DISTURBANCES OF TASTE AND SMELL INDUCED BY DRUGS

We reviewed the current literature (1980-1990, 1991-1996) concerning d rugs associated with anosmia, hyposmia, dysgeusia, parageusia, and age usia, and the impact of these adverse effects. Case reports of patient s with sudden and delayed onset of one of these disorders with evidenc e for implication of a drug were included. Disturbances of taste and s mell among the elderly and chronically ill, including those with therm al injury, decreases interest in eating and secondarily impairs healin g of wounds. Mechanisms involved with these sensory disturbances inclu de deposition of silver sulfate in nerves after use of topical agents containing silver, altered influx of calcium and other ions, chelation or depletion of tissue-bound zinc, disturbed bradykinin catabolism an d second messenger synthesis, catabolism, and altered prostaglandin sy stems. Other mechanisms, particularly prolonged chemosensory disorders after early drug discontinuation, remain unknown.