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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by KaraS on August 28, 2004, at 19:23:15
One of my best friends recently made a statement to me about this. She said that she thought a certain person was on antid's "because he has that antidepressant breath that all of the other people in my life who are on them have." She included me in that group. I have never heard of such a thing. I told her it was all in her head but she insisted that she can tell.
Has anyone else out there ever heard of such a thing???
Posted by Larry Hoover on August 28, 2004, at 19:49:05
In reply to Antidepressant breath? Anyone ever heard of this?, posted by KaraS on August 28, 2004, at 19:23:15
> One of my best friends recently made a statement to me about this. She said that she thought a certain person was on antid's "because he has that antidepressant breath that all of the other people in my life who are on them have." She included me in that group. I have never heard of such a thing. I told her it was all in her head but she insisted that she can tell.
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> Has anyone else out there ever heard of such a thing???It's a novel concept to me. And to Google. I googled the phrase 'antidepressant breath' and got no meaningful hits. There are apparently gibberish sites with the two words adjacent to one another, but not in a sentence.
Your friend is weird. ;-)
Lar
Posted by chemist on August 28, 2004, at 20:23:48
In reply to Antidepressant breath? Anyone ever heard of this?, posted by KaraS on August 28, 2004, at 19:23:15
> One of my best friends recently made a statement to me about this. She said that she thought a certain person was on antid's "because he has that antidepressant breath that all of the other people in my life who are on them have." She included me in that group. I have never heard of such a thing. I told her it was all in her head but she insisted that she can tell.
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hi kara, larry's assessment beat mine to the board. the only thing i can think of is ketoacidosis, resulting in breath that smells like acetone. is the friend on the Atkins diet or diabetic? please inform....otherwise, i'm with larry: weird [meaning, of course, that larry and i are not weird but rahter, your friend is :) ].....all the best, chemist
Posted by Catgirl on August 28, 2004, at 21:01:45
In reply to Antidepressant breath? Anyone ever heard of this?, posted by KaraS on August 28, 2004, at 19:23:15
Maybe it's her upper lip she's smelling! ;)
> One of my best friends recently made a statement to me about this. She said that she thought a certain person was on antid's "because he has that antidepressant breath that all of the other people in my life who are on them have." She included me in that group. I have never heard of such a thing. I told her it was all in her head but she insisted that she can tell.
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Posted by Racer on August 28, 2004, at 21:26:04
In reply to Antidepressant breath? Anyone ever heard of this?, posted by KaraS on August 28, 2004, at 19:23:15
While it's not something I've ever heard of, it does sound possible to me. (Although, I'm betting your friend isn't aware of it with all A/Ds, if my little theory holds...)
There are some people with very sensitive schnozzs, and there are some physical signs that can be smelled. There are cancer sniffing dogs, for instance, and some people can smell Cushing's in horses. (Other horses seem to be able to detect it, too, although how much is smell and how much is some other sign is anyone's guess.)
Plus, how many ADs cause dry mouth? (I just started Cymbalta, and have a funny taste in my mouth. Maybe that's why I'm thinking she may be weird -- and also able to smell *something* on people on ADs.)
No answer from me, but some musing about it.
Posted by King Vultan on August 28, 2004, at 21:51:50
In reply to Re: Antidepressant breath? Anyone ever heard of th » KaraS, posted by Racer on August 28, 2004, at 21:26:04
I immediately thought of dry mouth when I read the initial post. My mouth had such a funny taste when I was on desipramine that I figured it had to be having some effect on my breath. Most of the ADs I've taken have not been nearly as bad in this regard, though.
Todd
Posted by KaraS on August 28, 2004, at 22:40:56
In reply to Antidepressant breath? Anyone ever heard of this?, posted by KaraS on August 28, 2004, at 19:23:15
Thanks for all of your responses. I'm going to copy and e-mail them to her!
And, yes, she is definitely a bit wierd, though oddly enough, one of my sanest friends!
-K
Posted by sb417 on August 28, 2004, at 23:07:36
In reply to Re: Antidepressant breath? Anyone ever heard of this?, posted by KaraS on August 28, 2004, at 22:40:56
I don't think there is any one particular smell associated with the use of antidepressants; however, some other medications I know of seem to cause characteristic breath odors. As several other posters have mentioned, I think the most likely cause for bad breath associated with AD use would be dry mouth. The bacteria aren't washed away easily when there isn't enough saliva. Another possibility is that, just as the ADs dry the mouth, they dry out other mucous membranes, including those in the sinuses, preventing bacteria there from being washed away. I've read that sinus infections are one of the most frequent causes of bad breath. So, if you have persistent bad breath in spite of practicing good oral hygiene (brushing, flossing, etc.), a visit to a good otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat doctor) would probably be more cost effective than wasting money on mouth washes, mouth sprays, breath mints, etc.
Posted by Catgirl on August 29, 2004, at 13:44:08
In reply to Re: Antidepressant breath? Anyone ever heard of this? » KaraS, posted by sb417 on August 28, 2004, at 23:07:36
For those of you that have dry mouth side effects, there is a dry mouth mouthwash called Biotene. Maybe that would help. You can buy it at WalMart, so it's not too expensive.
Posted by KaraS on August 29, 2004, at 14:59:06
In reply to Re: Antidepressant breath? Anyone ever heard of this? » KaraS, posted by sb417 on August 28, 2004, at 23:07:36
> I don't think there is any one particular smell associated with the use of antidepressants; however, some other medications I know of seem to cause characteristic breath odors. As several other posters have mentioned, I think the most likely cause for bad breath associated with AD use would be dry mouth. The bacteria aren't washed away easily when there isn't enough saliva. Another possibility is that, just as the ADs dry the mouth, they dry out other mucous membranes, including those in the sinuses, preventing bacteria there from being washed away. I've read that sinus infections are one of the most frequent causes of bad breath. So, if you have persistent bad breath in spite of practicing good oral hygiene (brushing, flossing, etc.), a visit to a good otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat doctor) would probably be more cost effective than wasting money on mouth washes, mouth sprays, breath mints, etc.
She didn't say that it was necessarily bad breath but more "medicine-like breath". I should probably try to get more info from her but I'm just not up for it. It sounds like nonsense to me.
Posted by KaraS on August 29, 2004, at 15:00:10
In reply to Dry mouth, posted by Catgirl on August 29, 2004, at 13:44:08
> For those of you that have dry mouth side effects, there is a dry mouth mouthwash called Biotene. Maybe that would help. You can buy it at WalMart, so it's not too expensive.
Thanks. I haven't had that problem in a long time but if I try Cymbalta, I just might need it.
Posted by caraher on August 29, 2004, at 15:30:17
In reply to Antidepressant breath? Anyone ever heard of this?, posted by KaraS on August 28, 2004, at 19:23:15
My wife once claimed I smelled like macaroni and cheese after I started taking medication. We'd had that for dinner several days before so I asked what she'd had for lunch that day. You guessed it...
Posted by KaraS on August 29, 2004, at 20:06:02
In reply to Re: Antidepressant breath? Anyone ever heard of th, posted by caraher on August 29, 2004, at 15:30:17
This is the end of the thread.
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