KYT Dental Services
Lisinopril · Taste changes

Lisinopril and taste changes

Quick answer

Lisinopril can cause altered taste, including a metallic taste, reduced taste sensitivity, or food tasting strange. This is a known side effect of ACE inhibitors as a class. It usually appears in the first few weeks and resolves on its own, but a minority of patients have persistent changes. Lisinopril does not cause the gum overgrowth seen with calcium channel blockers like amlodipine, but it does affect a related cluster of oral side effects (cough, taste, rarely angioedema).

The mechanism
Why lisinopril affects taste

Lisinopril works by blocking the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), which lowers blood pressure. ACE also helps regulate zinc metabolism in the body, and zinc is essential for normal taste perception. ACE inhibitors can subtly disrupt this balance, leading to taste changes in a small percentage of users.

The most common report is a metallic or bitter taste, sometimes accompanied by reduced ability to taste sweetness or saltiness. Foods can taste flat or different from before. Some patients also describe a persistent unusual aftertaste even when not eating.

Taste sensation is also affected by saliva flow. Lisinopril is associated with mild dry mouth in some patients, which compounds the taste change. The combination is usually mild but can be enough to make some foods unappealing, which occasionally leads to weight loss in elderly patients.

Practical steps
What to do about a taste change on lisinopril
  • Give it four to eight weeks. Many cases resolve as the body adjusts.
  • Stay well hydrated. Saliva flow affects how strongly you taste food.
  • Brush your tongue gently with your toothbrush at the back where bacteria accumulate.
  • Ask your physician about alternative ACE inhibitors or different drug classes if the taste change is severe and persistent. ARBs (like losartan) usually do not cause the same effect.
  • Track which foods are affected. Some patients can adapt by adjusting seasoning rather than switching medications.
  • Get a dental check to rule out other causes of taste change, especially if you have not been seen recently.
Red flags
When to call your dentist
  • A taste change that does not improve after eight to twelve weeks.
  • A new sore or ulcer in the mouth that does not heal in two weeks.
  • Sudden swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat (this is a medical emergency, possibly angioedema, not a routine dental issue).
  • Persistent bad breath even with good hygiene.
  • Localized bad taste from one specific spot, which usually means an infected tooth or gum.
Common questions
What patients ask about Lisinopril and taste changes.
Does lisinopril always cause taste changes?
No. Most patients have no noticeable change. When taste change does occur, it is usually in the first few weeks and fades. Persistent taste change happens to a small minority.
Will switching from lisinopril to losartan fix the taste change?
Often yes. Losartan is an ARB, a different drug class that has the same blood pressure benefits without the cough or taste effects seen with ACE inhibitors. Your prescribing physician can switch if the taste change is bothersome and other things are equal.
Is the taste change from lisinopril dangerous?
The taste change itself is harmless. The concern is if it makes food unappealing enough that you eat poorly, which has its own health consequences. In elderly patients, this is worth monitoring.
Can lisinopril cause mouth swelling?
Rarely, lisinopril can cause angioedema, which is sudden swelling of the lips, tongue, throat, or face. This is a medical emergency and requires immediate care, not a dental visit. It happens in less than 1 percent of patients and is more common in patients of African descent.
Could my taste change be from a dental problem instead?
Worth ruling out. A general taste change across the whole mouth is more likely the medication. A localized bad taste from one area, especially if it gets worse with food impaction or pressure, is usually a dental issue we can address directly.
Talk to a dentist about your case
Bring your medication list to your visit.

General guidance is a starting point. Your specific dental plan depends on your medical history, your other medications, and what your mouth looks like in person. Schedule a consultation and we’ll walk through it.

Schedule a consultationCall (833) 598-3368

Reviewed by Dr. Isaac Sun, DDS.

This page is general information, not medical advice. Do not start, stop, or change any medication based on what you read here. Talk to your prescribing physician and your dentist about your specific situation.