Effect of Medications on Taste: Example of Amitriptyline HCl

• Published in: Physiology & behavior Vol. 66; no. 2; pp. 183 - 191
• Main Authors: Schiffman, Susan S, Zervakis, Jennifer, Suggs, Mark S, Shaio, Elizabeth, Sattely–Miller, Elizabeth A
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Elsevier Inc 01.04.1999; New York, NY Elsevier
• Subjects: Adaptation, Physiological - drug effects; Adult; Amitriptyline; Amitriptyline - pharmacology; amitriptyline chloride; Animals; Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic - pharmacology; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Depression, Chemical; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gerbillinae; Gerbils; Humans; Male; Medications; Miscellaneous; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Taste; Taste - drug effects; Taste Threshold - drug effects; Medications; Amitriptyline; Taste; Gerbils; Humans; Human; Perception threshold; Rodentia; Bitter taste; Electrophysiology; Tricyclic compound; Psychophysics; Dose activity relation; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Animal; Gustation; Detection threshold; Antidepressant agent; Perception; Developmental stage; Inhibition; Gerbil; Elderly
• ISSN: 0031-9384; 1873-507X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0031-9384(98)00263-7

Use of medications is a major factor that contributes to taste losses in the elderly. Epidemiological studies suggest that community-dwelling elderly over the age of 65 use an average of 2.9 to 3.7 medications, and this number increases significantly for elderly living in retirement and nursing homes. The tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline HCl is used by at least half a million people aged 65 years or more. In human studies performed here, amitriptyline HCl was found to have a bitter, unpleasant taste of its own. In addition, it blocked responses to other taste stimuli in both humans and gerbils. This blockage in humans was greater when amitriptyline HCl was applied continuously to the tongue than when it was applied intermittently. Continuous application of the drug affected all of the taste qualities to varying degrees, while intermittent application led to taste decrements only for salts. Electrophysiological studies in gerbils also revealed taste decrements after a short adaptation to amitriptyline HCl.