Many people are unaware that the medications that they've been taking for years have actually contributed to their bad breath and taste disorders. It all boils down to the unfortunate side-effects of many medications which include dry mouth and alteration in taste perception.
According to research, 7 of the top 10 medications used in the US during 1998 had dry mouth, bad breath, or taste disorders as a side effect.
Medication
|
Use
|
Dry Mouth
Sour Taste Symptom
Listed.
|
Notes
|
Prilosec
|
Reflux and Ulcers
|
Yes
|
Often mistakenly prescribed for bad breath.
|
Prozac
|
Antidepressant
|
Yes
|
Mistakenly prescribed because doctors think that patients are imagining their bad breath.
|
Zocor
|
Cholesterol
|
No
|

|
Zoloft
|
Antidepressant
|
Yes
|
See Prozac
|
Zantac
|
Digestive
|
No
|
Often mistakenly prescribed for bad breath
|
Claritin
|
Antihistamine
|
Yes
|

|
Paxil
|
Antidepressant
|
Yes
|
See Prozac
|
Norvasc
|
Angina Relief
|
Yes
|

|
Vasotec
|
High Blood Pressure
|
Yes
|

|
Imitrex
|
Migraine Headaches
|
No
|

|
Below is a partial list of other common medications that can cause bad breath.
*Please consult your physician before altering the prescribed use of any medications.
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ANOREXIANT
Adipex-P, Fastin, Ionamin, Zantryl ......phentermine
Anorex SR, Adipost, Bontril PDM........phendimetrazine
Mazanor, Sanorex ................................. mazindol
Pondimin, Fen-Phen ..............................fenfluramine
Tenuate, Tepanil, Ten-Tab ...................diethylpropion
ANTIACNE
Accutane ................................................. isotretinoin
ANTIANXIETY
Atarax, Vistaril ........................................ hydroxyzine
Ativan ........................................................ lorazepam
Centrax ..................................................... prazepam
Equanil, Miltown ...................................... meprobamate
Librium ...................................................... chlordiazepoxide
Paxipam .................................................... halazepam
Serax ......................................................... oxazepam
Valium ....................................................... diazepam
Xanax ......................................................... alprazolam
ANTICHOLINERGIC / ANTISPASMODIC
Anaspaz ..................................................... hyoscyamine
Atropisol. Sal-Tropine ............................. atropine
Banthine ..................................................... methantheline
Bellergal ..................................................... belladonna alkaloids
Bentyl .......................................................... dicyclomine
Daricon ....................................................... oxyphencyclimine
Ditropan ...................................................... oxybutynin
Donnatal, Kinesed ........hyoscyamine with atropine,phenobarbital, scopolamine
Librax ........................................................... chlordiazepoxide with clidinium
Pamine ......................................................... methscopolamine
Pro-Banthine ............................................... propantheline
Transderm-Scop ........................................ scopolamine
ANTICONVULSANT
Felbatol ................................................. felbamate
Lamictal ... ............................................. lamotrigine
Neurontin .............................................. gabapentin
Tegretol ................................................. carbamazepine
ANTIDEPRESSANTb
Anafranil .............................................. clomipramine
Asendin ................................................ amoxapine
Elavil ..................................................... amitryptaline
Luvox .................................................... fluvoxamine
Norpramin ............................................ desipramine
Prozac .................................................. fluoxetine
Sinequan .............................................. doxepin
Tofranil .................................................. imipramine
Wellbutrin ............................................. bupropion
ANTIDIARRHETIC
Imodium AD .......................................... loperamide
Lomotil ....................................................diphenoxylate with atropine
Motofen .................................................. difenoxin with atropine
ANTIHISTAMINE
Actifed .................................................... triprolidine with pseudoephedrine
Benadryl ................................................ diphenhydramine
Chlor-Trimeton ..................................... chlorpheniramine
Claritin .................................................... loratadine
Dimetane ............................................... brompheniramine
Dimetapp.................brompheniramine with phenylpropanolamine
Hismanal ................................................. astemizole
Phenergan ............................................... promethazine
Pyribenzamine (PBZ) ............................ tripelennamine
Seldane .................................................... terfenadine
ANTIHYPERTENSIVE
Capoten .............................................. captopril
Catapres ............................................ clonidine
Coreg .................................................. carvedilol
Ismelin ................................................ guanethidine
Minipress ............................................ prazosin
Serpasil ............................................... reserpine
Wytensin ............................................. guanabenz
ANTIINFLAMMATORY ANALGESIC
Dolobid .................................................. diflunisal
Feldene .................................................. piroxicam
Motrin, Advil .......................................... ibuprofen
Nalfon ..................................................... fenoprofen
Naprosyn ............................................... naproxen
ANTINAUSEANT/ANTIEMETIC
Antivert ............................................. meclizine
Dramamine ..................................... dyphenhydramine
Marezine .......................................... cyclizine
ANTIPARKINSONIAN
Akineton ............................................ biperiden
Artane ................................................ trihexyphenidyl
Cogentin .... ........................................ benztropine mesylate
Larodopa ............................................ levodopa
Sinemet .............................................. carbidopa with levodopa
ANTI-PSYCHOTIC
Clozaril ................................................... clozapine
Compazine ............................................ prochlorperazine
Eskalith ................................................... lithium
Haldol ..................................................... haloperidol
Mellaril .................................................... thioridazine
Navane .................................................... thiothixene
Orap ......................................................... pimozide
Sparine .................................................... promazine
Stelazine ................................................. trifluoperazine
Thorazine ................................................ chlorpromazine
BRONCHDILATOR
Atrovent .............................................. ipratropium
Isuprel ................................................. isoproterenol
Proventil, Ventolin ............................. albuterol
DECONGESTANT
Ornade ........ phenylpropanolamine with chlorpheniramine
Sudafed ................................................ pseudoephedrine
DIURETIC
Diuril ...................................................... chlorothiazide
Dyazide, Maxzide ...... triamterine and hydrochlorothiazide
HydroDIURIL, Esidrix ........................ hydrochlorothiazide
Hygroton ............................................... chlorthalidone
Lasix ...................................................... furosemide
Midamor ................................................ amiloride
MUSCLE RELAXANT
Flexeril ................................................ cyclobenzaprine
Lioresal ............................................... baclofen
Norflex, Disipal .................................. orphenadrine
NARCOTIC ANALGESIC
Demerol ................................................ meperidine
MS Contin ............................................ morphine
SEDATIVE
Dalmane .............................................. flurazepam
Halcion ................................................ triazolam
Restoril ................................................ temazepam
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ANTIDEPRESSANTS
Prozac Norpramin Pertofrane
Elavil Adapin Valium (occassionally)
Imavate SK-Pramine Tofranil
Aventyl Vivactil Zoloft
Paxil Sigequan
ANTIPARKINSONISM
Akineton Artane Laradopa
Parsidol
ANTIHISTAMINES (Cold Medications)
Actifed Benadryl Comtrex
Dimetapp Pheran Triaminic
Vistaril Historal
ANTIHYPERTENSIVES (High Blood Pressure Medication):
Beta Blockers, Diuretics, Anti-Coagulants
Rautensin Isemelin Aldomet
Serpasil Minipress Inversine
Hyperoid Catapres Inderal
Inderide Aquatensin Moderatic
Diazide
ANTISPASMODICS & ANTICHOLINERGICS (GASTROINTESTINAL TYPE)
Quarzan Vistrax Combid
Pro-Banthine Anaspaz PB Donnatal
Pathibate
ANTISPASMODICS & ANTICHOLINERGICS (URINARY TYPE)
Pyridium Cystospaz Ditropan
Urispas Trac-Tabs
ANTIPSYCHOTIC AGENTS
Haldol Rau-Sed Serpasil
Thorazine Stelazine Comazine
Moban Daxolin Lithane
Lithonate
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