Terbinafine and Loss Of Taste: What Users Say

• Can...
• March 4, 2018

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I am a 22-year-old girl. My big toenail has been bad since I was 13/14. Not just the tip - full nail, hard, gross-looking. I tried all kinds of 'home remedies' & those over-the-counter lacquers, nothing worked. Doctor prescribed me terbinafine. I decided to look it up & I SHOULD HAVE NEVER DONE THAT! I freaked myself out SO badly over people's reviews. Liver damage? Loss of taste? Rash? WHAT!? I cried because I was SO tired of having ugly feet & upset that I was going to have them forever. I just wanted the fungus to go away. After talking with my Dad & Pharmacist, they said I would be fine, & I decided to give it a go. I am nearing the end of my 3 months on it. I have had NO side effects whatsoever & my big toenail is 90% CLEAR OF FUNGUS! I cannot be happier because I finally will have pretty feet & nails! Take my advice: STOP READING THESE REVIEWS & PSYCHING YOURSELF OUT! JUST TRY IT. Can you imagine if I didn't? I'd still have toenail fungus & I'd still be upset."

• fun...
• September 1, 2014

Terbinafine for Onychomycosis, Toenail "I have taken Lamisil for 7 weeks. I have had loss of taste and am a little more tired. The loss of taste concerns me. I have read some people got it back and some have been off it for months and have not. Even water tastes bad. Nails look better, so I am going to stick it out and pray. It's kind of nice not wanting to eat sweets, but I miss a glass of wine tasting good. Hopefully it will resolve."

• USE...
• March 13, 2008

Terbinafine for Onychomycosis, Toenail "I took this medicine for 3 weeks and have lost all sense of taste. It has been 2 weeks and I have lost 12 lbs. They say that this is a rare side effect, yet I have found many websites that have many complaints of the same effect. Not worth my time or money. I am depressed, sick, weak all the time, and mad as hell I ever took it and my toenails still look bad."

• Toe...
• February 24, 2011

Terbinafine for Onychomycosis, Toenail "I can tolerate most medicine side effects, but after 2-3 weeks, everything had no taste or tasted metallic. I stopped after 5 weeks; I needed to eat. Taste came back fairly fast. I tried to stick it out but couldn't. The weird loss of taste was too much."

• Fur...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 16, 2019

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I am so sorry I ever took terbinafine. I have a fungus on one of my toenails, and my doctor prescribed this. Immediately, I lost all sense of taste and smell, with the exception of a metallic taste in my mouth. I was determined to push through this, but after a few days, I started vomiting every time I took this pill. I have many rare side effects from a variety of drugs, but this is the worst. I have had nausea consistently after beginning this. After 4 weeks, side effects were so bad I stopped it. I am using an anti-nausea medication, which is helping with that. The worst of all is that my liver enzymes have gone up, and I am awaiting a scan of my liver."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 24, 2016

Terbinafine for Onychomycosis, Toenail "Took the medication for 35 days, was onto my second script when I got loss of taste, my mouth tasted like sour milk 24/7. When eating sweet food, I couldn't taste the sweet, and anything sweet made the sour milk taste in my mouth worse. Also, eating dairy gave the same effect. Eating salted food was tasteless. Great diet pill, as everything tastes so foul, including water. Went to the doctor, says stop taking it, and the foul taste could last for several weeks. Return if still no good in six weeks. My toenail was starting to look better, but needed to complete the course. Will have to revert to natural method, tea tree oil. Also got headaches with this medication, although that could be due to lack of water as drinking water tastes sour."

• Bab...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 14, 2016

Terbinafine for Onychomycosis, Fingernail "Not worth the risk! The fungus is definitely clearing up, but I've lost my taste, so I'm losing weight (the wrong way) because everything I eat or drink is nasty tasting. I get hungry, but eat a few bites, and it tastes like mush. I lose my appetite and stop eating. My skin is itchy, and I have a thick, coated tongue that's sensitive and achy with a constant feeling of something stuck in the back of my throat. Now I read that my taste buds may not ever wake up again! That's going to seriously lower my quality of life! If I'd known these side effects before taking Lamisil, I wouldn't have taken the risk! Using a topical twice a day of tea tree oil, Vick's VapoRub, or FungiNail for the rest of my life would be worth it to have my taste back!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 12, 2017

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I'm on week 2, and I feel terrible! My stomach is in knots, I have a rash on my neck, can't sleep, taking antacids daily due to an acidic taste in my mouth. I've gained weight and lost my sense of taste. Symptoms gradually worsen the longer I take it. I can hardly move today. :'( .... the tough part is my nails look better! Do I tough it out in misery or opt for a topical solution?"

• Der...
• October 24, 2019

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I took terbinafine for 14 weeks. I had a right big toe infection for 6 months, which then moved to the left big toe, and I wasn’t having that. I started the medication in June 2019 and recently completed it. I lost my taste, I itched like a banshee, I got worse anxiety than usual, I had bowel issues and gas, but it is working. 2/3 of each toenail is now clear. My blood tests, which were checked twice, are fine. I would do it all again if I ever got that awful toenail infection again. It was gross. Thank you, terbinafine."

• ASh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 16, 2016

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I had suffered with a fungal toenail infection since I was about 4 years old after I dropped a paving slab on my foot, and it ruined the nail/nail bed. My big toenail was thickened, discolored, a bit ingrown, and raised at the end, very painful if stepped on/knocked, and always falling off. I was particularly conscious as a teenager about the appearance and smell of it and had tried every topical lacquer and a few homeopathic suggestions. Nothing seemed to work, and eventually I was prescribed terbinafine for 3 months, and it worked like a treat. I did not have any side effects, not even loss of taste like a lot of the reviews say, and my toenail was completely cleared and has been so now for 7 years. Very happy with terbinafine!"

• Chu...
• July 28, 2016

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "Took this med for toe fungus for 3 months. Fungus is gone, but absolutely the most horrible constant metallic taste in my mouth, which makes me constantly swallow. On top of that, it has definitely caused a loss in taste, as flavors are dull, and even spicy food seems bland. The worst part is that I finished the meds 2 months ago, and I've not regained my taste, my appetite, or gotten rid of the constant metallic taste in my mouth. I'm horrified to think it's permanent, and I'll have to live with this side effect the rest of my life. NEVER would have taken this medication had I known it might cause this damage to my ability to enjoy food/life forever."

• Mag...
• July 5, 2019

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "After 40 days, I suddenly experienced a COMPLETE loss of taste; I stopped a few days ago and am anxiously waiting to see what happens. Not only have I noticed no effects on my toe, but the complete loss of taste is unbelievably frightening. Worrying after reading the side effects on Drugs.com that with terbinafine this taste problem is a common-ish side effect, and I am not sure how long it lasts."

• Ano...
• July 15, 2016

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I took terbinafine for only 4 days but experienced loss of taste, loss of appetite, constant tiredness, and painful swollen lymph nodes. Blood pressure dropped and lost 8 pounds. Went to urgent care and had CBC and urinalysis. Everything came back fine and Dr. confirmed the reaction to medicine. I still feel lousy after stopping terbinafine a week ago. Don't risk it, awful medicine! Yuck!"

• Anonymous
• September 7, 2011

Terbinafine "I took Lamisil for about 6 weeks. My toenails started looking better right away. I could see the new clear nail pretty quick. I started having bad heartburn and stomach pains. Everything started smelling and tasting the same and terrible. I lost 10 pounds and could barely keep food down for 3 weeks. It has been about 6 weeks since I stopped taking it, and I am still having loss of taste and stomach acid problems. Liver tests came out normal. I have never been allergic to a medicine, but unfortunately, I was in the 1% of people that got the side effects from this medicine."

• Can...
• June 21, 2015

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "Just had my 2nd liver panel done for my last refill. It came back good. I have been taking this medication for 2 months, 3 months when treatment is complete. Recently lost my sense of taste. Very frustrating and hard to eat when you have no taste. Sweet and salty are what I can taste most, but still taste watered down or tasteless. Happy it's only for 1 more month, but how long before my taste returns!? My toenail is noticeably clearing, but the doc says it will take some time before it is totally clear. Also, while taking this medication, you can NOT drink alcoholic beverages. You WILL destroy your liver. Choose treatment time wisely. I was dumb and did it the months of May, June, and July. Memorial Day and the 4th of July were not as fun."

• 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!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 14, 2018

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I'm 28. I do not have a lot of experience with medications since I've been relatively healthy most of my life. I've had fungus in one of my toenails since high school, until it recently spread to my other big toenail, and that one fell off, which is not something I wanted to get used to, so I decided to see a doctor about it, which led me to this prescription. I've taken it for 10 weeks, and I do see a great improvement - my nail is growing back normal, and my other toenail is also clearing up and growing normal. But the one side effect that I've noticed is, one week ago I lost my sense of taste - sweet and salty things no longer taste sweet and salty. This has scared me enough to not take it anymore. I probably no longer need it since my nails look good enough, but I just hope my taste comes back (I can taste some - just not very much)…"

• 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."

• foo...
• February 23, 2021

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I had very bad fungal infections in all my toenails and eventually lost most of them. I was prescribed a 3-month course of terbinafine. The drug cured my nail infections completely, but the loss of taste was complete, long-lasting, and very distressing. Not only that, but depression, lethargy, insomnia, and many other nasty side effects took ages to recede. Today, three years later, I'm still not the 15 km running, horse riding fit 50-something I was."

• Abb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 5, 2019

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "Was prescribed this medication after getting an infection on my toe from a pedicure. I took it for exactly 4 weeks. Woke up one morning last week and could absolutely taste nothing! This is a known horrific side effect of terbinafine! Apparently, sense of taste won’t come back for at least 4-6 weeks! This is the worst!"

• Anonymous
• May 12, 2010

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "Been taking terbinafine for 5 of my 12 weeks. Starting to see a little difference in toenails. Athlete's foot is gone! However, I have a sore throat. I am a little more tired than usual. The worst side effect is the complete loss of taste! I hate it. I have lost a couple of pounds because of not eating as much. I would advise that if you lose your sense of taste, to make sure to drink plenty of water and avoid any really dry food - they will just taste/feel like cardboard in your mouth."

• Thu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 21, 2019

For Tinea Pedis "I was prescribed terbinafine for moccasin-type tinea pedis. I took one single pill and woke up the next day without a sense of taste. I am a chef. This drug has the potential to destroy my life, my livelihood, and my greatest source of happiness. My sense of taste has not yet returned, which terrifies me. I also proceeded to poop my guts out with the most painful diarrhea since having food poisoning a decade ago. I was sobbing on the toilet. DO NOT RECOMMEND. I have no idea how a drug this awful is allowed to remain on the market."

• Dar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 18, 2015

For Cutaneous Candidiasis "Have had a fungal infection in my mouth for almost a year and have tried many meds, however, this medication has been a nightmare!!! Will take the last of a 10-day treatment @ 250 mg. Have had severe nausea, severe heartburn (living on Tums for that), no taste, and a massive migraine for the whole 10 days. My question is, 'How long does this stay in your system because I can't take much more of this?' Informed doctor of problems and was told of two options... stop the drug or suffer through it. Can't stop the medication because I can no longer eat due to mouth sores."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 26, 2021

Terbinafine for Tinea Cruris "I was prescribed Lamisil to use for 2 weeks to treat mild jock itch. After the first week, the symptoms got much worse (swelling, burning, itching, and spreading). The second week I started losing my taste and smell, and the symptoms did not improve at all. I started using another broad-spectrum antifungal cream, and the jock itch was completely destroyed within 3 days. I will not recommend Lamisil to anyone!"

• Tom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 12, 2020

For Onychomycosis, Toenail "I had very thick big toe nails, all of my toes were affected by the fungi. I have been on terbinafine for about 7 weeks. I had to stop taking it because I have lost my sense of taste. It began for about 10 days, and this is a horrible experience. If I had known there was a chance I would lose my sense of taste, I would not have taken terbinafine. If you Google it, it says 2.8% have a chance to lose taste, and I think it is heaps more. There are forums on this drug with thousands of taste loss stories."