Any pharmacists about?...Why does my medication taste so disgusting?

[DisenchantedOwl]

I have been taking Mirtazapine for many many years and have always (as far as I can recall) had Accord brand dispensed.

Just picked up some and it's Milpharm.

Ingredients don't really look much different but they taste absolutely foul. It's leaving a horrible chemical taste in my mouth for ages afterwards. The Accord ones don't taste of anything.

What could be causing this? Could there be a problem with the batch? Or is this just because it's manufactured differently?

And they are not repeating on me and giving me heartburn. Had it mildly after taking them last night but thought it was just a coincidence, worse tonight.

*now

I don’t know. Have a bump, though, sounds unpleasant.

Hi
Ex pharmacy dispenser here. It's
probably the coating that is put on them. As long as the active ingredient is the same, strength wise and drug wise, the manufacturer can make such small changes. I take a daily medicine and some brands taste horrible . I always have a big glass of water to wash them down with.

The pharmacy have to give you whichever brand they have in, unless it is medically proven that you have a reaction. I would get into the habit of washing it down with more water as it sounds like it may be dispersing before you have washed it down properly, which could be the cause of the repeating on you etc.

'A spoonful of sugar'

Thanks everyone I've asked the GP to reissue the prescription. I'll find a chemist that has the Accord brand and go back to that I think. I was already drinking a good pint or so of water with it as the taste was so foul so it's not lack of water. But the reflux kept me up for hours last night (despite my usually reliable gaviscon!) and the taste had not gone away by the time I had gone to sleep!

That's partly true. But you can request a specific brand if they have it, or take your prescription to another pharmacy that stocks a specific brand. I do it regularly with another medication I am on as I am allergic to one of the excipients in a couple of the brands of that particular medication.

You can, if they have it. But supply issues haven't been great. Some brands have been harder to get than others.