Drug-induced taste disorders.

Taste and smell are critical components to a person's overall sense of well-being and quality of life. Taste related problems can cause pain and discomfort and can hinder the maintenance of a satisfying and nutritious diet. Loss of taste interferes with pleasure derived from food and food-related activities. Many drugs can affect this special sense and contribute significantly to the morbidity of the associated illness. This article gives a brief account of this problem and emphasizes the need for more awareness of the clinicians about this problem. Copyright 2010 European Federation of Internal Medicine. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.