a-t 2016; 47: 15

Anosmia with nasal sprays containing glucocorticoids: Over a 5-month treatment period with budesonide nasal spray (e.g. BUDESONID 1A) for chronic rhinitis with a deviated nasal septum, a man gradually developed anosmia. Three months after stopping treatment his sense of smell had not yet been restored (NETZWERK Report 16.948). In addition, we have recorded 2 reports of loss of smell with mometasone nasal spray (e.g. NASONEX, 13.593 and 15.290). With regard to anosmia due to glucocorticoid nasal sprays, the Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb has registered 9 reports for budesonide, 5 for mometasone, 15 for fluticasone propionate (FLUTICA-TEVA, FLUTIDE NASAL), 2 for fluticasone furoate (AVAMYS) and 1 report for triamcinolone (NASACORT, RHINISAN) (1). The Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) has received 8 reports of anosmia with nasal mometasone and 1 with fluticasone propionate nasal spray (2). In addition, we have found 2 reports in the literature of loss of sense of smell related to nose drops containing betamethasone plus neomycin (e.g. in Austria: BETNESOL N) (3). The Summaries of Product Characteristics (SPCs) for nasal sprays containing budesonide, mometasone, triamcinolone or fluticasone furoate that we reviewed do not list anosmia as a possible side effect, while the SPCs for certain beclomethasone preparations (e.g. BECLOMET NASAL) (4) and flunisolide (SYNTARIS) (5), for example, do mention temporary or permanent anosmia, respectively.