title: Metallic taste: an unusual reaction to botulinum toxin A.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Botulinum neurotoxin formulations are safe and effective agents for the treatment of facial rhytides.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A patient is described who complained of metallic taste after each treatment with botulinum toxin A (BTX-A).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sensation of metallic taste diminished after successive treatments with BTX-A, despite adequate dosing for cosmetic purposes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Metallic taste is associated with the use of numerous medications; however, the pathogenesis remains unclear. Alteration in zinc metabolism, which may occur with BTX-A administration, has been suggested as a possible mechanism. Although this is the first known report of dysgeusia after BTX-A, physicians and patients may be reassured that the taste alteration was self-limited and was not significantly problematic for the patient in our case.
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. christian.murray@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Nowell
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Solish
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000187:drug effects; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A