Which drug is known to alter taste?

Opiates are known to alter taste perception due to their effects on the central nervous system, which can impact sensory functions, including the sense of taste. These medications often lead to side effects that may distort how flavors are perceived, potentially resulting in a decreased ability to taste or an unusual taste experience. This alteration can be particularly notable in individuals who are chronic users of opiates or those who have recently started on these medications.

Other drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, primarily act as pain relievers and anti-inflammatory agents, and while they might cause gastrointestinal side effects that could indirectly influence taste sensation, they are not typically associated with direct alterations in taste perception. Metformin, which is often prescribed for type 2 diabetes, can have side effects that affect gastrointestinal health but is also not known to directly alter taste perception in the same way that opiates can.

Thus, the unique impact of opiates on the central nervous system’s processing of sensory input makes them the drug among the options listed that is most prominently recognized for altering taste.