Terbinafine Loss of taste

Posted , 110 users are following.

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.

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  • Posted

    I started taking it about 4 weeks ago. I admittedly (shamefully) took 2 pills a day (am and pm) for maybe 5-7 days. The fingernail damage was getting worse and I was afraid I was going to lose maybe 3 or 4 fingernails. I wanted results. Just this past weekend I started noticing food was just not tasting right, bottled spring water tasted like salt. Sunday I ate a bowl of cereal, it was bad. Monday I started the nausea, couldn't keep anything in. Also dealing with major headaches/migraines, but could be associated to other things, but headaches is a side effect too. For the last 4 days EVERYTHING tastes completely horrible, disgusting!!! Water, any and all food tastes like a nasty sinus infection in the back of my throat or like I'm chewing an aspirin with my water. Utterly horrifying!! I took my last pill 5 days ago only after I googled side effects and saw "taste disturbance". I've already lost 4 pounds in the last 4 days. I have no desire to eat or drink anything. When I saw the statistics of when taste will return, I read 12 weeks, maybe a year, maybe it is permanent. I am freaking out!!!! But finding this forum helped me see that others not only lost taste, but actually experience a foul taste of everything, food and beverages. I would so welcome no taste than everything tasting so sooo bad. I suppose I will mark my calendar for 12 weeks and pray and hope that between now and then it gets better. Even if water could just be water again. 😦 I hope those of you still going through this get your taste back!!!

  • Posted

    Hi Jonathan Can i ask did your taste return?

    My husband has ongoing loss of taste now 8 months! We are awaiting appt with hospital in a few weeks..he is loosing weight. He can taste sweetness slightly or can tell if food is spicy but that's it!

  • Posted

    Hello fellow sufferers. I'm sure Jonathan no longer reads these posts but there are so many on here that do and as a community its the only thing that's kept me sane this past week. I stopped Terbinafine last week after a 6 week course and lost taste at the same time. I'm resigned to the possibility that I'll not be able to taste anything other than a salty and often dry mouth for at last 6 weeks which, from reading earlier posts seems to be the minimum time for the repair of CYP2D6 inhibitor which connects my taste buds to my brain. Like the rest of you I'm losing weight which I could do with losing so, I'm going to take this as a positive opportunity in the hope that it will balance out having to endure a foul taste in my mouth. I've read on here that coconut water might be worth a try so I'm going to buy some today and report back. The only solid I can eat with any success is raw carrot so I'll have to take some liquid supplement to keep healthy - any suggestions, I'm in UK.

    I've filed a Yellow Card report - here's the link if you want to do the same https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk

    I've also reported this dreadful side effect to my GP and recommended he have a look at this site.

  • Posted

    I have tried coconut water which doesn't taste salty but then it doesn't taste of anything at all so not a huge he win! it does contain some good stuff though so with a daily Complan liquid meal and some boiled eggs ,which I've found I can also eat, I think I'll survive. My doctor confidently told me I should have my taste back 'in a couple of weeks' - we shall see.

    • Posted

      Hi Christine,

      I PM'ed you back, and I agree a weight loss healthy eating goal was the only thing that kept me sane. I did do liquid supplements and protein bars also. It a very personal journey as I couldn't stand carrot, I had capsicum, lettuce, cucumber, broccoli, celery, oats, scrambled eggs. It is a very overwhelming time so having a goal is a lifesaver, along with this forum.

      Your doctors comments are very interesting. Like you said previously most of us it took 8-12 weeks. Some peoples taste returned overnight but for others it returned gradually. I was lucky as mine is almost back at 8 weeks but I was keeping the 12 weeks as my point of return to avoid disappointment.

      I wish you all the best, stay positive eat all the stuff you usually wouldn't because even though it is good for you it tastes terrible lol. Maybe a good time to book in the dentist too 😃

      Nikki

  • Posted

    Hi Nikki and Christine,

    Good to hear from 2 people who are experiencing this right now! I myself have just finished week 2 of no taste. can't taste anything at all just yet and the salty taste in my mouth remains. its hard not to see any progress at all....although I'm hoping as I near 4 weeks maybe I will start to see s wins. would be great to know if you see any changes in the next few weeks that would greatly help with encouragement!

    Em

    • Posted

      Any progress yet getting your sense of taste back?

  • Posted

    Hello,

    i am currently going through this taste disturbance after 6 weeks of Turbinafine!!!

    Everything tastes disgusting, even water. I feel so depressed. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get my taste buds back to normal? I am such a foodie and I really feel like my quality of life has decreased because of this horrible medication.

    • Posted

      Hi Mary. Any progress on getting your sense of taste back yet?

  • Posted

    Hello. Like others, I have lost my sense of taste except for the constant terrible taste in my mouth. The loss of taste started about a week ago. I've still been taking the medication though and have not stopped. I'm wondering if I will be at greater risk by pushing through it and completing the additional 46 days of medication i have left? I can live with a temporary loss of taste and I'd like to give the medication a chance to work as I hate the fungus too! I already can't taste so why not stick it out? Anyone stuck with it until the bitter end of the medication cycle? If so, did your taste return?

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