MrsGirl asked
My taste is being affected with only two doses from a Medrol Dose Pak. Will it go back to normal once I’ve finished the Pack? Is this a side effect that warrants a call to the doctor?
Answer
Yes, Medrol (methylprednisolone) is known to cause dysgeusia, which is a distortion of the sense of taste. Most commonly, it is reported that Medrol causes a "metallic taste". Taste disturbances, such as those from Medrol, can certainly negatively affect food choice and be burdensome.
Fortunately, most individuals taking Medrol are only on the drug for short periods of time and, according to various studies, taste disturbances are not permanent. In most cases, when Medrol is stopped, recovery to normal taste will take generally a few days, but can take longer in certain individuals.
Why Does Medrol Change Your Taste?
The exact mechanism behind changes to taste while taking Medrol isn't well known, but is thought to be due to inhibition and alteration of taste receptors, partially due to changes in concentrations of calmodulin, a messenger protein. The incidence of taste changes appears to be rare with methylprednisolone, being reported in less than 1% of individuals taking the medication. As mentioned above, taste changes with Medrol are not permanent. After short courses of the drug, taste has been reported to return to normal after a few days.
It should be noted however that some sources report that it can take considerably longer than a few days for taste to return to normal in those that have been on Medrol for extended periods of time, up to 180 days in some cases. Nevertheless, in most situations, your taste should return to normal relatively quickly after discontinuing the drug if Medrol is the cause.
