Zinc salts for the treatment of olfactory and gustatory symptoms in psychiatric patients: a case series.
BACKGROUND
Zinc salts have been used extensively in medical settings to treat disorders of gustatory and olfactory function. However, zinc supplements have not been tested in psychiatric patients with smell or taste symptoms.


METHODS
The authors examined the effects of zinc supplements on five consecutive patients with symptoms of abnormal taste and smell perception in the context of acute psychiatric illness or treatment.


RESULTS
All five patients had complete or partial amelioration of these olfactory and gustatory symptoms after treatment with zinc sulfate or zinc gluconate, apparently independent of the improvement in their underlying psychiatric disorder.


CONCLUSIONS
We recommend treating unusual olfactory and gustatory symptoms with zinc salts, independent of the treatment for the underlying psychiatric disorder.
Stoll
A L
AL
Psychopharmacology Unit, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115.
Oepen
G
G
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002998:Clonazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005942:Gluconates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D015990:Placebo Effect; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012903:Smell / Q000187:drug effects; D013431:Sulfates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015032:Zinc / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019287:Zinc Sulfate
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D005942:Gluconates; D013431:Sulfates; D017967:Zinc Compounds; D002998:Clonazepam; D019287:Zinc Sulfate; D015032:Zinc; C030691:gluconic acid