Can Medication for Bipolar Disorder Affect Taste?

Reader’s Question

I am being treated for Bipolar disorder. I am currently taking 400 mg of Seroquel at bedtime. In addition I take Enablex, Trazodone, and Diovan. I have been on this treatment for 3 months. Since I started these drugs I have lost my taste for food. Everything tastes like cardboard. I am 76 years old. What could be causing this?

Our Consulting Clinical Psychologist’s Reply

Bipolar Disorder…at 76 years old? If you’ve not been diagnosed prior to three months ago, I would first consider another opinion from a psychiatrist. In my many years of experience, I’ve not seen Bipolar Disorder suddenly surface at the age of 76. I’d consider a second psychiatric opinion.

As for taste, the sensitivity of the taste buds decrease with age. Medications can also impair both our sense of taste and smell. Our sense of smell is directly linked to our sense of taste. Experiment with different smells like coffee, perfume, etc. to determine if your sense of smell has decreased as well. Your sense of smell may have also been decreased by medications.

For your age, while I’m not a physician, 400 mg of Seroquel seems to be a heavy dose. Again, I’d return to your physician and/or get another opinion about your situation.

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