Sweet the sin, Bitter the taste in my mouth

January 18, 2007 10:49 AM

Know any soft, nutritious food that is unaffected by the nasty metallic taste that's a common side effect of the antibiotic Cleocin and its generic version Clindamycin?

150mg capsules, one pill twice daily. It's for a dental/gum infection, so the mouth is already very sore and chewing is right out. The vile taste only adds insult to injury. Please help me find soft nourishment that hasn't suddenly become disgusting. Bananas, bread, coffee and artificial sweetener are already at the top of the no fly list.

posted by acorncup to health & fitness (6 comments total)

Bland mashed potatoes?
posted by paleography at 11:00 AM on January 18, 2007

Mac and cheese? Mashed potatoes? Soup? (If you find broth-based soups taste weird, maybe cream-based ones will work, or vice-versa.)

Here's a list of further soft food suggestions that I used a lot when I had braces and was recovering from jaw surgery -- don't know which foods in particular will taste better or not on the meds; I suspect it's just going to have to be a trial and error thing for you. Good luck!
posted by scody at 11:07 AM on January 18, 2007

(Oh, and if you find that cream soup works okay, you can always blend it with tofu for extra protein.)
posted by scody at 11:09 AM on January 18, 2007

Lunesta also gives a bad metallic taste, apparently by changing the pH balance of your mouth. You can remedy that by eating something acidy like a lime slice. I have no idea if your medication works the same way or if you'd be able to deal with the acid!
posted by footnote at 11:22 AM on January 18, 2007

I think your soft food should include some probiotics, such as Kefir and Saccharomyces Boulardii, as prophylactics against colitis. According to the Journal of the Canadian Dental Association:

The frequent association of PMC [PseudoMembranous Colitis] with clindamycin in the 1970s caused the condition to become known as “clindamycin colitis. ..
posted by jamjam at 12:33 PM on January 18, 2007

Thanks for your help.
posted by acorncup at 8:44 AM on January 19, 2007