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What Causes Metallic Taste In Mouth While On Gabapentin?
Question: Hi. I was prescriped gabapentin for back pain (which I was on for about three weeks) and it gave me horrible taste and smell sensations like metal taste combined with a smell / taste I cannot describe adequately. Since the drug was not working and the symptoms subsided with PT, I stopped taking it roughly three and a half weeks ago. I still can't get rid of the metallic taste in my mouth, the strange smell coming out of my pores, and sudden washes of the smell when I smell cooking food, perfume and other "normal" odors. It is especially bad with eggs and spicy foods. Is this common, and how long does it take for this stuff to get out of one's system?
Brief Answer:
Um......the drug is gone in 24 hrs.....
Detailed Answer:
The drug is removed from the body in hours; which is why it is a three time a day medication. Certainly this can be confirmed with urine drug testing for it. It is removed by the kidneys and it would stay around longer with kidney problems. But to last a week, you would be on dialysis and that would not only remove the drug, but would also give a metallic taste in the mouth.
Before going into every drug or chemical substance you've had in the last 30 years, there are some things that are likely to produce a metallic taste. The ACE inhibitor medications (lisinopril, accupril, quinapril, etc) all are well known to produce a metallic taste. Sinus infections/drainage or in the other direction, reflux disease also often cause metallic tastes. Of course metal can cause a metallic taste. Personally, I've only had a metallic taste from metal. THis has included fillings breaking down on two occasions.
Then there are triggers of smell. These are far, far, less common than sinus/dental/medication causes. Migraines, seizures, and seizure like conditions can cause alterations in any/all senses. This can be noticed when an anti-epileptic stops them for a while and then is withdrawn; the baseline level of seizure like activity becomes noticeable only when it is stopped. THis can be confirmed with an EEG. If someone has seizures or migraines that produce smells or other alterations of perception, this is a very very long term condition and would be there for years or until a seizure medicine (like gabapentin) is used/restarted.
Um......the drug is gone in 24 hrs.....
Detailed Answer:
The drug is removed from the body in hours; which is why it is a three time a day medication. Certainly this can be confirmed with urine drug testing for it. It is removed by the kidneys and it would stay around longer with kidney problems. But to last a week, you would be on dialysis and that would not only remove the drug, but would also give a metallic taste in the mouth.
Before going into every drug or chemical substance you've had in the last 30 years, there are some things that are likely to produce a metallic taste. The ACE inhibitor medications (lisinopril, accupril, quinapril, etc) all are well known to produce a metallic taste. Sinus infections/drainage or in the other direction, reflux disease also often cause metallic tastes. Of course metal can cause a metallic taste. Personally, I've only had a metallic taste from metal. THis has included fillings breaking down on two occasions.
Then there are triggers of smell. These are far, far, less common than sinus/dental/medication causes. Migraines, seizures, and seizure like conditions can cause alterations in any/all senses. This can be noticed when an anti-epileptic stops them for a while and then is withdrawn; the baseline level of seizure like activity becomes noticeable only when it is stopped. THis can be confirmed with an EEG. If someone has seizures or migraines that produce smells or other alterations of perception, this is a very very long term condition and would be there for years or until a seizure medicine (like gabapentin) is used/restarted.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I am on several other drugs- mostly for autoimmune problems- asthma, gerd. These are Singular, Albuterol, Advair 250/50, Pantoprazole 40mg, Trazodone 50mg for sleep, and lorazaepam. Also on Xolair- one shot a month. Weird thing is the sensation didn't occur until I was on the Gabapentin, which is why I asked. I have been on these other drugs a fairly long time. My white blood cell count is normal, but I do have low IGg (483) which my doctor is monitoring.
I guess I should bring this up to him again stating it as more of a problem than an irritant. Should I be thinking possible brain tumor? The thing is, it's not just metal taste, but a strange odor that is strong but impossible to describe in any meaningful way, that comes and goes but always affects me around food.
I guess I should bring this up to him again stating it as more of a problem than an irritant. Should I be thinking possible brain tumor? The thing is, it's not just metal taste, but a strange odor that is strong but impossible to describe in any meaningful way, that comes and goes but always affects me around food.
Brief Answer:
None of the possibilites is likely.
Detailed Answer:
The medications are good, safe, and none are likely to produce this directly. BUT, advair can set someone up for yeast infections in the mouth/throat which are likely to change/give a taste. Pantoprazole also will change the acidity of the stomach and predispose to overgrowth of other germs there. Taste or minor irritation of the throat are the worst complications of these drugs I've ever seen (not serious side effects). Brain tumor is just pretty well guaranteed to cause progressively more dire symptoms over weeks to a month or so. Therefore it just doesn't seem likely. Seizures, however, pop up out of the blue for any reason or no reason at all. The two people over age 50 with new seizures I've seen, just had them go away again. Neither had a good reason to have them.
So, there are reasons for having minor side effects from mild immunosuppressants, but serious side effects are just not in the cards from them. GERD, yeast infection can cause funny taste. Brain tumors do a lot more than just mild sensory changes.
Changes in the stomach/sinuses, etc can be easily masked with periodic mints, but brain causes will be close to totally unaffected by them.
None of the possibilites is likely.
Detailed Answer:
The medications are good, safe, and none are likely to produce this directly. BUT, advair can set someone up for yeast infections in the mouth/throat which are likely to change/give a taste. Pantoprazole also will change the acidity of the stomach and predispose to overgrowth of other germs there. Taste or minor irritation of the throat are the worst complications of these drugs I've ever seen (not serious side effects). Brain tumor is just pretty well guaranteed to cause progressively more dire symptoms over weeks to a month or so. Therefore it just doesn't seem likely. Seizures, however, pop up out of the blue for any reason or no reason at all. The two people over age 50 with new seizures I've seen, just had them go away again. Neither had a good reason to have them.
So, there are reasons for having minor side effects from mild immunosuppressants, but serious side effects are just not in the cards from them. GERD, yeast infection can cause funny taste. Brain tumors do a lot more than just mild sensory changes.
Changes in the stomach/sinuses, etc can be easily masked with periodic mints, but brain causes will be close to totally unaffected by them.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Okay doctor. Thank you for the information. I will follow up with my doctor here again. I appreciate your help. - Bob
Brief Answer:
You are quite welcome
Detailed Answer:
I only have had one patient with a very similar condition (ok, it's a LOT worse, but the mechanism is the same). After a stroke she had an irritated brain area that has the same characteristics of yours (periodic, stimulation triggers waves of it) but sensation (pain) not taste. I've tried a lot of anti-epileptic drugs and they all work significantly well. I'll ask if local mouth things (cold, lidocaine, mint) does anything. I suspect they do nothing except cold which gives her the worst 'brain freeze' imaginable. The brain area involved with pain in the mouth is really close to the area. The part of the brain involved with smell is sorta close also. THere might or might not be an effect from a shaved ice cone on smells.
You are quite welcome
Detailed Answer:
I only have had one patient with a very similar condition (ok, it's a LOT worse, but the mechanism is the same). After a stroke she had an irritated brain area that has the same characteristics of yours (periodic, stimulation triggers waves of it) but sensation (pain) not taste. I've tried a lot of anti-epileptic drugs and they all work significantly well. I'll ask if local mouth things (cold, lidocaine, mint) does anything. I suspect they do nothing except cold which gives her the worst 'brain freeze' imaginable. The brain area involved with pain in the mouth is really close to the area. The part of the brain involved with smell is sorta close also. THere might or might not be an effect from a shaved ice cone on smells.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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