Oral Side Effects of Medications
Oral Side Effects of Medications
A mouth ulcer refers to an open (ulcerated) sore that occurs inside the mouth or on the tongue. Mouth ulcers are often compared to "craters" because they have a hole in the middle. This hole is actually a break in the moist tissue (mucous membrane) that lines the mouth. Mouth sores may also be called canker sores.
Chemotherapy drugs that cause mucositis can cause mouth sores to develop. Such drugs include:
Other medicines that have been linked to the development of mouth sores include:
Sometimes, a medication can alter your sense of taste. A change in the body's ability to sense tastes is called dysgeusia. Some drugs can make food taste different, or they can cause a metallic, salty, or bitter taste in your mouth. Taste changes are especially common among elderly patients who take multiple medications.
Usually the taste changes are temporary and go away when you stop taking the medicine.
Chemotherapy drugs, including methotrexate and doxorubicin, are a common cause of taste changes.
Many other medicines have been linked to taste changes. They include:
Allergy (antihistamine) medicines
Antibiotics
Antifungals
Antipsychotics
Asthma medicines
Bisphosphonates
Blood pressure medications
Blood thinners
Cholesterol-lowering drugs
Corticosteroids (used to treat inflammation)
Diabetes medications
Diuretics
Glaucoma medications
Gout medications
Heart medications
Iron-deficiency anemia medications
Muscle relaxers
Parkinson's disease medications
Rheumatoid arthritis treatments
Seizure medications
Thyroid medicines
Transplant rejection drugs
Tuberculosis medications
Smoking cessation products
Stimulants
Long-term use of sweetened medications can lead to tooth decay. Sugar is an added ingredient in many types of drug products, from vitamins and cough drops to antacids and syrup-based medications. Rinse your mouth out after using such products, or ask your doctor or pharmacist if there is a sugar-free alternative.
In this article
- Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)
- Fungal Infection
- Gum Swelling (Gingival Overgrowth)
- Inflammation of the Lining Inside of the Mouth (Mucositis)
- Mouth Sores (Ulcers)
- Taste Changes, Including Metallic Taste
- Tooth Decay
- Tooth Discoloration
Mouth Sores (Ulcers)
A mouth ulcer refers to an open (ulcerated) sore that occurs inside the mouth or on the tongue. Mouth ulcers are often compared to "craters" because they have a hole in the middle. This hole is actually a break in the moist tissue (mucous membrane) that lines the mouth. Mouth sores may also be called canker sores.
Chemotherapy drugs that cause mucositis can cause mouth sores to develop. Such drugs include:
- alemtuzumab (Campath)
- bleomycin (Blenoxane)
- capecitabine (Xeloda)
- cetuximab (Erbitux)
- docetaxel (Taxotere)
- doxorubicin (Adriamycin)
- epirubicin (Ellence)
- erlotinib (Tarceva)
- fluorouracil (5-FU)
- methotrexate (Rheumatrex)
- sunitinib (Sutent)
- vincristine (Oncovin)
Other medicines that have been linked to the development of mouth sores include:
- Aspirin
- Gold used to treat rheumatoid arthritis
- Penicillin
- Phenytoin
- Sulfonamides
- Streptomycin
Taste Changes, Including Metallic Taste
Sometimes, a medication can alter your sense of taste. A change in the body's ability to sense tastes is called dysgeusia. Some drugs can make food taste different, or they can cause a metallic, salty, or bitter taste in your mouth. Taste changes are especially common among elderly patients who take multiple medications.
Usually the taste changes are temporary and go away when you stop taking the medicine.
Chemotherapy drugs, including methotrexate and doxorubicin, are a common cause of taste changes.
Many other medicines have been linked to taste changes. They include:
Allergy (antihistamine) medicines
- chlorpheniramine maleate
Antibiotics
- ampicillin
- bleomycin
- cefamandole
- levofloxacin (Levaquin)
- lincomycin
- tetracyclines
Antifungals
- amphotericin B
- griseofulvin
- metronidazole
Antipsychotics
- lithium
- trifluoperazine
Asthma medicines
- bamifylline
Bisphosphonates
- etidronate
Blood pressure medications
- captopril, an ACE inhibitor
- diltiazem, a calcium channel blocker
- enalapril, an ACE inhibitor
Blood thinners
- dipyridamole
Cholesterol-lowering drugs
- clofibrate
Corticosteroids (used to treat inflammation)
- dexamethasone (DMSO)
- hydrocortisone
Diabetes medications
- glipizide
Diuretics
- amiloride
- ethacrynic acid
Glaucoma medications
- Acetazolamide
Gout medications
- allopurinol
- colchicine
Heart medications
- nitroglycerin patch
Iron-deficiency anemia medications
- iron sorbitex (given by injection)
Muscle relaxers
- baclofen
- chlormezanone
Parkinson's disease medications
- levodopa
Rheumatoid arthritis treatments
- gold
Seizure medications
- carbamazepine
- phenytoin
Thyroid medicines
- carbimazole
- methimazole
Transplant rejection drugs
- azathioprine
Tuberculosis medications
- ethambutol
Smoking cessation products
- nicotine skin patch
Stimulants
- amphetamine
Tooth Decay
Long-term use of sweetened medications can lead to tooth decay. Sugar is an added ingredient in many types of drug products, from vitamins and cough drops to antacids and syrup-based medications. Rinse your mouth out after using such products, or ask your doctor or pharmacist if there is a sugar-free alternative.
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