1. Community
  2. Infections
  3. Fungal and Yeast Infections

Terbinafine Loss of taste

Posted , 110 users are following.

jonathan21989
jonathan21989

I had taken terbinafine for about six weeks for a toenail infection when my sense of taste pretty much completely disappeared over the course of 3-4 days.  I have a vague salty/bitter taste in my mouth, but nothing tastes of anything....sweet, salt, bitter...all gone.  I can put pure sugar on my tongue and not taste a thing.  That refreshing zing you get from toothpaste?  Gone.  Everything tastes grey at best, or just nasty at worst.

The infection responded well to terbinafine - I have about 4mm clear nail now, but I've decided to stop taking it as nothing is worth this cost.  I've switched to Loceryl lacquer but I don't even care about the nail anymore.  I just desperately want to be able to taste things normally again.  I can completely understand how this can cause weight loss and depression.  My advice would be to avoide terbinafine.

13 likes, 364 replies

364 Replies

Prev Next
  • brent42485
    brent42485 jonathan21989

    Posted

    I wanted to update. Was on Terb for 30 days. 31 day lost my taste. Quit therefafter, taste restored after 9 weeks. It did due a partial clearing of my toe nail (big toe). So yes it works but it comes with a price. I hated that my taste buds were reduced to soup and other bland foods. I did lose 10-15 lbs over it. But will never take Terb again. No thank you.
    • jasciu96345
      jasciu96345 brent42485

      Posted

      Thanks for the encouraging update. Please everyone else update so as to provide support for those that just started their recovery mode. They need it.
  • steve69774
    steve69774 jonathan21989

    Posted

    Hi all,

    Week 5 now and I’m slowly getting the taste back!! Currently travelling around Thailand, so obviously lots of very strong curry tastes but my god, it’s coming back! Chicken still tastes like cardboard and bread is a total waste of time but what I can’t taste I can, with a bit of an effort, get the ‘ghost’ taste by breathing through my nose after putting the food in my mouth. It does get better, people! 

    • Lou787
      Lou787 steve69774

      Posted

      Thanks for the update Steve, I’m on day 11 off the tablets after just under 8 weeks on them. I have such a horrible taste in my mouth it is making it so hard to eat, any tips on how to overcome this would be great? Thanks again 
    • brent42485
      brent42485 Lou787

      Posted

      Big question is how is it working for your fungal problem, if this is the issue?
    • Lou787
      Lou787 brent42485

      Posted

      Hi Brent

      It was for a fungal problem, my toe seems to have cleared up. I guess I won't know until my nail starts growing back.

      if it happened again, I would just get the nail off and never go back on anti fungal treatment, I have been treating the area with tea tree oil for about 2 weeks now and I think this is the reason my nail bed looks so good.

      thanks

    • brent42485
      brent42485 Lou787

      Posted

      What brand name of tea oil did you use? Application all over the nail?

      Thank you

    • Lou787
      Lou787 brent42485

      Posted

      Hi Brent

      I am just using boots own brand tea tree essential oil. I apply a few drops to cotton wool and dab all my nails, then where my big toe nail as been removed I apply it to the skin.

      thanks

  • anna80866
    anna80866 jonathan21989

    Posted

    I have read through most of the messages posted regarding loss of taste due to Lamisil and have learned more practical information here than anywhere else on the web. Has anyone gone to a loss of taste clinic anywhere in the country? There is a new clinic at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville and I think there is one at Johns Hopkins. Had anyone tried this route, and did it seem to help? I’m so depressed by the loss of taste and metallic taste in my mouth. To make matters worse, I have celiac disease, occasionally have canker sores, and cannot handle spicy foods at all. I cannot see how I can possibly go through the loss of taste for another God knows how many weeks, months, or years. I’ve been without taste for almost two weeks and am so dispirited. If I knew this was permanent, which has been mentioned as a possibility in research literature, I would not want to live like this. Thanks for the info on coconut water and B-12. I’ll try these. Any other ideas? Thanks in advance! 
    • jasciu96345
      jasciu96345 anna80866

      Posted

      I don't think those clinics can help. The body simply needs to go back homeostasis.  However, I am curious if Ginkgo Biloba will help since it seems to increase the enzyme that Terrabine inhibited that creates the neurotransmitters for taste. Also, I recommend getting lots lots of strenuous exercise to speed up the metabolism and decrease the half life of the drug in the body. Also, try using the remaining pills in a twice a day epsom salt, tea tree oil hot water toe soak, to keep the gains going. Get after the infection externally now. 

    • anna80866
      anna80866 jasciu96345

      Posted

      Thanks for your advice and these great ideas! I am working out  daily and will research the ginkgo biloba. I am tasting a little bit of something from time to time so I’m making progress.
    • jasciu96345
      jasciu96345 anna80866

      Posted

      Its been since 6/27 since I first lost my sense of taste. At the start of the loss, the salty, bitter, metallic taste was almost unbearable so I constantly chewed on plain popcorn. Gatorade, kombucha, coconut water were great for thirst and plain bland foods such as beans, potatoes, oatmeal nuts and carrots "tasted" as near normal as it gets. I began to exercise heavily to decrease the "half-life" of the drug in the body and brain and that helped with the drug induced depression. I began soaking my toes in a hot water painter pan solution of epsom salts, several drops of tea tree oil, and one tablet of terrarbine (it won't hurt you locally) One hour in the morning and one hour at night. At first filing down all the nails both the length and thickness using disposable emery boards (one can broken up into three pieces) getting into cuticle and crevices as best I could. And then even placing lamisil cream on them after that soak. (I can sit around alot in the evening!) At the fifth week, because it was convenient, I did my first ever acupuncture treatment. I had heard it was neuronal-hormonal therapy and this malady seemed to fit the bill. The two hour nap with needles certainly is refreshing and even a placebo effect is a real cure sometimes so why not? It just so happened that the day after the acupuncture treatment, five weeks of soaking and exercising that I got my first real taste sense back - salt. And suddenly the default "salty" taste disappeared from my mouth. I also noticed that all my toe nails started to clear up! Then a week later, I did my second acupuncture treatment (all this could be just coincidence) and could begin to taste "sour".  And the toes are looking even better with the soaking regime. A week later, after the third acupuncture treatment and continued soaking, exercising, meditating I began to taste "sweet". Now, vanilla ice cream is great! However, I am a beer connoisseur and love bitter IPA's. Most craft beers are still taste nasty. But, the weakest pilsners are palatable now. And the toes are looking great! In fact, so good that I plan on designing a special crucifix shaped towels for the hot yoga studio where I likely counteracted this 10 years ago - so I never touch a public surface again. And, of course, showers shoes, etc. I also plan on using antifungal creams on the toes before entering situation were it can be passed. There should be an english colloquialism - He/she's harder to get rid of than toe fungus. 

    • anna80866
      anna80866 jasciu96345

      Posted

      Thanks for sharing your acupuncture experience. I will definitely go see an acupuncturist as soon as I can identify a good one in our city. I have had acupuncture before and found it helpful with migraines. Thanks for sharing  your other experiences and advice. This is certainly more useful than anything my physician offered when I reported my side effects to her! Many thanks!!!!!
    • Lou787
      Lou787 anna80866

      Posted

      Hi Anna

      I feel your pain, can you get drinks like Ensure in the US ??? They would be a high protein, high calorie drink for elderly people convalescing or who cannot eat anymore.

      I found these drinks a lifesaver I really did, I struggled from week 3-7.

      I'm now into week seven and flavours are starting to come back. You will get through this Anna so chin up and just think of all the wonderful flavours you will soon be able to taste.

      I don't think in reality there is anything we can do to speed this up, we just have to bide our time.

      hope you are feeling more postive soon.

      thanks

  • Lou787
    Lou787 jonathan21989

    Posted

    Hi All

    I am now on day 25 off the tablets and I can vaguely start to taste savoury again. Maybe only 2% but it's better than nothing. I have been able to eat a lot more food this past weekend, than in the last month.

    I did get prescribed Lansoprazole from my doctors as I was at my wits end, these tablets are for too much stomach acid and reflux. I am not sure if these made a difference, but I am on them a week and now my taste is slowly starting to come back.

    good luck all there is light at the end of the tunnel.

    thanks

    • steve69774
      steve69774 Lou787

      Posted

      Great to hear this, Lou. Mine too is looking very promising. I took the kids for their once a year macdonalds and te fries tasted of absolutely nothing, so there really is light at the end of the tunnel! 
    • Lou787
      Lou787 steve69774

      Posted

      Hi All

      Well I just thought I'd update you all, seeing as it feels like I haven't been on here for months. I know it was only 16 days ago but it feels like months.

      Tomororw will be 6 weeks since I stopped taking the tablets, coffee is still bitter, some savoury food just tastes like salt the last two days. I can't remember the last time I had a dinner or any food and enjoyed it.

      I am now drinking ensure drinks as I was close to collapsing last week. These have helped with the hunger pains and with giving me energy, but I'm just hoping things start turning around soon as I'm getting very down about the whole experience, probably not a great thing if your on anti depressants to start with.

      I am still exercising every day and trying my god damn hardest to stay positive, I really am just hoping I will get my taste back or at least get rid of the sickly taste/feeling going on the last week.

      Once that goes, it'll be easier to eat!!!!

       

    • jasciu96345
      jasciu96345 Lou787

      Posted

      I bet in two weeks you will taste salt and the default salt will disappear
Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.