[Drug induced anosmia with nifedipine]

Area of Science:

• Olfactory Neuroscience
• Clinical Pharmacology

Background:

• Drug-induced dysosmia is an uncommon condition with challenging prevalence estimation due to unclear causality.
• Establishing definitive criteria for drug-induced olfactory dysfunction is crucial for accurate diagnosis.

Observation:

• A 59-year-old patient presented with progressive olfactory disorders over four months.
• The patient's olfactory dysfunction was attributed to nifedipine administration.

Findings:

• A high imputability score supported the diagnosis of nifedipine-induced dysosmia.
• Negative clinical controls and partial disorder regression strengthened the causal link.

Implications:

• Cardiology medications are a significant cause of smell and taste dysfunction.
• Nifedipine, metoprolol, diltiazem, and enalapril are implicated in drug-induced dysosmia.
• Further research is needed to understand and manage drug-induced olfactory and gustatory disorders.