Terbinafine and Bad Taste: What Users Say

• AAT...
• July 2, 2008

Terbinafine for Onychomycosis, Toenail "Hideous fungus under all 10 toenails since age 12, I'm 52 now. My life is changed, since in adolescence and even until today, I have hidden my toes and suffered ridicule and embarrassing questions. Been taking the drug for 4 months as I write this. It's a miracle. Big toenails have cleared beautifully to 50% and all other 8 nails are at 90% or better. Taste impacted minimally (temporary). Liver function normal. Just do it."

• Car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 12, 2013

Terbinafine for Onychomycosis, Toenail "I took Lamisil for 4 weeks. I am a Registered Nurse, and I didn't realize that the medication could affect my taste. This is definitely the worst side effect that I have ever experienced with any medication. The change in taste almost happened overnight. All of a sudden, everything tasted like motor oil. I have been off the medication for 7 days, and I am unable to eat. I pray that I regain my sense of taste."

• gra...
• December 1, 2015

Terbinafine for Onychomycosis, Toenail "After having taken this drug for 2 months, I got an awful, foul taste in my mouth and could not have anything touch my tongue without gagging and a feeling of something in my throat. After visiting 5 doctors, who just looked at me like I was crazy and had never heard of anything like that, one said it was the medication. I stopped taking it on Nov 2, this is Dec 1, and I still cannot eat or drink anything other than water. I have lost about 25 pounds. It is making me weak and tired, and I have no quality of life at this point. I no longer care about the toenail fungus. I have been so sick with the taste and smell problem that the toenail problem is the very least of my worries. Missed Thanksgiving and hoping I won't miss Christmas. Don't take it!!"

• Dan...
• March 27, 2017

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I am a 52-year-old male with bad fungus for years. Finally got sick of it and wanted to do something about it. Just finished a 12-week treatment. Do see improvement but not all gone. Small toes look good, but big toes have a way to go. Hopefully will continue to get better. Weird taste in mouth from time to time. Stomach issues periodically. Stayed away from alcohol for a full 12 weeks. Liver function tests a couple of times with no issues. Not the best experience, but not the worst either. Grin and bear it."

• Gen...
• November 3, 2013

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I noticed when I was 18 and having my son that my big toe on my left foot had a fungus on it. It is the only toe that has anything wrong with it. I started taking the medication when I was 21, but after reading the side effects, I opted to stop taking it. Three months ago, I went to the doctor, and she noticed the fungus and prescribed me the Lamisil! I am so very happy that I stuck with it because the nail is growing in clear, and when I cut my nails, it's like powder. I cannot believe that I didn't continue with it when I was younger, and I cannot wait to see my toe normal again. The only side effects that I had were a bad taste in my mouth and food tasted very gross and bland no matter how much 'doctoring' I did. Very happy!"

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 23, 2015

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I am on my third month of taking Lamisil. I had no side effects for the first two months, and now I have frequent diarrhea (every day). I just don't understand why I am now getting the side effects. I am always thirsty, feel dehydrated, and have a bad taste in my mouth most of the time. Slight headaches here and there. Did anyone else have side effects that came after two months? Luckily, this should be my last refill of this medication. I haven't noticed any positive changes in my middle infected toenail, but a friend who took the medication advised me that it could take six months or longer for a new nail to grow in. Staying positive."

• San...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 9, 2015

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I've experienced toenail fungus on my right big toe for 10 years. I also have it in my two pinky toes and my left big toe, but not as bad. I've been on terbinafine for 5 weeks and see a slight improvement. My toenails are starting to turn pink and not be so yellow. When I started taking the medication, I had this bitter taste in my mouth and would get nauseated after taking it. Everything tasted awful, so I found the taste of the pill is bitter and leaves a funny taste in my mouth, so I started putting the pill way in the back of my throat and swallowing it that way, and it helps with not getting the bitter taste. Also, I started taking it before I went to bed because of the nauseousness I was feeling. Can't wait to look down and not see ugly toes."

• Nia...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 5, 2019

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "Toenail fungus on both big toes. The left one was 3/4 yellow - the right one about half. I was prescribed a 12-week course and given enough for 90 days. No side effects until about 60 days - then I quickly developed a bad metallic/salty taste that ruined the taste of everything - even water. It was so bad that I stopped taking it after 79 days. 12 weeks is 84 days, so I figured a few days wouldn't make a difference. I'm now about a month after stopping, and my taste has returned slowly, week by week... still can't taste chocolate properly. As for the effectiveness - it seems to be working really well - I can see a nice pink nail pushing up as the nail grows out - but it will likely take all year to fully grow out."

• Mel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 9, 2019

For Onychomycosis, Fingernail "I lost all sense of taste at week five. Googled and found out many others have had this side effect! Takes about 3 to 6 weeks to get sense of taste back! The taste in my mouth is metallic and salty. Tongue feels funny. Stopped med today!"

• Dan...
• November 28, 2017

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I had toenail fungus bad for 10 years, on 9 toes. 5 of them looked hideous, like ram's horns. I was terrified of this medicine for years, didn't want to take it, etc. Finally, I plucked up the courage to go to the doctor, she told me this medicine is misrepresented due to people mainly sharing negative reviews. I was on it for 4 months, gave up drinking, cut out caffeine, takes at least 6-8 weeks to notice anything, but after 3 months on it, the fungus had stopped growing. Then I threw away all my old socks and used Clearzal on my toes daily to keep the microbes off. Now, 9 months on, the fungus has completely gone, and my feet are soft - it's amazing. A little fatigue and salty taste, other than that, no side effects."

• Sas...
• February 10, 2016

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "After 6 weeks of taking terbinafine, I've developed a foul taste in my mouth, which I can't get rid of. Everything tastes horrible, I've lost weight, and am feeling depressed. It's been 11 days since I stopped taking the pills. I've read it should go away after 2-5 weeks, but in rare cases, it is permanent. I'm so hoping taste returns to normal soon, I'm going on holiday in a week, and it will be ruined if this continues - as will my life be if it's permanent! My toenail wasn't even that bad, I wish I'd never taken this."

• Met...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 2, 2015

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "This is my second time around for taking this medicine. The first occasion (about 14 years ago), after taking it for 3 weeks, I completely lost my sense of taste and lost half a stone in weight - it took three weeks after stopping the medication for my taste buds to work again. Believe me, there is no pleasure in eating when you cannot taste anything! When I was told I needed antifungal treatment again recently, I asked my GP to check the name of the drug I was given before, they couldn't find a record of it! So I have been on this for three weeks, and guess what, I have lost my sense of taste again. I also have a most awful taste in my mouth that I cannot get rid of - I have stopped taking them and will have to use an alternative treatment."

• Kim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 7, 2021

Terbinafine for Onychomycosis, Toenail "I took 250 mg Lamisil for 5 weeks! I quit after 5 weeks due to having an altered taste! My mouth tastes like salt and food tastes like dirt! Horrible! I have read a lot of forums, and people are saying the experiences are the same, side effects which were lasting 6-8 weeks after discontinuing the pills! I haven’t eaten much at all, and my stomach is always upset due to the salty saliva!"

• Anonymous
• March 5, 2011

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I took terbinafine for a little over two months. It was easy to use and worked well at eliminating my toenail fungus. Unfortunately, I experienced a change in my sense of taste. I cannot find any food that tastes good. Everything I consume leaves an aftertaste in my mouth, it really is terrible. Does the benefit outweigh the negative experience? In my opinion, no."

• Anonymous
• March 5, 2011

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I took terbinafine for a little over two months. It was easy to use and worked well at eliminating my toenail fungus. Unfortunately, I experienced a change in my sense of taste. I cannot find any food that tastes good. Everything I consume leaves an aftertaste in my mouth, it really is terrible. Does the benefit outweigh the negative experience? In my opinion, no."

• nhg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 11, 2014

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I have been taking the tablet for about 6 weeks, and I immediately noticed side effects. I rapidly lost weight after my appetite became nearly non-existent; I would eat 2 bites of food and then want to throw the rest away at every meal because I had no desire to eat anything. I also have a horrible taste in my mouth, which the doctor suggested I could help by taking it with milk; I haven't tried this as I don't drink milk. I have a liver test next week, so we'll see if there are any negative results there. I haven't noticed any improvement on my toenail, but I also keep it covered with nail polish 99% of the time."

• gra...
• May 18, 2017

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I am having good success with the treatment, also, with no harmful effects. I have a little difficulty swallowing pills. One time I let the pill touch my tongue for a second, and it tasted bad. After, I had a bad taste in my mouth for a week! Finally, it went away. Now I always take it with food. Since then, no problem. Sometimes I put it in a teaspoon of jam, and it goes right down."

• Att...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 21, 2017

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I took terbinafine, which was prescribed for 90 days orally. I took it optimistically after reading all the horrible reviews online to find out I would only have the same problem. Day one, it was bearable: salty taste, mild headache, mild nausea. Day two, a little bit worse, accompanied by cramps. Day three, I missed work, woke up with a migraine that would not subside and nausea. Day four, it was unbearable: migraine, fever, chills, throwing up. I felt as if I had the flu. I called my prescribing doctor, who instructed me to go to the ER. This is a nasty, nasty medication."

• too...
• December 27, 2021

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "After 6 weeks on terbinafine, I lost my taste. Terrifying. Everything tasted bitter, and even when not eating, a persistent bitter taste in my mouth. The doctor told me to get off the medication immediately, which, of course, I did. Had no clue this was a side effect -- was mostly worried about liver function side effects. I am starting to get some of my taste back after 7 weeks off the medication!!! And my doctor said to give it several more months before it resolves. I am so depressed. Don't even get me started that I read on the internet it might NEVER return. Hopefully, since I am starting to taste, it will return. DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION. Not worth the risk."

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 30, 2021

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "Terbinafine works. But the side effects are not worth it. I had an altered sense of taste and no appetite, leading to major weight loss. Six months after coming off of it, I am still struggling to put the weight back on (leaving me 20 lbs underweight). The bleeding between periods (I am on the Pill) was the last straw. I deeply regret taking this medication because I’m still suffering from its side effects."

• Fun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 2, 2021

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "Finished, faithfully taking meds for the full 90 days. No real side effects noted, other than the nasty taste of the pills themselves. Have seen no difference in toenails...still discolored/flaky and nails still growing curved into skin."

• Cla...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 14, 2021

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "Absolutely awful. After 6 weeks of taking these, I have no taste for food, which practically happened overnight. Awful taste of cardboard and feel sick whenever I try to eat. Avoid at all costs!!!"