Many nasal and sinus conditions and dental problems can be treated as well. Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic used in the treatment of heart failure, acne, and ascites from liver disease, and it may lead to loss of taste. As we age, several factors can contribute to a loss of taste and smell, including dental issues, dry mouth, certain medications, alcohol consumption and smoking. You may be surprised (and perhaps relieved) to find out there are other disorders that can cause those symptoms as well. A natural loss of taste and smell is common in people who are 60 years and older, says the Mayo Clinic. Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) is prescribed to lower blood pressure, and it can also cause loss of taste. In addition, less mucus production in the nose, a loss of nerve endings and changes in the taste buds can occur as we age, affecting smell and taste. Although you can't reverse age-related loss of taste and smell, some causes of impaired taste and smell are treatable. As we age, several factors can contribute to a loss of taste and smell, including dental issues, dry mouth, certain medications, alcohol consumption and smoking. Some loss of taste cases may be permanent, especially if the mouth is a target of direct radiation therapy.. Loss of taste in mouth can be a sign of a serious condition. Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. Drug-induced taste disorders were the most frequent cause of taste disturbances in patients evaluated at a Taste and Smell Clinic in Tokyo, Japan.9, 10 Taste alterations from drugs accounted for up to 25% of the diagnoses with the preponderance of taste disorders occurring in older patients. The fact that older individuals were most vulnerable to medication-induced chemosensory … For example, your doctor might adjust your medications if they're contributing to the problem. Loss of sense of smell, known as anosmia, and taste, known as ageusia, can stem from three main causes: obstruction of the nose, damage to the nose lining, or damage to the olfactory nerve or parts of the brain that deal with smell and taste. In addition, less mucus production in the nose, a loss of nerve endings and changes in the taste buds can occur as we age, affecting smell and taste. Reasons why you might lose your sense of smell. If you smoke, quitting can help restore your sense of smell. Taste Loss and Aging. Loss of taste may also result from radiation therapy and medicines, such as antibiotics and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Traumatic Brain Injury can Cause Loss of Smell and Taste. Taste and smell alterations induced by medicines are quite common in the clinical practice with an estimated incidence ranging between 2 and 5%. Biaxin is an excellent medication, but it can occasionally cause an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Terbinafine is … The loss of the senses of taste and smell can sometimes be the only symptom that COVID-19 causes. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 6 Jan 2021), Cerner Multum™ (updated 4 Jan 2021), … In the world today, if you suddenly experience the loss of taste and smell, your first reaction is probably concern about COVID-19. When the medication was stopped, Heather’s ability to taste gradually returned. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. But other issues can hamper an older person's ability to taste, too. The ability to taste and smell can be lost or impaired after a head injury, finds a new study by scientists from the Université de Montréal. Some of the more common ones include allergies, diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, medication side effects, dental issues and cigarette smoking. Taste problems may take months or even years to resolve. 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