Effect of medications on taste: example of amitriptyline HCl
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 21, 2026

Taste Exam: A Brief and Validated Test
Published on: August 17, 2018
S S Schiffman1, J Zervakis, M S Suggs
1Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical School, Durham, NC 27710, USA. sss@acpub.duke.edu
Abstract:
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.
More Related Videos
07:02A Computerized Test Battery to Study Pharmacodynamic Effects on the Central Nervous System of Cholinergic Drugs in Early Phase Drug Development
Published on: February 11, 2019
08:52Psychophysical Tracking Method to Assess Taste Detection Thresholds in Children, Adolescents, and Adults: The Taste Detection Threshold (TDT) Test
Published on: April 21, 2021
Related Concept Videos
Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
Taste Buds and Receptors
Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents
Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Serotonin Receptor Agonists
Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Release or Uptake