Dysgeusia Causes - Principal Categories of Gustatory Dysfunction
A large number of medications have been implicated in smell and taste loss. Medication effects may represent up to 12% of olfactory dysfunction, and an even larger proportion of gustatory dysfunction. There are few conclusive data confirming the role of medications in smell and taste disorders, because most evidence is based on case studies or series. If a patient notes the onset of smell or taste loss after initiating a new medication, it should be discontinued, because medication-induced loss can be reversible. One exception is chemotherapy, which can cause loss of taste and smell, as well as parosmia and phantosmia. These effects are usually transient and resolve within three months of treatment cessation. This adverse effect is most likely caused by toxicity to olfactory and gustatory receptor cells that have the ability to regenerate. Parosmia, with resulting food aversion, can be avoided by using a nose clip to decrease nasal airflow and odor detection. Some data indicate that increasing seasoning with additional spices may help
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