Loss of smell

I am experiencing a loss of smell that lasts since last month. Is that the result of the continuous airflow I'm getting every night through my nasal mask?

Has someone had a similar problem?

I suppose it COULD be related, but I've never heard anyone else say that.

Could it be your nasal passages get dried out and less sensitive?

Have you used Zicam nose swabs? It's been claimed that that can cause loss of smell.

Zicam has been pulled from the market by the FDA due to cases of anosmia. (Fancy word for loss of sense of smell.)

If not Zicam... how about a nasal steriod spray... it's been known to make you lose your sense of smell...?

cflame1 wrote:...nasal steriod spray... it's been known to make you lose your sense of smell...?

I haven't read this BUT not everyone responds the same to steriods...one side effect is alterated taste and smell. One brand used to make me smell cigarette smoke all the time...I changed brands after figuring out it was the spray.

Afrin and the generic versions dulls my sense of smell dramatically and that effect lasts for weeks.

Muse-Inc wrote:
I haven't read this BUT not everyone responds the same to steriods...one side effect is alterated taste and smell. One brand used to make me smell cigarette smoke all the time...I changed brands after figuring out it was the spray.

Muse-Inc - your comment about smelling cigarette smoke made me do a double take.

There was a period of time when I was smelling smoke that nobody else could. What was weird is that I only smelled it indoors (at home, at work, in the car), but not outside. And it made some odors that would normally be pleasant, like new-car-smell, seem awful.

Does any of that sound familiar? I wonder if I had the same thing... My PCP often helps me out by giving me free samples of whatever nasal steroid he has lots of -- over the years I've probably tried them all. I wonder if I had the same reaction you did and never associated it with the spray. (And if so, I wish I knew which one it is, so I won't accidently take it again)

El Pap wrote:...Does any of that sound familiar?...

Yup. Weirdest side effect, altered smell indeed. Mine and my mom's most common side effect is the cigarette smell...really gross (sorta like ashtrays) as it then seems to affect the taste of foods As I recall, we were using different sprays. For months, I though smelled electrical overheating and foudn send everyone searching in vain for waht and where...now, I am quite sure it was something I was using that affected my sense of smell. They say that chronic sinusitis can permanently damage the scent receptors in the nose, they also say they are trying to figure out if they can transplant a dog's scent receptors...makes my vivid imagination picture how dogs recognize each other then seeing people with transplanted dog scent receptors trying the same thing...what an image

My favorite nasal spray (Vancenase pediatric) changed formulations (many, many yrs ago) and the new one didn't work for me...only one I've ever used that worked with no apparent side effects...course that was in the early days of nasal steroids and it was a pediatric dose.

El Pap wrote:...PCP often helps me out by giving me free samples of whatever nasal steroid he has lots of -- over the years I've probably tried them all. I wonder if I had the same reaction you did and never associated it with the spray. (And if so, I wish I knew which one it is, so I won't accidently take it again)

I wouldn't be surprised. And it is hard to keep tract of which drugs, what side effect(s)...with my still lousy memory, I keep a notebook and jot down things I want to remember (some totally useless junk I remember *sigh*)...of course, finding it in which notebook later is sometimes a real bear

Yes, I have had the same problem. I had a great sense of smell and taste, until I started using a CPAP machine. My smell and taste disappeared while I used it. I stopped using the mask and eventually it came back. I started using the CPAP again and the same thing happened after only two nights. I quit using the mask and now I have had my senses return. I am a Cook and have had to have other people taste my food for I have had a "Blind Palate". My CPAP has a heated humidifier and I have adjusted the pressure on the mask to be minimal and the problem still exsists. I have kept the machine clean and replaced all the filters, hoses, and the mask. Steroid sprays helped me get my smell back. I never used the nasal swabs. I have been to the DR several times and I have no nasal polyps or blockages. I have no other reason to believe that is anything other than the machine. I am not recomending not using the machine. The side effects of sleep apnea are severe. Having a life that is centered around food, I don't have much of a choice.

Funny, I was thinking the other day about how my sense of smell has returned since starting cpap therapy. Strange how everyone is so different.

one of the side effects of some steriod sprays is a loss in the sense of smell.

jnk wrote:http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m ... ntent;col1

doesn't work -- says there's an error.

My wife loss sense of smell and taste since using Zicam....

Yes. I no longer have sense of smell since using my machine.