Come, All You Nurse Detectives

Nurses General Nursing

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Does anyone know the cause(s) of someone having a metallic taste in the mouth plus metallic smell to the perspiration?

Any possibility this is related to short-term fasting (3rd day)?

:uhoh3::uhoh3::uhoh3::uhoh3::uhoh3::idea::idea::idea::confused::confused::confused::confused::confused:

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lithium adverse effects include metalic taste

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

I always get a metallic taste after certain antibiotics.

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Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.

antibiotics is my thought.

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Specializes in ER.

Some medications, not just antibiotics will give you that taste, and I have had it when I needed to eat something- but it was more just a bad taste, not metallic.

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Specializes in Informatics, Surgery.

My mother complained of a metallic taste in her mouth and was found to have end stage renal disease. She's in her 9th year on dialysis and doing amazingly well.

Keep in mind there were other symptoms that went along with that metallic taste issue - don't want to alarm you unnecessarily!:uhoh21:

Criss

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Specializes in ICU/PCU/Infusion.

hmmm. it sounds like the person might be in ketosis. the symptoms you describe certainly fit, especially since they've been fasting for 3 days.

does their urine have an odor as well?

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Does anyone know the cause(s) of someone having a metallic taste in the mouth plus metallic smell to the perspiration?

Any possibility this is related to short-term fasting (3rd day)?

:uhoh3::uhoh3::uhoh3::uhoh3::uhoh3::idea::idea::idea::confused::confused::confused::confused::confused:

Maybe it's related to oral hygiene, are the gums bleeding?

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Specializes in midwifery, gen surgical, community.

Pregnancy can cause a metallic taste.

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Ketosis?

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You guys are good!

This person also had a tooth extraction a week ago and is on Amox. I forgot to say that. No gum bleeding.

It seems to taste and smell like copper, most specifically. I guess that is known from having ever tasted a penny. :lol2: Of course, I think there really isn't much copper in the pennies any more.

I wonder if this is thyroid related. :confused: Iodine, maybe?

Kidney function is WNL, as far as I know, although the person is diabetic. Syndrome X.

Ah, well, keep those detections coming. Sleuthing can be fun.

BTW, the person has no other symptoms. I came across a great site when googling this - wrongdiagnosis.com. It asks about related symptoms, which is why I'm adding about no other symptoms being noticed.

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Specializes in Corrections, Cardiac, Hospice.

When I had my wisdom teeth pulled, the packing that was in my gums caused the most HORRIBLE metallic taste. Once those got taken out, problem was gone. I think it was dried blood.

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