!
    • Posted

      John

      I had the same problem. Couldn't taste the flavor just the sugar. Not fun. Ask doc about thrush. I've never had it before the Pred and as I said I had no symptoms in my mouth that I could SEE

    • Posted

      I never really had a great sense of taste. I remember my dad when he was in his 70's coating a steak with salt substitute. Mine may be genetic,
    • Posted

      The sense of taste often fades with age - and pred is thought to speed aging so perhaps that has an effect on taste in some people. 

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