6 Medications That Can Cause Loss of Smell

Loss of smell is typically not a serious symptom. Sometimes, however, loss of taste and smell go hand in hand and can be more of a problem. If these symptoms are temporary, they’re probably caused by congestion and are probably nothing to worry about. But the long-term loss of taste and smell can indicate a problem with the nerve pathway transiting smells to the brain, such as central nervous system tumors or infection, head trauma, or surgery. Moreover, the inability to detect odors can be dangerous, for example, if you cannot smell spoiled food or something burning on the stove. Changes in smell and taste sensations can also lead to food aversions and weight loss.

One of the lesser-known causes of losing your sense of smell is a medication side effect. Please continue reading to find out some medications that can affect smell receptors in the nose and cause loss of smell. We will also briefly touch on drugs reported to cause taste disorders.

Why would I suddenly lose my sense of smell?

Common causes of smell loss include:

Inflammation of the nasal mucosa, such as nasal allergies (rhinitis and rhinosinusitis).
A viral infection, such as the common cold, influenza, or COVID-19 infection. Many COVID-19 patients lose their sense of taste and smell.
Age-related loss of smell.
A mechanical blockage in the nasal passages, such as a stuffy nose, nasal congestion, or nasal polyps that prevent air from reaching the smell receptors.
Disturbances in the sensory nerves that prevent smell signals from being transmitted to the central nervous system.
Nutritional deficiencies, such as vitamin D deficiency.
Head injury or facial trauma.
Tumors in the nasal cavity or brain that affect the olfactory (smell) signal pathways.
Congenital conditions such as Turner syndrome and Kallmann syndrome.
Medical conditions such as hypothyroidism, diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease, which can diminish the sense of smell and taste.
Certain drugs can lead to changes in smell and taste sensation as a side effect. These drugs may affect taste receptors (taste buds) or smell receptors. They can alter taste and cause taste disturbances like bitter tastes or some other unpleasant taste. A drug can also affect your sense of smell.

What medications cause loss of smell and taste?

The following medications can affect both your sense of taste and your sense of smell:

Antibiotics such as amoxicillin, azithromycin, and ciprofloxacin.
Steroid nasal sprays such as fluticasone.
Blood pressure and heart medications such as amlodipine and enalapril.
Cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins) such as atorvastatin, lovastatin, and pravastatin.
Thyroid hormone replacement medications such as levothyroxine.

It is worth noting that the sense of smell and sense of taste are closely related. For example, the sense of smell affects the flavors of foods. Therefore, an obstruction in the nasal passages can potentially affect not only your sense of smell but also your sense of taste and food flavor.

What antibiotics can cause loss of smell?

Antibiotics that can cause smell loss include amoxicillin, azithromycin, and ciprofloxacin. These antibiotics can also affect taste.

What other medications can cause loss of smell?

Some of the medications that have been reported to affect the sense of smell are listed below. It is worth noting that smell disorders related to some of these drugs are rare side effects and not commonly reported.

Beta-blockers like metoprolol
Antiarrhythmic drugs like amiodarone
Antithyroid drugs such as methimazole
ACE inhibitors such as captopril
Intranasal zinc, used as a remedy for the common cold

What medications can affect taste?

Researchers have identified more than 350 drugs that can affect the taste buds or the taste center in the brain and lead to taste disorders. Common ones include:

Certain antibiotics like azithromycin, amoxicillin, and ciprofloxacin.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen.
Pain medications and fever reducers such as acetaminophen.
Antihistamines such as loratadine.
Treatment for diabetes such as metformin and insulin.
Beta-blockers (medications used to treat high blood pressure and heart conditions), such as metoprolol and propranolol.
Diuretics or water pills such as spironolactone, hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, and triamterene.
Stimulant medications such as amphetamine.
Cholesterol-lowering medications (statins).
Medications for mental health conditions, including diazepam, trazodone, bupropion, and amitriptyline.
Bronchodilators such as albuterol.

How to treat smell and taste disorders caused by medications?

There is no specific treatment for taste and smell disorders that are a side effect of medication. If a prescribed drug affects your sense of taste and smell, your doctor may lower the dose of the offending medication or switch you to another medication. The sense of taste and smell usually return after the drug is discontinued.

If you have a total loss of the sense of taste and smell and it does not improve with a change in medications, your doctor may refer you to a specialist at a smell and taste center. The specialist at the taste and smell clinic will thoroughly examine you to investigate other potential underlying causes of your loss of smell or taste.

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