Terbinafine will taste return

Hi ian51736, has your taste all improved now? I was on Terbinafine for 6 weeks for nail infection and I lost my taste a week ago (mid Jan 2015). Came off the tablets immediately. The 'taste' in my mouth has in the past couple of days turned very salty, even with water - it's horrible! Just wondered if your taste did return and it would be great to hear from mirving too see if there's back to normal. Reading the patient information leaflets, those drugs are evil, I certainly wont be using them again!

Hey, hope your well, I feel your pain and yes, my taste came back eventually, 7weeks or so. I have a diary on my login, may help you. I wish to God this drug was removed as so many of us have suffered. Keep me posted, 😊

Pleased to report that my taste returned to 100% at the weekend. So relieved. I didn't notice much improvement over the past 6-7 weeks and was getting worried, then all of a sudden I noticed it on Saturday when drinking a tea with a sweetener, it all returned with a bang. I had to spit the tea out as it was too sweet. Taste seems incredibly heightened now, and had my first bit of chocolate too. Heaven! Wishing you all the best and a speedy recovery.

Great news, its like heaven when it returns as you do worry the longer it takes. The plus thing is has returned to all on this blog so far which will help the newbies. 😊

I can't wait for this day!!!!

Hi John, reading your story is a carbon copy of my dreadful experience. The amount of comments surely support this is more common than the extremely small print of side effects. My GP was the same too. It is a tough ride to get over the line, about 8 weeks, try and keep strong, lots of pepper on things till you eventually start to taste again. Careful if your drinking, I was extremely drunk quickly when socialising as couldn't taste any strength in my vodka. Good luck, glad your off this awful drug. My timeline may help you , am a 45yr old, UK, 😞

Thanks, Mirving.  I'm 68 5' 10" and weigh around twelve stones - I'm guessing from what I've read that none of those statistics assist me in gaining my taste back quickly.

My wife and I were out with our youngest grandchildren (7 and 5) today and then went for a meal in the evening - great company, but my food and a 'hopeful' glass of diet Pepsi tasted lousy!

I'm a writer from Plymouth and this damned so-called 'side-effect' is affecting my ability to concentrate on my writing. I've placed a piece about the drug on my blog and I'm gettting lots of hits from the US on that page. Wondering how many peole over there are suffering this problem?

Cheers, John.  

Hi John

I feel your pain.  I'm about 6 weeks into the process now and even though I'm not fully recovered I am able to enjoy most meals and drinks.  You certainly grow to appreciate the sense of taste as it starts to return! 

One inteseresting fact for me was that beer (lager) and water tasted about the same; so I was able to go out and drink several pints of water and feel like I'd had a fairly good night out   I'm recovered enough now to tell the difference   And while I'm about it I should mention that Guiness (which ive always enjoyed) and coffee both tasted unusualy good with the addition of the salt and cardboard flavour that was omnipresent. So it wasn't all bad.

I hope you have a speedy recovery

Rob

Hi Rob,

Thanks for your response and good wishes. It's good to know it improves. It's been a week now and I keep thinking I'll try another mocha in the hope it tastes as it should, but unfortunately not. Maybe I should try Guiness instead.     

 

I have placed a Freedom of Information Request with the Health and Social Care Information Centre asking how many cases of taste loss have been reported as a result of using Terbinafine during the last five years (on an annual basis) and in how many of those cases the period of taste loss has exceeded six weeks. I'm wondering if this so-called side-effect is more prevelant than is being stated in the patient literature. I'll let the site know when I get a response.

 

Great news, the amount of concerns raised to me directly due to this drug is off the scale. Great work with this John. 

I have been checking data from a 2005 US report by:

The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc. Objective Assessment of Terbinafine-Induced Taste Loss ---

The conclusion of which states:

"This study 1) empirically substantiates anecdotal case reports of taste loss after terbinafine usage, 2) demonstrates that all four major taste qualities are affected, and 3) suggests that olfactory dysfunction is not involved. Because self-report markedly underestimates chemosensory

deficits, more extensive quantitative testing of patients receiving terbinafine will likely reveal a much higher prevalence of terbinafine-induced taste loss than currently reported."  

It's the last sentence which confirms to me that back in 2005 there was a concern (especially in over 65s with low BMIs) about this problem and its relationship to depression caused by the loss of taste and associated loss of appetite (and resultant loss of weight).

I'm surprised that Terbinafine is still being prescribed. I am writing to the Practice Manager of my Health Centre to make the doctors in that centre aware of the problem and requesting that they do more research on this drug, before they prescribe it to anyone else and to monitor the ones who have been placed on it in the interim.   

John:

Hoping that this horrendous experience is over for you. I was started on this 'nasty/bitter' tasting medication 9 weeks ago. A 3 month prescription.

Certainly has had an effect on my eating. Few foods are appealing to me. Although I thankfully needed to lose 15 lbs. for a 'good weight'... I would NEVER recommend this method.

I have 4 weeks to go, and have skipped 6

days of last month's prescription, as I now nearly 'gag' just to take it.

I have not lost my appetite totally, but as I've said, my enjoyment of food has been taken away. Things I used to enjoy eating, now look less than appetizing to me!!' And often make me turn in disgust.

The taking of Lamisil for me, will remain an extremely negative memory. I'm looking forward to completing this MED, and praying I never have to see it again!!

Hi Marlene,

So sorry to see that your taste has been affected. I admire you for carrying on with the medication - I stopped mine as soon as I lost my sense of taste (6 weeks into the programme).

It then took around 13 weeks for my taste to return fully. Sweet things, coffee and Pepsi Max were the last to return. Up until around week 9 of the taste loss food was like cardboard and drinks like seawater!

As a matter of interest, I don't think many doctors are aware of this so-called side-effect which is a pity as it totally disrupts people's lives. I also believe the manufacturers' patient information leaflet on this problem is, at best, inadequate and, at worst, misleading. Is your doctor aware of the problems this medication has given to you?

I'm sure your situation will resolve itself, it just takes time.   

Very best wishes,

John

Hi Marlene,

Sorry to hear of your experience with Lamisil.  I had the same problem and my doctor told me to stop taking it immediately.  She told me that if I continued to take the medication it could be as long as 3 years before I got my taste back.  If you haven't checked with your doctor, please do.  I would hate to see you suffer any longer than need be.  I was lucky to have this doctor because after checking with a couple of other doctors, I found that not a whole lot is known about this medication.

Good Luck and Hang In There!

Judy

Judith

Thank you so so much! I'm making an appt with my GP tomorrow. My 'foods I like list' is pretty short these days.

New phase , for me is just looking at something & knowing I cannot even taste it without gagging.

I'm an eater!! Will try never again to complain about having very few foods that 'I don't like'

With much appreciation!!

John

I'm just glad that I found this site. I think that we must be in the small percentage of people who have 'plain ole rotten adverse reactions.'

I'm gonna call my GP tomorrow, he WiLL be informed of 'my side effects.' Not his fault, but yes, this change of taste is a big one!

So much for wanting healthy looking nails!

With many thanks!

Hi Marlene, I quit taking the medication the moment I realized it was the culprit for my loss of taste which was about a day or two later.  I have off the meds now for two weeks and have lost 12 pounds.  I needed to lose about 25 or so but not this way.  I'm beginning to get depressed. I find I can eat fried chicken, fried fish and chicken noodle soup.  Of course anything sweet is out of the question.  I am a 66 year old female. I took 63 out of a 90 day prescription.  I am looking at this site for a little encouragement  that my taste will return sooner than later.  This drug is poison and should be taken off the market.  My pharmacist said this side effect was rare.  I told her she needed to look online and she will find that it is not according to the number of complaints I have seen.  You can bet I will research any other medication I am given and not just assume the doctors know what they are giving. Hope this finds you tasting and well. 

 Linda