Levothyroxine and antacids???? Awful sour/bitter taste in mouth/on tongue.......

[mrspinkrat]

Hi

I am on 50mg of Levothyroxine daily since October. My levels are steady BUT I have an awful taste in my mouth almost constantly. It is a sour/bitter taste and I wondered if it could be some kind of acid reflux?? This is the only symptom however.....

I've had the taste for about a month. I went to my surgery and saw a Nurse practioner who consulted a GP whilst I was there and was told - 'it's nothing sinister'!! That's fine, but I've lived with this for weeks now..... it's horrible.

SOOO, seeing as the GP was no help I thought perhaps I should take an antacid for a few days to see if it helps BUT am aware that when on Levothyroxine that it is not recommended. However, I am at my wits end and just need some respite from this dreadful taste, so wondered if it would be ok to use Ranitidine and if anybody else has this horrible sympton? Is is hypo related even? I do know that when I don't drink much water with my Levothyroxine that I get heartburn about 3/4 hour later!

[humanbean]

This is a total guess, but I wonder if your stomach has started making more stomach acid since you've been on levo. Hypothyroidism often dries up the stomach. Could you try a fibre supplement every day for a couple of weeks to see if it cleans things out? I don't mean a laxative, I mean something like psyllium seed husk.

Perhaps you have a candida problem, or maybe Helicobacter Pylori? I have no idea if they change the taste in the mouth but it seems like a reasonable possibility.

[Moggie]

Dont take any form of antacid medication near your levo or it will interfer with the absorbtion, keep them, at least, four hours apart.

Could you have a tooth that is playing up or are you on any form of iron supplements/medication. I had an waful bitter taste in my mouth a while ago and it was my body telling me I had taken enough iron supplements.

Moggie x

[shaws Administrator]

Although you say 'your levels are steady' you may not be on enough thyroid medication yet, as it usually takes several months to get to an optimum medication. Hypo can also cause a dry mouth which may be the reason for the bad taste in your mouth.

If you get a print-out of your latest thyroid gland blood tests, with ranges, and post them on a new question for comments.

Some hypothyroid patients may get 'low acid' and this is a link with some suggestions to help:-

stopthethyroidmadness.com/s...

[shaws Administrator]

Do you take your levothyroxine with one full glass of water.

[mrspinkrat]

Hi thanks all

I've had a look at the low acid link so that might be helpful.

I drink about 3/4 glass water - it's all I can manage in one go!

The taste varies in intensity each day.....I can even have a day or 2 with no taste..... But it always returns.

I think wine (perry) may make it worse.....

I've tried cutting out certain foods, tea, chocolate, orange juice but nothing seems to be a cure-all

I even stopped using my asthma inhaler for a while to see if it was that!

Any more suggestions most welcome.

I am returning to my GP again this week to try and get answers. It's so depressing, it's on my mind constantly

I am also in early menopause - there is a condition called burning tongue syndrome associated with menopause so that could be a possibility I guess? But I wouldn't describe it as particularly 'burning' - just bitter/sour and sore

[Tilo in reply to mrspinkrat]

Have you gotten better?

[mrspinkrat in reply to Tilo]

Hi there

Yes, indeed!

My pharmacist was kind enough to switch my brand of Levo. It seemed to do the trick!

[Tilo]

Thanks for the reply! I have had this same thing for 4 months even got my tonsils out to see if they were causing problems...did you go from brand name to something else? I've been on. Tabs name synthroid for 10 years and haven't had issues like this until now...