Skip to main content

What medications can affect your taste or smell?

Medically reviewed by Sally Chao, MD. Last updated on March 5, 2025.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

Hundreds of medications may alter your sense of taste or smell. Below are examples of commonly used drugs that may cause a change in your taste or smell.

Drugs that can affect both taste and smell:

Drugs reported to affect taste only:

A common drug that affects only smell is the steroid prednisolone.

Related questions

Changes in smell or taste

Changes include loss, decreased, increased or unpleasant changes in smell or taste. Some of these changes are a result of the ingredients in the drug, but most are due to the way the drug changes nerve sensation, chemicals or enzymes in the body. It could take months or years for a taste or smell disorder to develop from a drug, making it sometimes difficult to diagnose. According to a 2018 review in the World Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, studies and reviews show that more than 350 drugs can cause changes in taste, and more than 70 drugs can cause changes in smell. Many drugs cause both.

Older people who take more drugs are at highest risk for changes in taste or smell because they take more types of drugs, and drugs may interact with each other to cause these changes. These changes can be unpleasant and affect quality of life, but the main problem is that they may stop people from taking drugs that they need.

If you have changes in smell or taste that make it hard for you to take a drug, do not stop on your own. Tell your health care provider. Your provider may be able to change the drug for you or suggest methods to improve your sense of taste or smell.

Some practical tips include:

References
  1. Schiffman SS. Influence of medications on taste or smell. World J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surgery. 2018 Mar 26;4(1):84-91. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.wjorl.2018.02.005.
  2. Rademacher WMH, Aziz Y, Hielema A, et al. Oral adverse effects of drugs: taste disorders. Oral Diseases. 2019 Sept 18;26(1):213-223. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/odi.13199.

Read next

What are the best antibiotics for a tooth infection?

There are several antibiotics that kill the common mouth bacteria that cause tooth infections. The best (first-line) antibiotics for tooth infection include: Amoxicillin, Penicillin, Cephalexin, Clindamycin, Azithromycin. Amoxicillin is often the first choice because it is widely effective and has the fewest gastrointestinal side effects. Continue reading

Can you drink alcohol with amoxicillin?

Yes, you can drink alcohol while taking the antibiotic amoxicillin. The alcohol will not stop amoxicillin from working. However, many health professionals will recommend you avoid alcohol to give your body the best chance possible to fight the infection. Moderation is key. Continue reading

Does amoxicillin expire? Is it safe to take after expiration?

Amoxicillin capsules and tablets have an expiry of around 2 years and, provided they are stored as recommended and in the original packaging, there will be a small lee way of safety if used beyond expiry. Amoxicillin suspension is different and has a very short shelf life of about 7-10 days once it is prepared. Continue reading

See also:

Related medical questions

Drug information

Related support groups