(HealthDay)—While loss of smell is a symptom of COVID-19, don't panic—there are a variety of other possible causes, one expert says. Databases On March 18, 2009 the Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb had received 36 reports on smell and taste disorders in association with doxycycline use, see Table 1 for detailed information. A person may have partial or total anosmia, which may cause them to think that they have lost their sense of taste. Causes of loss of smell . In a general review about drug induced smell and taste disorders doxycycline is mentioned as a possible cause of smell disorders [6]. When it comes round to the reasons of loss of taste and smell, there is quite a good amount that you can consider. Loss of smell is not serious, but can sometimes be a sign of a nervous system condition. Levodopa is half of the Parkinson’s drug Sinemet and it loves to cause decreased taste in those taking it. If the loss of smell occurs with a cold, allergy, or sinus infection, it typically will clear up on its own in a few days. In other disorders of the chemical senses, an odor, a taste, or a flavor may be distorted. ... Methimazole is used to treat hyperthyroidism associated with Graves Disease, and may cause loss of taste due to zinc depletion. Objectives: Terbinafine (Lamisil), a widely prescribed oral antifungal agent, reportedly induces taste loss in 0.6% to 2.8% of those taking the drug. Causes. "The most common causes are viruses, head trauma, severe allergies or some kind of anatomic obstruction in the nose or nasal polyps," Kuppersmith explained. Occasionally, serious infections of the nasal sinuses or radiation therapy for cancer causes a loss of smell or taste that lasts for months or even becomes permanent. In some cases, the loss of smell is complete (anosmia), while in other cases there is only a partial loss (hyposmia). This guide will cover the most common reasons for problems with smell and taste; however, it won't cover every cause. Loss of appetite can have many causes, including short-term infections, psychological or mental health conditions, cancers, and certain medications. Our taste buds are structured to detect the five main elements of flavors on their own, and rely on our sense of smell to guide through distinct flavors. Losing the Sense of Smell: Q. I used Flonase for a stuffy nose from allergies and lost my sense of smell. Polyps, tumors, other infections in the nose, and seasonal allergies (allergic rhinitis) may interfere with the ability to smell. And for signs you've passed a coronavirus infection, People are less sensitive to smells the older they get, and women tend to have a more acute sense of smell than men. SARS-CoV-2 isn’t the first pathogen to cause anosmia. There is some evidence that smell sensitivity may be inherited, to a degree. Parkinson’s disease: Loss of smell is a lesser-known early warning sign of the condition PARKINSON'S disease is a condition whereby parts of the brain … Breathing in chemicals or environmental pollutants has been known to cause permanent anosmia as well. This includes congestion, sneezing, wheezing, itchy nose and throat, itchy eyes and ears, sinus congestion, and post-nasal drip. Besides that, the radiation therapy can result in the damage of your olfactory epithelium. Seasonal allergies are also a common cause of loss of smell, allergist John Cohn, MD, told The Health Nexus. Remember if your medications are altering your taste, discontinuing them should fix that. Zinc nasal sprays are known to cause permanent anosmia. Many causes are not treatable, and the loss of smell is permanent. This has come to particular attention lately because losing the ability to smell can be an early symptom of COVID-19. 'Anosmia' means the loss of the sense of smell. By experiencing anosmia, you can expect a change in the way things taste as well. Causes and Complications of Loss of Smell. The complete loss of smell is called ... from a cold or allergy is the cause of anosmia, treatment is usually not needed, and the problem will get better on its own. But there can also be medical reasons: Some medications can … can disturb the olfactory nerve pathway. Examples of treatable causes include sinus infection, allergy congestion, drug-induced anosmia, and nasal polyps. In ... Amiodarone is a drug used in the treatment of arrhythmias of the heart. Taste changes are especially common among elderly patients who take multiple medications. Your sense of smell is also crucial for warning you of potential dangers such as smoke or spoiled food. Some loss of smell occurs with aging. Drugs can contribute to anosmia in susceptible people. Traumatic Brain Injury can Cause Loss of Smell and Taste. True taste loss, however, is rare. So, if none of the conditions covered in this guide seem to apply to you, keep in mind that sometimes no cause is found. So ask your doctor about alternatives. I … The ability to taste and smell can be lost or impaired after a head injury, finds a new study by scientists from the Université de Montréal. A complete loss of smell, termed anosmia, is the inability to detect or recognize vapors at the primary or accessory areas of olfaction. In severe cases, loss of smell can lead to depression. Other medications that may cause overgrowth of your gums include calcium channel blockers, ... Changes in taste can result from many things, like aging or a loss of smell due to a sinus infection, but sometimes, medications can affect your taste, too. Some drugs can make food taste different, or they can cause a metallic, salty, or bitter taste in your mouth. Okay, let's get started. Common cold viruses such as the rhinovirus and some of the other coronaviruses trigger inflammation of the sinus tissue, called sinusitis, which can lead to loss of smell. Old age. Antibiotics that can cause smell loss include ampicillin, used to treat urinary tract infections and types of meningitis, and azithromycin, used to treat some ear infections as well as pneumonia. Most often, people are experiencing a loss of smell instead of a loss of taste. Problems with your chemical senses may be a sign of other serious health conditions. Certain medications, such as some antibiotics, antidepressants, or anti-inflammatory, have loss of smell side-effects. Or, you may have a rarer cause of a smell or taste problem that is not covered here. They include stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines; depressants such as morphine and some antibiotics as well as the different drugs which include the vasoconstrictors in nasal sprays. However, you're likely to have other common allergy symptoms that aren't associated with COVID, he says. Anosmia is the medical term for a loss of smell. Dysgeusia [dis-GYOO-zee-a] is a condition in which a foul, salty, rancid, or metallic taste sensation persists in the mouth. In June, U.S. health officials warned consumers to stop using Zicam nasal cold remedy products because they can cause the loss of a sense of smell. A loss of taste is commonly associated with the loss of smell, because we rely on smell to identify flavors. Those affected by loss of taste and smell experience symptoms on a spectrum, from reduced ability to taste or smell to total loss of taste and smell. Radiation treatment for head or neck cancers. If anosmia is permanent, it is important to be aware of associated dangers. A clinical study demonstrated that the use of this drug induced anosmia in some patients. A temporary loss of smell can be caused by a blocked nose or infection. Biaxin is an excellent medication, but it can occasionally cause an unpleasant taste in the mouth. However, a complete loss of smell is rare, and most drug-induced smell disorders involve only a reduced sense of smell, known as hyposmia, of familiar vapors such as those of perfumes. Medications; Exposure to certain chemicals; Diabetes; Obesity; High blood pressure; Poor nutrition; Symptoms of Taste and Smell Disorders. Even a partial loss of smell could cause you to lose interest in eating, which in extreme cases, might lead to weight loss, poor nutrition or even depression. Any number of things can cause the problem. To help you understand this little better, we are going to separate them both into sections for better understanding. What causes loss of taste and smell? Cocaine abuse. Bacteria can also cause sinusitis. Certain medical conditions, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, etc. Although rare, there was a case in which a 66-year-old male was treated with amiodarone for ventricular tachycardia. Loss of smell is considered as the side effect when you take the overdose of these drugs. It may occur after a viral illness. When the medication was stopped, Heather’s ability to taste gradually returned. Injury to the nose or smell nerves. Medications are also an important, frequently overlooked cause of smell impairment .1, 6, 7, 15 Olfactory impairment is estimated to occur in nearly 10 … Even if a cause is successfully eliminated, the loss of smell may persist. Treatment depends on the cause. Dr O. A loss of taste is commonly associated with the loss of smell, because we rely on smell to identify flavors. A smell disorder can be an early sign of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, or multiple sclerosis. Medication side effects that cause loss of smell may be temporary or permanent, depending on the medication. Unfortunately, some nasal sprays can cause anosmia as a side effect. What kind of changes are we talking about? There are numerous medications, diseases, hormonal disturbances and chemicals that can disrupt the sense of smell, sometimes permanently. Loss of taste and smell could be your body’s way of telling you you’re low in vitamins. It could mean altered taste (like experiencing usually sweet foods as salty) or losing some of … However, other conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and tumors can be associated with smell loss. Some people add more salt to bland foods, which can be a problem if you have high blood pressure or kidney disease. Temporary loss of the sense of smell is common with colds and nasal allergies, such as hay fever (allergic rhinitis). 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