Antibiotics could cause black hairy tongue - Dental Tribune

According to a recently published case report, a patient developed a rare discoloration of his tongue possibly due to medication containing linezolid, a synthetic antibiotic. Although adverse drug reactions were considered, the doctors suggested that the condition was most likely caused by the patient's poor oral hygiene.

As reported by doctors at the Texas Tech University Health and Sciences Center, the 56-year-old man had been hospitalized for several days after being diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia. He was discharged on 600 mg of linezolid orally every 12 hours for ten days. At a follow-up visit at the clinic eight days later, the patient reported that his respiratory symptoms and fever had improved significantly. However, he complained about dysgeusia and a blackish residue on his tongue that could be wiped off, the doctors said.

Read the full story >>