Medications That Cause Bad Breath

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

bad breath and halitosis

Zoloft

Antidepressant

Yes

See Prozac

Zantac

Digestive

No

Often mistakenly prescribed for bad breath

Claritin

Antihistamine

Yes

bad breath and halitosis

Paxil

Antidepressant

Yes

See Prozac

Norvasc

Angina Relief

Yes

bad breath and halitosis

Vasotec

High Blood Pressure

Yes

bad breath and halitosis

Imitrex

Migraine Headaches

No

bad breath and halitosis

 

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.

bad breath and halitosis

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

bad breath and halitosis

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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