[Drug induced anosmia with nifedipine].

INTRODUCTION

Drug-induced dysosomia is rare and its prevalence difficult to estimate, notably because of the lack of satisfactory criteria of imputability.

OBSERVATION: In a 59 year-old patient consulting for olfactory disorders that had progressed over the past 4 month, diagnosis of dysosomia secondary to the administration of nifedipine was maintained with a considerable score of imputability (negative clinical controls and partial regression of the disorder).

COMMENTS: Drugs used in cardiology represent one of the major therapeutic classes that can lead to dysfunction in smell and/or taste. These drugs are nifedipine reported in 1985, metoprolol (beta blocker), diltiazem and, more recently, enalapril.