odors from medication
some medications can cause bad odor
medications can
- contain odor compounds themselves
- interfere with the metabolism of odor compounds in the foods we eat
- interfere with the body’s endocrine (hormone) system leading to increased odor
odor presence depends on the dose, genetics and the individuals current metabolism capability
odor perception is subjective and depends on genetics and sensitivity of a persons smell sensors
some diseases can also cause body odor
the table below includes some medications and their commonly perceived odor
please note
if you are taking a medication that might be causing unpleasant odor it is important not to adjust the dose without consulting your prescribing medical professional
medication | odor description |
---|---|
amylnitrite | dirty socks |
antidepressants: bupropion hydrochloride (Zyban) clomipramine hydrochloride (Anafranil) duloxetine hydrochloride (Cymbalta) escitalopram oxalate (Lexapro) fluoxetine hydrochloride (Prozac, Sarafem) paroxetine hydrochloride (Paxil) paroxetine mesylate (Pexeva) sertraline hydrochloride (Zoloft) venlafaxine hydrochloride (Effexor) | odor associated with increased sweating |
antihistamines | sulfur odor associated with dry mouth (xerostomia) |
antineoplastics methotrexate actinomycin d flourouracil adriamycin bleomycin | decayed blood, yeasty associated with candida infection, sulfur associated with bacteria caused by dry mouth and low white blood cell count (leukopenia) |
asprin | odor associated with increased sweating |
atropines | sulfur odor associated with bacteria caused by dry mouth (xerostomia) |
biphosphonates | odor associated with jaw bone necrosis |
chloral hydrate | pungent |
dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) | garlicky breath and body odor |
diuretics | sulfur odor associated with bacteria caused by dry mouth (xerostomia) |
empagliflozin (Jardiance) | sweet |
ethyl alcohol | alcohol |
euprolide acetate (Lupron) | fruity |
griseofulvin (gris-PEG) | yeasty odor associated with oral yeast infection |
isosorbide dinitrate | sulfur odor |
isosorbide dinitrate (isordil) | tba |
lithium salts | sulfur odor associated with bacteria caused by dry mouth (xerostomia) |
metformin | dead fish |
methamphetamine | ammonia, acetone, decay associated with rotting teeth |
omega-3-acid ethyl esters (Lovaza) | fishy |
omeprazole (prilosec) | garbage odor associated with slow food digestion (gastroparesis) |
penicillamine | sulfur odor associated with increased gram negative bacteria |
phenothiazine antipsychotics | sulfur odor associated with bacteria caused by dry mouth (xerostomia) and hairy tongue (lingua villosa nigra) |
radiation therapy | sulfur odor associated with bacteria overgrowth in dry mouth (xerostomia) |
ranitidine (zantac) | garbage odor associated with slow food digestion (gastroparesis) |
statins: atorvastatin (lipitor) fluvastatin (lescol) lovastatin (mevacor, altoprev) pitavastatin (livalo) pravastatin (pravachol) rosuvastatin (crestor) simvastatin (zocor) | fruity |
sulfa antibiotics | sulfur |
thiocarbamide/thiourea | sulfur |
thyroxine | odor associated with increased sweating |
topiramate (Topamax) anticonvulsant | musty |
know any others? get in touch |
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