The taste characteristics of aerosolized formulations of triamcinolone acetonide, flunisolide, and flunisolide with menthol flavoring were compared in 102 adult asthmatic patients. During a 2-hour test period, study participants evaluated the taste of each of the three inhaled corticosteroids, one at a time, in a randomly assigned sequence. The extent to which they liked the taste of each preparation and the taste intensity (strength of taste) of each product were rated on 100-point scales. Patients also characterized the predominant taste of each inhaled corticosteroid as "no taste," "salty," "sour," "sweet," or "bitter." Assessments were made immediately after inhalation and 2 minutes after inhalation. At both assessment times, subjects liked the taste of triamcinolone acetonide significantly more than the taste of flunisolide or flunisolide with menthol, and they liked the taste of flunisolide with menthol better than that of flunisolide without menthol. The taste intensity of triamcinolone acetonide was rated significantly less than that of the two flunisolide preparations at both evaluation times. There was no significant difference in the taste-intensity ratings for flunisolide with and without menthol. Triamcinolone acetonide was most frequently described as having no taste, whereas the taste of both flunisolide and flunisolide with menthol was most frequently described as bitter. Because of the possible adverse impact of an unpleasant taste on patient compliance with prescribed therapy, differences in the taste of inhaled corticosteroids should be an important consideration in selecting and recommending an aerosolized steroidal preparation for the control of asthma.