Long Lasting Impairment of Taste and Smell as Side Effect of Lithium Carbonate in a Cluster Headache Patient.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Preventive treatment with lithium carbonate is a therapeutic option for chronic cluster headache. Lithium can lead to a broad spectrum of severe side effects, many of which are generally unknown.

CASE DESCRIPTION:

One week after starting treatment with lithium, a 55-year-old man with chronic cluster headache noticed a strange and unpleasant taste of various foods and a diminished smell. After 4 weeks, he decided to stop the therapy because of these complaints, but 9 months later both taste and smell still had not returned to normal.

DISCUSSION:

We present the first description of long-lasting dysgeusia and hyposmia as a side effect of lithium therapy in cluster headache. Dysgeusia has only rarely been reported as a side effect of lithium in other conditions and hyposmia has not previously been reported. Physicians should be aware of this rare, but severe, side effect when prescribing lithium.

• Authors: Ilse F de Coo, Joost Haan
• Journal: Headache (Headache) Vol. 56 Issue 7 Pg. 1201-3 (Jul 2016) ISSN: 1526-4610 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 27317012 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2016 American Headache Society.

Chemical References

• Central Nervous System Agents
• Lithium Carbonate

Topics

• Central Nervous System Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Cluster Headache (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Lithium Carbonate (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Olfaction Disorders (etiology)
• Smell (drug effects)
• Taste (drug effects)
• Taste Disorders (etiology)