Taste and smell disturbances are reported in nearly one-third of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and also occurs in those who use medications frequently prescribed in dermatology, according to a report published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
To identify the therapies that have documented associations with taste and smell distortions, Shari Lipner, MD, PhD and her colleague, Yu Wang, analyzed the United States Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting Database (FAERS). Clinical trial data extracted from the National Institutes of Health Clinical Studies Database and PubMed were reviewed for case reports/series regarding smell/taste alterations associated with medications. The intent was to compile a list of the therapies that most often cause these symptoms and familiarize dermatologists so that they are equipped to inform their patients that smell and taste disturbances may be associated with medications that they prescribe.
