Background: With the COVID-19 pandemic, there is growing interest and research in olfactory and gustatory dysfunction (OGD). Drug-induced dysfunction is an often overlooked etiology. We aim to describe the patterns of these adverse drug reactions (ADRs) using the FDA Adverse Events Reporting System (FAERS).
Methods: The FAERS database was queried from 2011-2021 for terms describing ADRs related to OGD. Terms included anosmia, hyposmia, olfactory test abnormal, olfactory nerve disorder, hallucination olfactory, parosmia, ageusia, hypogeusia, dysgeusia, and taste disorder. We identified the top reported medications associated with general smell dysfunction, general taste dysfunction, reduced smell, and altered smell.
Results: From 2011-2021, 42,172 ADRs were reported with OGD, of which 39,351 (93.3%) and 6137 (14.6%) were associated with gustatory and olfactory reactions, respectively. Zinc products (367 reports) and fluticasone propionate (211) were most commonly associated with olfactory dysfunction, specifically reduced olfaction. Varenicline (24) and adalimumab (20) were most commonly associated with altered smell. Lenalidomide (480) and sunitinib (462) were most commonly associated with gustatory dysfunction. Immunologic/rheumatologic medications accounted for 39.2% and 32.3% of olfactory and gustatory ADRs, respectively. Among this category, immunoglobulin drugs were the most commonly associated with OGD ADRs.
Conclusions: Gustatory dysfunction is more commonly reported ADR compared with olfactory dysfunction. Immunologic/rheumatologic medications are the leading culprit of reported OGD. With increasing numbers of patients presenting to otolaryngologists for OGD, it is important to consider drug-induced etiology.