Oral adverse effects of drugs: Taste disorders

• Published in: Oral diseases 2020-01, Vol.26 (1), p.213-223
• Main Authors: Rademacher, Willem Maria Hubertus, Aziz, Yalda, Hielema, Atty, Cheung, Ka‐Chun, Lange, Jan, Vissink, Arjan, Reinder Rozema, Frederik
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemosensory Disorders; Databases, Pharmaceutical; Decision making; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Drugs; drugs adverse effects; drug‐induced taste disorders; dysgeusia; Dysgeusia - chemically induced; Humans; hypogeusia; Nervous system; oral adverse effects; Original; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Side effects; Taste; Taste Disorders - chemically induced; Xerostomia - chemically induced
• ISSN: 1354-523X; 1601-0825
• DOI: 10.1111/odi.13199

Objective Oral healthcare professionals are frequently confronted with patients using drugs on a daily basis. These drugs can cause taste disorders as adverse effect. The literature that discusses drug‐induced taste disorders is fragmented. This article aims to support oral healthcare professionals in their decision making whether a taste disorder can be due to use of drugs by providing a comprehensive overview of drugs with taste disorders as an adverse effect. Materials and methods The national drug information database for Dutch pharmacists, based on scientific drug information, guidelines, and summaries of product characteristics, was analyzed for drug‐induced taste disorders. “MedDRA classification” and “Anatomic Therapeutical Chemical codes” were used to categorize the results. Results Of the 1,645 drugs registered in the database, 282 (17%) were documented with “dysgeusia” and 61 (3.7%) with “hypogeusia.” Drug‐induced taste disorders are reported in all drug categories, but predominantly in “antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents,” “antiinfectives for systemic use,” and “nervous system.” In ~45%, “dry mouth” coincided as adverse effect with taste disorders. Conclusion Healthcare professionals are frequently confronted with drugs reported to cause taste disorders. This article provides an overview of these drugs to support clinicians in their awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of drug‐induced taste disorders.