Retrospective Analysis of Smell and Taste Disturbances Associated with Dermatologic Medications Reported to the United States Food and Drug Administration and Relevance to COVID-19 Infections

The study analyzed the United States Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting Database (FAERS) to identify dermatologic medications associated with smell and taste disturbances, which are also symptoms of COVID-19. Taste disturbances were found to be 6.11 times more common than smell disturbances, with 62,524 and 10,232 cases reported, respectively. Adalimumab was the most common medication linked to anosmia, though this was not supported by clinical trials or PubMed data. Vismodegib and terbinafine were notable for causing taste disturbances in clinical trials. The study highlighted that 60% of the listed medications caused both smell and taste disturbances, emphasizing the need for dermatologists to consider these potential side effects when treating patients, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study acknowledged limitations, including the unverified nature of FAERS data and the lack of causation proof.