Taste and Smell Disturbance Resulting From Midodrine

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Neurology
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Midodrine is a common treatment for orthostatic hypotension.
• Adverse sensory events like dysgeusia and dysosmia are not widely reported for midodrine.

Observation:

• A 58-year-old male experienced dysgeusia and dysosmia two weeks after initiating midodrine for orthostatic hypotension.
• The patient also noted a reduced appetite, which he initially attributed to his condition rather than the medication.

Findings:

• Dysgeusia and dysosmia are potential, albeit uncommon, adverse effects of midodrine.
• These sensory disturbances may decrease in severity or resolve with ongoing midodrine treatment.

Implications:

• Clinicians should consider midodrine as a potential cause of dysgeusia and dysosmia in patients.
• Further research is needed to understand the dose-dependency and prevalence of these sensory side effects.