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Pharmacy and Medications

Metal Taste Related to Excessive Ibuprophen

10/26/2009

Question:

I have been experiencing a strong metal taste in my mouth for 3 weeks...Could this be a side effect of excessive Ibuprofen intake. I have a liver cyst that I have monitored through cat scans the last 2 years. I stand for up to 10 hours a day at work, I have bad feet and hip disorder(congenital). Hence the Ibuprofen use...

Answer:

Thank you for contacting Net Wellness. There are various spaces within the mouth that contain your taste buds. The sense of taste is the body's gatekeeper to accept or reject poisonous or material that can injure the mouth as well as working to stimulate salivation and swallowing for ease of digestion.
 
Dysgeusia, or phantom tastes which are a persistent sweet, sour, bitter or metallic taste, can be caused by aging, viral infections, chemicals, medical disorders and drugs. Ibuprofen does not have the side effect that causes any phantom tastes.
 
I would recommend speaking to your primary care physician who is

knowledgeable of all of your medications, physical and laboratory history. He/she may be able to work with an otolaryngologist, neurologist, allergist, or oral consultant to discover the source of your dysgeusia.

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Response by:

The Ohio State University Sarah Hudson-DiSalle, PharmD, RPh
Specialty Practice Pharmacist
Department of Pharmacy
The Ohio State University Medical Center
The Ohio State University