From the Research
Dysosmia can be caused by several medications, including midodrine, as reported in a case study 1, and other medications such as antibiotics, antihypertensives, antithyroid medications, chemotherapy drugs, and CNS medications. When considering the medications that can cause dysosmia, it's essential to look at the most recent and highest quality studies.
- A study from 2021 2 discussed the management of severe dysgeusia and dysosmia in lung cancer patients, but it did not specifically identify the medications that cause dysosmia.
- Another study from 2018 3 provided a systematic review of drug-related dysgeusia, which can be related to dysosmia, and found that 35 drugs were correlated with dysgeusia, including keratolytic agents, chemotherapeutic and cancer medications, antihistamines, antibiotics, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.
- However, the most relevant study to the question of dysosmia is the case study from 2016 1, which reported a case of dysgeusia and dysosmia following midodrine initiation. It's crucial to note that if you experience dysosmia while taking medication, you should not stop taking it without consulting your healthcare provider, as they may adjust your dosage, switch to an alternative medication, or recommend waiting as symptoms often resolve after discontinuation 1, 3.
- Maintaining good nasal hygiene and staying hydrated may help minimize symptoms while continuing necessary medications.
- The mechanism typically involves either direct damage to olfactory receptors or interference with neural signaling pathways that process smell.
- Some medications can cause temporary changes that resolve when the medication is stopped, while others may cause more persistent effects.