# In Your Opinion, what is the nastiest flavor of medicine? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 4, 2015, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-what-is-the-nastiest-flavor-of-medicine/736658 "2015-11-04T22:58:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-what-is-the-nastiest-flavor-of-medicine/736658/21 "2015-11-05T04:42:27Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Cherry! My god cherry! Idc what medicine it is, anything cherry flavored tastes like metallic ass. Cherry is the best flavoring for disguising salty or metallic tastes. Doesn’t always work all that well. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-what-is-the-nastiest-flavor-of-medicine/736658/22 "2015-11-05T04:45:01Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > Among stuff that you’re supposed to be able to taste… > > [Buckley’s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckley's). Just…Buckley’s. > > On preview - oh, hey, I’m not the first to mention Buckley’s. But, yeah, seriously, that stuff is NASTY. A friend, after her first encounter with it, said your body drives out the sick, because it refuses to get another dose of that. I love Buckley’s Mixture! Not the taste, but because IT WORKS. The first time I took some, I nearly threw it up, and subsequent doses were mixed with orange juice or swallowed with my nose held closed. It’s become almost impossible to find in the States; I looked into ordering some online, should I need it, and it was $35 for a 150ml bottle. If I want to pay that much for cough syrup, I’ll get my doctor to write a prescription for Tussionex, assuming that’s still made. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-what-is-the-nastiest-flavor-of-medicine/736658/23 "2015-11-05T04:50:02Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I one mistakenly chewed an erythromycin tablet. I nearly vomited. Wow, did that taste bad. I’m surprised you didn’t anyway; erythromycin is enteric-coated because it’s extremely irritating to the stomach. You know that scene in “Big” where Tom Hanks eats some IIRC caviar, and spits it out and scrapes his tongue? I did that when I was in high school, a few years before that movie came out, and I got an ear infection and an ampicillin capsule broke open in my mouth. Man, was that some nasty tasting stuff! As for pediatric flavors, Augmentin smells really good but still tastes nasty whether it’s generic or brand, and I once had the opportunity to lick a drop of Biaxin suspension, which also smells good, off my finger. GA-ROSS! I can’t figure out how they get that stuff down kids; I had to take it a couple years ago for a sinus infection, and I gained weight because I could taste it from the inside of my tongue and was sucking on mints constantly, if not outright eating, to counteract that. Got rid of a persistent infection, though. p.s. Yes, pharmacists are encouraged to taste-test these preparations if we aren’t allergic to them. The professor even brought some to class for us to try. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-what-is-the-nastiest-flavor-of-medicine/736658/24 "2015-11-05T04:56:01Z")
However, probably the nastest-tasting drug is Chemet, used for heavy metal poisoning. You can even smell it through a sealed glass bottle. Interestingly, with one exception, every time I have ever dispensed it, it was for a dog! Apparently, dogs love the taste of lead paint, and they were taken to the vet by a devoted owner who was renovating an old house and caught the pooch licking up paint flakes. :eek: In cases like this, or for children, they give it via stomach tube. Ranking up there is acetylcysteine, which is an antidote for acetaminophen poisoning. It smells like someone busted open a septic tank, and also has to be give via tube most of the time. When I was in school, a pharmacist who had lost his license for using his own drugs came and spoke to our class, and he said he would drink bottles of Tylenol #3 elixir and chase them with acetylcysteine, to avoid Tylenol poisoning, and I said out loud, “This guy was hardcore!” because I had dispensed it and knew what it smelled like. An open bottle would stink up the whole department. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-what-is-the-nastiest-flavor-of-medicine/736658/25 "2015-11-05T05:08:24Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > The _best_ tasting medicine, by far, is grape flavored Dimetapp. Mmm. I’d drink that stuff instead of Gatorade. 🙂 100% agreed. Somehow that stuff actually tastes GOOD, not just tolerable. The woooooorst I’ve had are Adderall and the yellow Triaminic. My mom always got that yellow formula for chest congestion and the [del]ass[/del] citrus/orange flavor was still SO bitter. Adderall (not XL, since that may have a coating for time release), you gotta make sure you can get those swallowed before they even slightly dissolve on your tongue because good GOD, the bitterness! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-what-is-the-nastiest-flavor-of-medicine/736658/26 "2015-11-05T05:58:07Z")
I can’t recall the name of it, but when I was six I had strep throat and I had to take this really disgusting liquid antibiotic. I can’t remember the exact taste, just that I had to drink several glasses of Kool-Aid to get rid of it. > [@Ambivalid](#): > > The _best_ tasting medicine, by far, is grape flavored Dimetapp. Mmm. I’d drink that stuff instead of Gatorade. 🙂 Oh god, I love Dimetapp. That stuff tastes like liquid heaven. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-what-is-the-nastiest-flavor-of-medicine/736658/27 "2015-11-05T06:54:41Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > 100% agreed. Somehow that stuff actually tastes GOOD, not just tolerable. > > The woooooorst I’ve had are Adderall and the yellow Triaminic. Just what I was coming in to mention. Gads, and it’s been nearly 25 years since I’ve had any of that damned stuff—if they were _trying_ to make artificial earwig flavoring, then they certainly succeeded. Slightly more recently, Vicks 44 (liquid). I couldn’t swallow for half an hour afterwards. They very deftly combined the flavors of “tear gas” and “green.” On the other side of the coin, however, there was that liquid antibiotic I was prescribed for pneumonia a few years ago…I regrettably forget the name, but that was some nice stuff. Thick, but with a sort of minty, malted flavor, and I think a touch of fruitiness, and it went down real smooth. I’d happily drink that out of a glass with a little umbrella, if I could. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-what-is-the-nastiest-flavor-of-medicine/736658/28 "2015-11-05T08:58:16Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > And just to clarify for the rest of you: [Buckley’s] does not taste medicinal like Robotussin does. It tastes like bitter sadness. You’re being too kind. It tastes like distilled evil. But it does what it’s supposed to, that’s for certain. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-what-is-the-nastiest-flavor-of-medicine/736658/29 "2015-11-05T11:34:03Z")
Has no one here tasted liquid **Kaopectate**? I don’t even know if it’s still around, but I remember gagging on it as a kid (I’m gagging a little right now typing this). I think it was supposed to be vanilla flavored (?) I’d seriously rather have the squirts than drink that stuff. mmm ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-what-is-the-nastiest-flavor-of-medicine/736658/30 "2015-11-05T11:48:14Z")
Bubblegum flavor, just sickening to have to drink that flavor. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-what-is-the-nastiest-flavor-of-medicine/736658/31 "2015-11-05T12:50:39Z")
Can’t remember what it was called, but before my colonoscopy I had to drink nearly a gallon of stuff that was supposed (HA!) to be raspberry flavored at intervals of about 10 minutes per 8 fluid ounces. To 'clean me out." Getting those last 2-3 glasses down my throat were not pleasant. Stuff worked, though…which was also not pleasant/ ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-what-is-the-nastiest-flavor-of-medicine/736658/32 "2015-11-05T12:55:55Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Bubblegum flavor, just sickening to have to drink that flavor. I came in to say exactly this. Bubblegum flavored medicine…barf. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-what-is-the-nastiest-flavor-of-medicine/736658/33 "2015-11-05T13:22:25Z")
My gf’s horse was on metronidazole once. I had to grind up ten tablets with a mortar&pestle, then mix the powder into molasses, then squirt that into the horse’s mouth. The metronidazole was so foul that the dust I tasted in the air made me gag. Oh, and a horse lineament with DMSO tastes awful seconds after making contact with your skin. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-what-is-the-nastiest-flavor-of-medicine/736658/34 "2015-11-05T13:46:37Z")
[Throat sprays that contain phenol (carbolic acid)](http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=d5d62f7a-8f92-4d42-a2fb-691f896f72fc). Same ingredient as [liquid Lysol.](http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=chem&id=3458) ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-what-is-the-nastiest-flavor-of-medicine/736658/35 "2015-11-05T14:09:42Z")
Well, I hate the taste of anise, so anise-flavored Nyquil is nightmarish for me, especially because the dose is like a full shot instead of just a teaspoon or tablespoon. ---
**Author:** ![Kelevra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/97f17d/32.png) [@Kelevra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kelevra)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-what-is-the-nastiest-flavor-of-medicine/736658/36 "2015-11-05T14:49:16Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > Can’t remember what it was called, but before my colonoscopy I had to drink nearly a gallon of stuff that was supposed (HA!) to be raspberry flavored at intervals of about 10 minutes per 8 fluid ounces. To 'clean me out." > > Getting those last 2-3 glasses down my throat were not pleasant. Stuff worked, though…which was also not pleasant/ The stuff I had was lemon-lime flavored. Horrible. I’d really rather just taste the salt (it’s a saline laxative). The worst medicine I’ve ever had to consume was prednisone. I had to take 6 20mg pills at a time (part of chemo). They were so awful that I gagged if a pill touched my tongue. So much so that I couldn’t swallow them. I ended up wrapping each one in cheap white bread and flattening it out then swallowing it whole. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-what-is-the-nastiest-flavor-of-medicine/736658/37 "2015-11-05T14:51:46Z")
Do they still use elixir of terpin hydrate anymore? I rather have the cough. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-what-is-the-nastiest-flavor-of-medicine/736658/38 "2015-11-05T17:12:31Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > Can’t remember what it was called, but before my colonoscopy I had to drink nearly a gallon of stuff that was supposed (HA!) to be raspberry flavored at intervals of about 10 minutes per 8 fluid ounces. To 'clean me out." > > Getting those last 2-3 glasses down my throat were not pleasant. Stuff worked, though…which was also not pleasant/ If you use a straw, and put the straw deep into your mouth, so the stuff barely touches your tongue before you swallow it, it’s much less unpleasant. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-what-is-the-nastiest-flavor-of-medicine/736658/39 "2015-11-05T17:19:52Z")
When I had strep as a kid I had to take penicillin pills. They were so foul tasting I couldn’t even hold it on my tongue long enough to swallow it with a short of orange juice. I begged to get it in capsule form, but they didn’t seem to have it. I think my parents ended up buying empty capsules and grinding up the pills. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-what-is-the-nastiest-flavor-of-medicine/736658/40 "2015-11-05T20:52:52Z")
Cod liver oil. Have not had it since I was in nursery school, but we were forced to take a teaspoon every day. Even the piece of hard candy they gave us afterward did not offset the taste. I still shudder at the thought - and I LIKE fish. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-what-is-the-nastiest-flavor-of-medicine/736658.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-what-is-the-nastiest-flavor-of-medicine/736658.md?page=3)