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Current Postings on This Page (56):
• I had open heart surgery 2 1/2 weeks ago, just about every thing I eat
has a metallic taste. Have any studies been done on this?
PJ, Dorchester, Massachusetts, USA, July 14, 2010
• Three years ago I had a stent put in and have
been on Plavix with no problems. Last month I had heart surgery (valve
replacement and by-pass). When I awoke from surgery I found the problems
discussed here. A metallic taste of everything, loss of appetite and
a very sore throat and roof of mouth. I simply couldn't eat or drink without
forcing myself to do so. I'm doing much better at home, but have to be
very selective of what I eat. I lost weight in the hospital and have
not
been able to gain it back because of the awful taste of food and beverages.
It has been over three weeks since the surgery. I tend not to blame Plavix
because I was fine before my last surgery. Could it be the procedure
itself? Including the anesthesia, tubes and all the new medicines. Wish
I knew!
If anyone has a
successful conclusion to this problem please respond.
Jesse M, Maryland, USA, July 11, 2010
• Maryann -- sometimes ACE inhibitors can cause
a metallic taste, but there have been some instances where patients taking
clopidogrel (Plavix) have experienced this adverse reaction. It
is a very uncommon reaction -- you can read more about it in a study
done
in Canada,
titled "Loss
of taste with clopidogrel". Perhaps this may be your
problem BUT -- do not stop taking your Plavix! See your interventional
cardiologist about
this
issue,
show
him/her this study and see if you can be given a different antiplatelet
medicine, possibly Ticlid (ticlopidine) or the newer Effient (prasugrel)
which may not have this effect on you. If the problem goes away, you'll
have solved it. If not, at least you won't have incurred any further
negative effects. But we emphasize that you should not stop taking Plavix
without
discussing this
issue with your
cardiologist,
because premature cessation of antiplatelet therapy greatly increases
the risk
of stent thrombosis
and possible heart attack, and can sometimes be fatal. Interestingly
enough, a very prominent cardiologist wrote us a couple weeks ago that
he was reading
this Forum and was amazed at how many patients report this metallic taste
since taking Plavix!
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, July 9, 2010
• I had 4 Taxus stents placed on April 21st , 2010.
I am on Plavix, Lopressor, aspirin, Lipitor, Aciphex ( 12hours after
I take the Plavix.) and pepcid. I have lost 18 lbs since then. Everything
I try to eat has a metallic taste to it. I can't taste any food at all,
even when I drink anything I get the same taste. I have had an endoscopy,
cat scan, MRI, nuclear stress test, no one can find out wht the problem
is, HELP, this is driving me insane .
Maryann, Averill Park, New York, USA, July 9, 2010
• I had open heart surgery in January because of
a Myxoma (a tumor in the heart). No stents, no bypass. I have several cardiac
medicines, including Lasix
and Potassium Chloride, Digoxin, Amiodorone, and others. I have had this horrible
taste in the back of my mouth ever since surgery. I cannot eat anything sweet
(including wheat bread and the like) and even water is affected. I have lost
about 40 pounds and dread meals. While it sounds like we all have cardiac surgery
in common, we haven't all had the same treatments. Is it possible this is a
side effect of the heart lung machine?
Jane, Chicago, Illinois, USA, April 30, 2010
• I had a heart attack in March 2008. Stent put
in at that time but did not experience the metallic taste until August
2008 which continues at this time. I took Plavix and Warfarin for a year.
Now, I do not feel like I am a crazy person with this problem. I experience
worse taste with some foods but not others. It would be good to find
out if the stent is really causing the problems with taste
and smell.
Holly H., Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, April 30, 2010
• Ken G -- I think you have something here. A
page about CT Scans from Medline (NIH) states: "Contrast given through an IV
may cause a slight burning sensation, a metallic taste
in
the mouth,
and
a
warm flushing
of
the body. These sensations are normal and usually go away within a few
seconds." Or perhaps not a few seconds...maybe a few hours or days
in certain sensitive individuals. Would also be interested in hearing from
others.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, April 25, 2010
• I had a dbl bypass 2-years ago and experienced
an onset of chest pain again in early April. During my 2nd cardiac cath,
I had no stent implants. However, a short couple of hours following the
procedure, I became nauseated and developed a dry/metal sensation that
seemed to closely mimic the dentist's Novocain effect on my tongue. My
throat feels as if it’s slightly swollen and swallowing is unpleasant.
I’ve also experienced stomach pain, diarrhea and loss of appetite. I can’t
help but attribute this phenomenon to the dye taken together with the Nitro
that was
administered. Has anyone else experienced similar symptoms “without” stent
implantation?
Ken G., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, April 21, 2010
• my wife has had a metallic taste and acute loss
of appetite since a heart cath about six weeks ago. No blockage. She also
had an endoscopy, and takes medicine
for GERD.
William V., Michigan, USA, April 15, 2010
• i am 38 and just had 2 stents placed on 3-11-2010 "during" a
heart attack. i have been on plavix since and found this site coz I've
had a metallic taste in my mouth now for the last several days. mine didn't
start right away but it is disgusting! i thought it may be caused from
the plavix....it never occurred to me that it could actually be from the
stents! lovely.
Bethany, Ohio, USA, April 8, 2010
• I wrote to this post on Dec. 7, 2008 my husband
still has the bad taste, now it is more of a rancid taste. He has now lost
65 lbs. and has to force himself
to eat. He has been to more doctors and no one has helped. With all these people
suffering with this problem, is there no one who can help. The last doctor
he went to said he thought it was a side effect of the stents.
Diane C., Oakdale, New York, USA, January 25, 2010
• I had open heart bypass. In December 09 No stents
put in but i am taking plavix along with other meds. This taste in my
mouth is not metallic but is killing my taste buds. Looks like everyone
here
is having the same problem. Any answers
out there??
R. Rom, Costa Rica, January 21, 2010
• Mr. Narille (and others) -- a known side-effect
of ACE inhibitors is a metallic taste. Ramipril is such a drug and may
be the cause of this. We have not seen any studies linking a metallic
taste to stent placement -- which is not to say there isn't one. But
often, after a stent placement, patients start new drug regimens, so
the addition
of an ACE inhibitor after stenting may be the "culprit".
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, January 5, 2010
• I have a question for two areas of the forums
but feel it is good to start here. I have type 2 diabetes, I had a stent
put in 12/21/09. I take effexor-75mg, ramipril-10mg, ASA-81mg, Prevacid-30mg,
Metformin-750mg x3, Metoprolol- 50mg x2. I find I have a metallic taste
so bad at times and at others non existent. At times I won't even eat
or drink due to it making me fill ill. A lot of the time I have an indigestion/pressure
feel in my stomach area along with a pressure in my lower throat like
I
have something caught in it. I walk for 10 - 15 min and get tired, my
nose gets cold as well as my gums and forehead and I have a cold sweat,
clammy
feeling I am told. I also seem to get a need to cough, not deep but just
need to do it. Any ideas on any of it?
Mr. Narille, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, January 2, 2010
• I had the metallic taste as they were doing the
stent placement, but no problems since then.
Tony, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, November 3, 2009
• I also have the metallic taste in my mouth, but
am not losing weight. I was on Plavix before and never experienced this
side effect. I recently had medicated stents put in an am now getting
the taste. I am also nauseated and dizzy sometimes. My symptoms are all
over
the place and no one wants to discuss the stents. Why
Not?
Ruby, Minnesota, USA, October 7, 2009
• My husband had a Boston Scientific Liberte stent
put in last September 2008. He was already on coumadin and then put on
Plavix, and aspirin after the
stent. One week later he was admitted to the hospital for an internal bleed
and a blood count of 8. They found two bleeds in his stomach and ended
up having
two endoscopies. Once he came home he started losing weight, no one had an
answer as to why he lost about 38 lbs. He has been through endoscopies,
colonoscopy,
scans with and without dyes and chest x-rays. Has seen an oncologist and has
had numerous blood tests, all negative. We have exhausted all possibilities
and finally started thinking that all this started with the installation
of the stent.
I did a web search and found this website. It would seem that we are not the
only ones that have experienced weight loss or side effects. The only other
side effect that we could pin to the installation of this stent was nausea
but he
never had the metallic taste. Please let us know if there is anyone else with
this problem. And if so have you started regaining any of the weight back?
Carol S., Winthrop, Maine, USA, May 21, 2009
• Hi, my mother who is 86 was taken off plavix
a month or so ago due to nauseous reactions. However, she retains a taste
in the mouth which she describes as a bitterness, as opposed to a loss
of taste. Smell is unaffected. Does anyone
know of similar experiences? Thanks
Richard Boleat, St. Martin, Jersey, Channel Islands, May 3, 2009
• Karen S. from Illinois -- is your husband taking
an ACE inhibitor? These have been reported to sometimes cause the metallic
taste (see Jim's post below and others in this Forum Topic). In any case,
your husband should not stop taking prescribed meds, especially Plavix(!)
without consulting his cardiologist first. Plavix is very important to
take after drug-eluting stent implantation, to keep clots from forming
inside the stent.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, May 3, 2009
• I have no stents but am on Verapamil for cluster
headaches. I started with the metal taste after one day on the drug and
have since found out that
it is a known side effect of calcium channel blockers.
Jim, Connecticut, USA, April 30, 2009
• My husband had stents put in Feb. 19th. 2009.
Metal medicated stents and was put on Plavix and told for the rest of
his life. He has this horrible metallic taste too and has had since day
one.
He can't find anything to eat or drink that isn't affected this way.
He is ready to quit taking Plavix to get rid of taste. Then what health
issues
are we going to be facing? If this has been going on since 2002, why
aren't they telling patients?
Karen S., Illinois, USA, April 28, 2009
• 6 weeks ago I had vascular angioplasty and a stent
put into the left leg. I was told to take Plavix for 6 weeks along with
my daily low dose of aspirin.
Starting about 2 weeks ago, I started developing a metallic taste in my mouth.
I stopped the Plavix 3 days early because I couldn't take the taste any longer.
Although it hasn't gotten worse, today - for some odd reason - seemed to be
pretty bad with the taste. There is no rhyme or reason as to why it is
bad on some days
and tolerable on others. Has anyone experienced the metallic taste with Plavix;
or rather is it the mixture of having a stent and taking Plavix? I'm hoping
that once the Plavix is fully out of my system that the taste goes away,
it's disconcerting.
JL, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA, April 4, 2009
• I am on dialysis and also have had a cardiac
stent. Everything has a metallic taste to it. My appetite is poor and
now I can't even enjoy what I do
eat. What causes this?
Ida, Alabama, USA, January 17, 2009
• My husband has had a metallic taste with
everything he eats, this has been going on for almost a year. He has
lost 55lbs. He has had all
kinds of test colonoscopy, endoscopy, cat scan with and without contrast
of the
pelvis and stomach. He has also gone to an ENT, and a periodontist, everything
has come back fine, He also has 4 stents, 3 in Aug. 2005 and 1 in Nov.2006.
No one seems to be able to help
him. Maybe someone here can help.
Diane, Oakdale, New York, USA, December 7, 2008
• My husband is just 33 and had a stoke last Dec.
It was a birth defect they found in his heart and closed. The Dr. put him
on Plavix. About two months ago he lost his sense of taste. We have an
appointment to see the heart Dr. in a week and will make sure to mention
the loss of taste. I am going to many web sites and readying over and over
how people are losing the sense of taste after
taking
Plavix for a while.
Ginger K., Missouri, USA, July 28, 2008
• The last couple of days everything I eat has
a metallic taste. grits,salad, water etc. I haven't had a stent. It's getting
so I don't eat because of the
taste.
Linda, Austell, Georgia, USA, July 19, 2008
• Shirley -- while this Forum
is about stents, it may be that the medication in your nebulizer has
this side-effect. For
example Nebupent (pentamidine)
is known to leave a metallic taste in some people's mouth (it's suggested
to suck a hard candy afterwards). Google the drug you're using in the nebulizer
and see.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, February 27, 2008
• i've never had a stent
but have breathing problems. since i started using a nebulizer, i have
a metallic taste when i cough?
why from what?
Shirley Alexander, North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA, February
19,
2008
• ...regarding the metallic
taste...I had a DES deployed in July 2007, and seven months later everything
tastes like I'm
eating a bucket full of ten penny
nails...although it's still an improvement over my wife's cooking...joking,
just joking...seriously, have not noticed any differences in tasting food...
Rob S., Pennsylvania, USA, February 15, 2008
• I had a stent put in on
Nov. of 2006. When I try to take walks or exert myself like shoveling
snow recently, I have a severe coughing spell along with
a metallic taste. Will this taste go away? I also quit smoking a week before
surgery. It has been over a year since I quit. Help me PLEASE.
Joyce, Maryland, USA, December 9, 2007
• I had open heart surgery
five months ago and complications required a drug induced [eluting] stent.
A few weeks later,
I began experiencing a rancid-metallic taste in anything I put in my
mouth. No
doctor was able to pinpoint the problem until my orthopedic surgeon suggested
a Google search of taste and stents. Obviously,
this must be the answer.
Armand, Connecticut, USA, October 11, 2007
• My husband had two stents
put in and was put on Plavix in addition to the Verapamil he has been
taking. A few weeks after
that he has suffered a complete
loss of taste and can barely eat. Has lost a lot of weight. This has been going
on for about a month. The first stent he had put in a couple of years ago did
not have any side effects. Anyone else had loss of taste after having stents
or using Plavix?
M., North Carolina, USA, September 25, 2007
• yes I too had a metallic
taste in my mouth after having stents (cypher) installed. I also had
100% blocked artery, so
stents were my only option at the time. 3 months went by before they were
installed
after being informed of the blockage. I lost a lot of weight (175 down
to 128) yes it did go away for
me , i had to eat
Charles P., Ohio, USA, September
14,
2007
• I had 2 M-LMiniVision stent
June28th. I was put on Plavix 75mg. Shortly after, lost my sense of taste.
Everything tastes
terrible. I aM losing some weight
but really have a difficult time making myself eat. If I don't eat I get sick
to stomach. My Dr does not seem to think the meds caused it. I took warfarin,
lisinopril,hydrochlorthiazide, aspirin and simavastin. Had a blood clot in
lung in Feb. After stents inserted, I was put on Plavix and nitroglycerin.
That is
when I noticed the tasting problem. I describe the taste as alkaline or kinda
sweet. Most things taste like lard. I seem to have a tiny slight taste area
on tongue at back of throat. Can you help me decide what or where to get
help? Any
idea what caused this problem? Thanks.
Myrtle Kennedy, Midland, Michigan, USA, September 13, 2007
• Along with the metallic taste are episodes of
seeing "white", things
turn
white....when focusing.
PJM, Mexico, July 27, 2007
• Debbie -- we're not sure
what your doctor is referring to, but at the recent American College
of Cardiology, a report was given
on Schering-Plough's new oral antiplatelet agent, known as TRA-SCH 530348.
But it's just entering Phase 3 trials, and is not approved for use anywhere
as yet.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, April 24, 2007
• Do you know of a new heart
medicine that is not commercial yet that can be taken about stent surgery?
My mother had 2 stents
and since then cannot take Plavix because of a metallic taste and now is
taking Ticlid but has problems with lots of diarrhea. A doctor with her
heart doctor's office had read recently about this new med but cannot relocate
the information. Any info you have would be greatly appreciated.
Debbie Elder, Vincent, Ohio, USA, April 24, 2007
• third day after having two stents, 2nd day using,
for the first time "Plavix" i have an unexpected headache. very glad i
found this site. after reading of other effects "metallic" taste, i'll
let others know if this occurs.
Terry, Oregon, USA, March 25, 2007
• I didn't have that problem,but
I've found that I've lost my taste for things I used eat prior to having
my heart attack
and stents installed.- I think I became used to the low sodium part of
what they fed me in the hospital...
Nita, Wichita, Kansas, USA, March 19, 2007
• I am rewriting in response
to my mother. She had 2 stents put in in July 2006. Three weeks later
everything she ate or drank
tasted metallic. After more that than 3 months of testing and a 36 lb.
weight loss we were to an end and did not think we would ever find an answer.
After talking to the cardiologist again and again I begged him to take
her off of Plavix and try something else. He put her on Ticlid and I am
so happy to say my mother is much better after being off Plavix. It took
about 3 weeks or more for the metallic taste to leave, but she can eat
or drink most anything. I don't know if this will help anyone else, but
we never dreamed it would be the Plavix.
Debbie Elder, Vincent, Ohio, USA, January 7, 2007
• to the editor: My mother
had Taxus Express2 Monorail stents. She does not take any Ace inhibitors.
Her weight loss is now over
30 pounds. She had a swallow test done yesterday and a scope of the esophagus
and stomach tomorrow. If those test show nothing we do not know where to
turn next. Our family doctor said he only knows to do a pet scan next of
the entire body.
Debbie Elder, Vincent, Ohio, USA, November 8, 2006
• I had the metallic taste
along with nausea for years. Stents were inserted in 2002. I am allergic
to nickel, but the docs
never checked - just inserted. I was very, very sick for several years
and developed an AAA. It was repaired and stents removed from iliac arteries.
Metal taste was gone in days.
Carole, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, November 4, 2006
• Responding to the question concerning my mother.
She had 2 stents and the card says Taxus Express 2 Monorail. She has not
improved and waiting to hear results from a head MRI, and they are doing
an Upper GI with barium next Tuesday and on Thursday a scope of the esophagus & stomach.
She does not use an Ace inhibitor and my daughter is a pharmacist and has
researched all of her meds. Mom's weight loss is now 30 pounds.
Debbie, Vincent, Ohio, USA, November 2, 2006
• Debbie -- do you know what
kind of stent these were. Your mother should have been given a card with
that information on
it? Also is your mother on an ACE inhibitor. This class of drug can sometimes
cause a metallic taste.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, October 28, 2006
• My mother had 2 stents put in in July 2006.
Approximately 3 weeks later she started having a constant metallic taste
in her mouth. In the last 6 weeks she can barely eat, everything she
eats and drinks gives her the bad taste and if she tries to eat regardless
of the taste she gags and will vomit. She has lost 25 pounds and the
doctors cannot explain any of it after numerous blood tests checking
for several things including mineral deficiency. Do you have any answers
as what could be wrong or what to test for?
Debbie Elder, Vincent, Ohio, USA, October 19, 2006
• My daughter gets a metallic taste in her
mouth. Sometimes it is after anything in milk. She also suffers from
stress. Can you suggest anything that may help. Doris.
doris stapleton, nottingham, UK, October 17, 2006
• I've noticed that every time I conceive
I get this metallic taste in my mouth each and every time have this happen
to anyone else if so what is the cause and what can you do to help?
Morena, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA, September 6, 2006
• I had same metal taste for weeks after cath
with Starclose femoral artery closure. What kind of closure did she have?
J.S., Colorado, USA, August 28, 2006
• You know, I have a metal taste in my mouth,
and have for a week. I have not had any of the above. I have been having
more allergic reactions to foods, and Drugs now. If I needed anything
for pain I would be totally screwed! I am allergic to many of the pain
medications that can treat the pain of the torn disc in my back. I can
take Ibuprofen, and that is it. I have recently had an allergic reaction
to eggs. That has NEVER happened before. I have yet to be seen by the
doctor, and am curious to see what becomes of this. I would gladly accept
loss of taste all together, than to have this constant metallic taste
in my mouth.
Shannon Langness, Kimball, Minnesota, USA, August 26, 2006
• i also had 1 stent put in and i now have
the metal taste but it didn't start right away, it came later and has
been ongoing now for months. drs. cannot seem to find the cause, and
meanwhile i can't eat as it makes me ill and cant swallow the food, and
have lost quite a bit of weight. would like any info to find a solution
to this problem. thank you.
Carla C., Texas, USA, May 23, 2006
• My 71 year old very active mother who was
a smoker had 3 stents placed in October 2005. She was placed on an ace
inhibitor(Altace) and immediately developed a cough. She took the Altace
for 6 days maximum. However almost 3 months later she still has the cough
and tires easily. Dr's keep putting it on the medication not out of her
system.
Patricia Friday, Lanham, MD - USA, December 30, 2005
• I take losarten (ARB as
opposed to ACE) has anyone experienced a metallic taste on this drug?
Jack, retired pharmacist, louisville , Ky, December 08, 2005
• A metallic taste is sometimes experienced during
a catheterization procedure, specifically as a result of contrast dye injection.
But that is something that probably wouldn't appear again after a week.
Some drugs are known to cause a metallic taste as a side effect -- for
example, the ACE inhibitor captopril (although this is an older drug and
not prescribed much anymore, specifically because of its undesireable side-effects).
Other posters to the Forum have described similar taste disturbances, but
we have not seen any evidence that the stent causes this (which is not
to say that stent allergies don't exist, but metallic taste doesn't seem
to be one of the symptoms). The Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada
has a good
page on high-blood pressure and lists the following "less common
side effects" of ACE inhibitors in general:
- dizziness or lightheadedness, especially in hot weather,
during exercise or when standing up suddenly
- diarrhea, nausea
- persistent dry cough
- headache
- loss of taste or a metallic taste in your mouth (this
effect usually only occurs with high doses and goes away after a few
months)
Make a list of the medications your sister-in-law is
taking and look up the side effects of each one -- see if you find something.
And definitely discuss this side-effect with your doctor. If he/she feels
it is a drug side-effect, your doctor may change the prescription to a
different one. And please let us know if you find out anything and how
the situation is resolved.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, November 15, 2005
• I'm not sure - she had (1?) metal stent put in & her
metal taste began about 1 week after that. It's constant & almost everything
tastes like metal. She is going nuts!! Have you heard of this?
Debbie, Winchester, VA, November 15, 2005
• Debbie, what type (Taxus,
Cypher or other) stents and how many? Also, was this immediately after
the stenting, or did it
come later?
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, November 14, 2005
• My sister-in-law had stents put in a few
months ago and now everything she eats tastes like metal. Has this happened
to anyone? What can be done? Is it possible that she could be allergic
to the metal stents & if so, what can be done?
posted by Debbie, Winchester, VA - USA, November 14, 2005
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