Sense of smell symptoms and conditions

I took biaxin for 10 days in early June for a sinus infection. The side effects I noticed at the time were the yucky taste in my mouth and extreme fatigue. However, I also lost my sense of smell. It's been almost two months, and now I can smell some things, like ground coffee or ammonia, but not the more subtle scents, like flowers, light cologne, etc. At the time I was taking the drug, I discovered I couldn't smell vinegar; now I can smell it faintly. I visited my nurse practitioner yesterday, and she thought it might be a residual effect of the biaxin, but didn't find anything about loss of smell as a side effect. She advised me to wait one more month, and if the sense of smell hasn't returned by then she'll refer me to an ENT specialist. I'm just wondering if anybody else has noticed a loss or change in their sense of smell. (Smell and taste are closely related, so it's logical that it could be a result of the biaxin, since I experienced the yucky taste that so many people complain about.)

I've been on Lisinopril for a couple to three years. I often get tingling and numbness in my arms when I sleep. Also, my sense of smell diminished
greatly. I've now gone off the 5 ml. and am noticing my SENSE OF SMELL is much better!! Has anyone had this problem?? My hands swelled badly too, and that has improved too. Cough all gone. I'm monitoring with a bp monitor, and my pressure is normal. Exercise and good diet seem to be working.
Am so glad to have my sense of smell back after years!!!!

I've been on Wellbutrin for about 4 years. I suffer with allergies but have not developed any new ones for about 15 years or so. Now in the last 18 months I've developed 5 new allergies to Latex, adhesives, strawberries, etc. it's very frightening. Now wondering if it's the long-term use of this drug because right away it made my body more "hyper-sensitive" all around like sense of smell, hives and joint pain. Anyone else having, or had, this experience with this drug?

Hello,
I have just found out about this and have been on cipro and levaquin and guess what. 2 weeks ago i was jumping in a pool and the tendon in my arch let loose. I went to the orthopedic doctor and he sent me for MRI then put me in a boot cast. It felt like i stood on a golf ball and it still hurts like hell. I have problems walking on it still. My doctor stated that i will most likely be flat foooted now in the foot that the tendon let loose. then i seen this on the news. Damn i have never had problems in my foot. He called planter facititus.

I have had the mirena in for almost exactly one year now. I too had bad breakouts, low sex drive, fatigue, mood swings and cramps but they were all less than what I had had on the pill. However, I have LOST weight because the dizzy spells that I have been experiencing lately make me loose my appetite. I also feel like my sense of smell is much more sensitive (especially to gross stuff) near my period.
I would just like to hear from someone who stopped experiencing these adverse effects after having the Mirena removed or someone whose symptoms went away with time before I choose to remove my own.
Every form of birth control has some sort of side-effect, you just have to choose the one with side-effects that you can deal with I guess.

I must be one of the "unusual" cases. I have been taking Flomax for about 4 years with no significant side effects. It took about 7 days for my system to adjust but after that I have had very few problems. I do have an occasional sinus problem but none of the other symptoms described in these posts. Flomax was prescribed because of BPH and urinary difficulty. It has worked very well for me.

A little over 2 weeks ago I lost my sense of sweet taste and I think the newly discovered sense of taste related to glutamate. I was on 20 mg of Lipitor daily. When I found the fine print on the package insert related to loss of taste (after 4 days), I dropped to 10 mgs for two days but the effect did not lessen so I stopped altogether. At first everything tasted like bitter cardboard. Now over 2 weeks later everything tastes bland with no sense of sweetness whatsoever. I have been able to taste salt all along. This has nothing to do with my sense of smell since that still works fine. I'm wondering if anyone else has had a similar reaction and, if so, how long it lasted?

I am a 51 year old female who has been taking Advair 500/50 for a number of years now. About a year ago I got a severe sinus infection and have been battling recurring bouts ever since like clockwork. I've lost my sense of smell and my voice sounds like I am sick 24/7. The ENT I went to was absolutely clueless on asthma and allergy medications and their side effects. She told me my sinus problems were caused by my allergies. They may have caused the problem but I should be healthy enough to recover in a week or two not a year or two!!! I have NEVER have a sinus infection before taking Advair. I also now have been diagnoses with Osteopenia and a recent blood test showed elevated blood sugar and cholesterol. My GP says it is a side effect of Advair. I have also recently went thru a barage of tests because of an irregular heart beat and palpitations. I am a triathlete and marathon runner, eat a healthy balanced diet and work hard at trying to keep my weight in check. There is no doubt in my mind that Advair is the cause of these health problems.
I decided to come off Adbvair cold turkey. For about a week I felt exhausted (an understatement). I did experience a few episodes of tightness in my chest but using a puff or two of albuterol was all I needed. I take peak flow readings ever morning and actually had some of my highest readings in months, after stopping. Best part of all, I am starting to get my sense of smell back and have been without symptoms of sinusitus for the first time in over a year!!! My energy is coming back. But the big test will be when I start back training at full throttle.
When I was prescribed Advair the only thing I was told was to make sure that I rinse my mouth out after taking it. No reason and no education on the short and long term effects. This forum is AWESOME!!! This is the first site that I have encountered that gave me honest hard facts and information I can work with. THANKS TO ALL who have posted!!!

I have suffered with chronic sinusitis for about 8 years, and concurrent asthma for about 6 years. I am a 46 year old male.

I have worked with highly noted ENT in the area, and he tried many (non-prescription) recommendations over the course of a few months, but nothing worked. I had a CT scan that showed profound sinusitis in all regions, especially the ones that nasal corticosteroids cannot reach. In an attempt to avoid surgery, which he described as risky and not particularly effective with the type of widespread sinusitis I had (my orbital lobes were involved), he then suggested I get a single intramuscular corticosteroid shot, which he administered about 10 days ago. I was not advised of any potential side effects.

I called today to ask what it was, and was told Kenalog 60mg - I was getting a prescription for something else and wanted to make sure the pharmacist knew what I already had in my system. No comment from the pharmacist.

First of all, the Kenalog has worked like a miracle drug on my sinusitis. I can breathe normally, I can fly without intense ear pain, my sense of smell and taste has returned after an absence of almost a year, and my asthma seems to have improved. Also, and perhaps strangely, I had a noticeably enlarged lymph node below my left ear on the lower part of my neck for many, many years. It felt like a pea under the skin. None of the doctors in any of my physicals expressed concern about it over the years. Since receiving the Kenalog, this node has returned to normal and I cannot feel it unless I really search for it. I thought it has just calcified and was going to remain that way forever, but perhaps it was permanently inflamed from permanent sinusitis.

The only side effect while on Kenalog that I have noticed is that following Albuterol inhalation (for the asthma), my lungs burn a little and I have a productive cough for a few hours. I suspect that two things are going on: the Kenalog has decreased bronchial inflammation, and increased a vast amount of sinus drainage, some of which is going into my lungs to be expectorated.

My doctor is an older, seasoned pro, and I trust him. I just found and read online the BMS prescribing leaflet (the one for doctors) and it is very explicit that unless the injection is given as a DEEP intramuscular injection, then local atrophy is LIKELY to occur (their words, not mine). It does appear, therefore, that the side effect of atrophy is potentially dependent on the skill of the administering doctor.

I know I will get about 2-3 months relief from this medication, but with all the very tragic tales of side effects listed here, with which I sympathize deeply, I will be reluctant to take it again.

I am hoping the skill of my doctor - and my body's own system - cope with injection without some of the more serious side effects that the people here have been experiencing, though I expect I will have to wait a couple of months to see what happens. For some of us, the drug has (so far) saved us from a life of constant misery and fatigue. I am keeping my fingers crossed and will report back.

Wishing you all well.

I have been taking Wellbutrin for 8 days now. I was told by my pharmacist that it would take up to 4-6 weeks for my anxiety attacks to cease, so I am desperately waiting to feel better. One thing I have been experiencing since yesterday though is my sense of smell has intensified BIG time... almost to the point of making me ill... I have also lost 2 1/2 pounds in the last week, so it will be interesting to see if that keeps up. I really hope this stuff doesn't cause some of these other side effects I have been reading about.

I've posted here before about my nightmare with Levaquin that began in December of '06. I had all of the usual nasty side effects including: anxiety, thoughts of dying, unable to eat, redness, chest pain, strange blood pressure and temp readings, and finally a ruptured bicep tendon. Still, one side effect that I have not seen mentioned is one I'm still curious about..... I had a tremendous change in my sense of smell. To the point where I literally could not stand the scent of the deodorant I have used my entire life. To this day I still cannot tolerate that smell (as well as changes in other smells). Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Just curious.

Iv'e been aking Toprol -XL for 25 mg for 3 years. Gained 25 pounds, muscle and joint pain, depression.Mornings are a challange. My legs are stiff, crampy and it's difficult to walk.I wake fron arm and shoulder pain.Please respond if toy have the arm and leg pain symptoms.Help!

In late March I went to my Doctor for allergy Meds. He prescribed Singlair. Within two weeks I began feeling as though I had an upper Resp infection (I did have one). My Doctor put me on Levaquin an antibiotic. Then I began feeling as though something was crawling all over my face,& my face began to burn. I went to the ER one week later & was informed that I had Pneumonia. Along with the antibiotics I was still taking Singulair & albuterol inhaler & Allegra D & Histanex cough medicine. I have had Pneumonia 2x before but this time was 2x as bad. It lingered on for over a month. Then I started to smell really bad odors kinda of like a sweaty locker room. I called my Dr's office his nurse thought it was weird & never heard of it before. Then I lost my sense of taste & smell. Finally I went to my Dr on 5/17/07 he informed me that if my sense's doesn't return in 3 weeks to notify him & he would order a CT scan. The scan was ordered & was negative. I still have no sense of smell or taste. Dr's nurse thinks it is psychological. I went to ENT Dr was given a steroid which didn't work. My Dr also asked me to try nasonex nasal spray but that doesn't work for me. Now it is August 1st & my senses have yet to re-surface. Although I can taste sweet, bitter & sour but couldn't tell you what it is I am eating. I also suffered pains in my legs & feet, was really exhausted & had bad dreams.
Please reply if anyone else is or has suffered the way I have & continue to suffer.

I used in the past Flonase and worked. This time, I used the "generic" by other laboratory. I used it only once.
Developed a headache, felt virus-like symptoms and blisters on my lips. The most uncomfortable side effect ... 12 days and counting, everything with an aroma (or smell), smells the same, like some chemical. Even coffee, food. Have not used it again but side effects continue. Have tried saline spray to clean nostrils ... nothing has worked. Just wait??

The first time I got on singulair, the effects were practically magical. My once severe allergies and asthma seemed to completely diminish, and in the springtime, I regained my sense of smell, which had always been compromised by severe nasal congestion. However, I did suffer some serious and frustrating side effects. I was unable to digest foods for the first few months, and had diarrhea nearly every day.

I am not starting it again this spring, and have noticed constant bloating and stomach discomfort, and have had some difficulty falling asleep in the last week or so. I'm not sure if I'll stay on it, since I've been feeling pretty sick with the side effects.

I have developed a complete loss of smell - anosmia. The decline began somewhat in conjunction with my beginning a regimen of 20mg Lipitor /day. The decline was gradual until now I have no sense of smell. Are there other reports of similar side effects?

Loss of taste, increased sense of smell

I have used flonase for several years now. It is apparent to me that I have lost my sense of smell. I know that Zicam is being sued for a side effect that causes the loss of sense of smell. Has anyone else experienced this with Flonase?

Took Levaquin for chronic prostatitis. After a a few weeks experienceds intense pain in feet, calves and thighs. General feeling of maliase, fatique and depression. Inability to sleep. Sense of taste has diminished though sense of smell has been heightened. Fingers and wrists aching on and off. Fealt extremely dizzy and nauseous for several days. Nausea has diminished, but the feet, calf and leg pain remain. Have called doctor and recommendation is to cease taking Levaquin and see if syptoms abate after a few days. In the mean time he told me not to do any physical exertion as muscles and tendons are weakened when side effect occurs. Prescribed mild OTC anti-inflammatory (Ibuprofen) and pain-killer (Tylenol) for a few dayswhile we wait to see the progression and/or abatement of symptoms.

After my third dose of the medication I've noticed a change in my sense of smell. Bread and other yeast containing foods seem to smell very strongly like bleach or some other cleaning substance. Has anyone heard of this?

I am 29 and recently developed asthma like symptoms - wheezing and tight chest- 2 months after i quit smoking, and my doc put me on this. I am on my 3rd 250 mg discus of Advair (not including the 2 week sample discus) and have a couple of the side effects as described in other entries - a lot of acne on my forehead and cheeks, sides of my face... very rash like. I haven't had acne since i was 15. Also, none of my pants fit me in the waist, but they do in the thighs and butt - i also FEEL extremely bloated. Finally, i also have aching joints, particulary back, and have started stretching religiously, but still ache a ton. My sense of smell is just recently totally messed up - smells other ppl love i am grossed out by!! 2 weeks ago i started excercising daily and eating NO sweets and no junk, and my acne is not so greasy but just a steady bumpy surface to my facial skin. I am 29 and recently developed asthma like symptoms - wheezing and tight chest- 2 months after i quit smoking, and my doc put me on this.

OMG! I used nasonex and I lost my sense of smell and I am also very constipated! I am going to stop using it today...if anyone else has these side effects please email me. I went to see and ent doctor and he says there is NOTHING they can do
desiree

3 or 4 months ago I was given Levaquin for a viral flu. As soon as I began taking it I lost all sense of taste and smell. I have regained my sense of taste and some of my sense of smell but it is not nearly as keen as it was. Many people will say they smell stuff and I can't smell it at all.

levaquib for a month and completly lost sense of smell and taste (yes, i know they are interrelated) for 4 months now. never came back

I have lost my sense of smell since May 2005. I went to the Dr. on May 24th ,I was given a prescription of Nasonex to take twice daily one sqirt per nostral, and shortly after that witin a 10 day period, I lost my sense of smell. The ENT specialist was concerned at how quickly I lost my sense of smell. He ordered a cat scan for me to see if there is any blockage. Upon reading on this website, about another person that has had the same side effect I am beginning to believe that Nasonex could be the cause. I have stopped taking this as of today. Last dosage was this morning.