Prednisolone and loss off smell

[FAISUL]

Hi, I had been suffering from (loss of smell only) for some time and I have done various of covid test but came negative, so I took prednisolone and the really brought back the sense of smell it was like I was borne again, then after stopping taking pred, my sense of smell disappeared 3 days after.

What do you think is causing the issue, shall I take it for life.

[SheffieldJane]

There does seem to be scope for further exploration by an ear nose and throat specialist. Whether that is realistic during a Pandemic, I don’t really know. Do you have sinus symptoms?

[FAISUL]

Oh thanks for the reply, so do you think I should try zinc tablets instead of prednisolone.

[123mossie]

You need medical assessment and appropriate treatment from an ent consultant, self medicating with steroids isn’t appropriate.

[SnazzyD]

It may still have been Covid because the test carries a risk of false negative depending on the test itself, how the person does it and the timing in relation to the symptoms. Loss of smell can indicate other things so ought to be investigated by a specialist. If Pred turns out to be appropriate, then dosing needs to be decided on with a plan. Steroids are great but we still only take them for as little time as possible and at as low a dose as possible due to long term effects.

[FAISUL in reply to SnazzyD]

What i don't understand is what does prednisolone do to bring back sense of smell and the sense of smell is very strong.

[SnazzyD in reply to FAISUL]

My guess is that there is some inflammation which may or may not be upsetting the nerves to that area or the cells. Pred might be reducing that inflammation but what needs to be found out is why it’s there.

[ImC_]

Hi Faisul,

I lost my sense of smell over 18 months ago. I could smell nothing whatsoever - except every 6-8 weeks, for about 15 minutes, my sense of smell would return (very strongly).

It took so long to get to see a specialist at the Ear, Nose & Throat department (because of cancellations due to covid) my sense of smell had come back but that time - but I went anyway, to try to understand what was going on.

That was last Saturday.

It seemed a bit silly but I said to him the return of my sense of smell seemed to coincide with being diagnosed with PMR and prescribed with 15mg Prednisolone.

It was no surprise to him!

He inserted a camera up my nostrils (that was fun! He showed me on the screen as he did it, it was actually fascinating and a welcome distraction.)

He found a polyp in amongst the “turbinates” that filter particles, and moderate temperature, of air going into the lungs.

He was in no doubt that before I started Pred there would have been many more polyps, thus blocking the air reaching the bits at the top of the nose that sense smell and connect via nerves to the brain.

Sprays like Fluticazone are mild forms of steroids which sometimes sort out polyps, diminishing them so that they don’t have this effect. Prednisolone is the powerful other end of the spectrum.

He said that some people are prone to these polyps, it is just bad luck, surgeons used to remove them but they keep coming back so it is a losing battle.

I’m hoping that as my Pred reduces (6mg now) the spray might keep things at bay.

That’s just my case, it might be something quite different affecting you, but that is what the consultant at Guy’s Hospital ENT dept told me, just two days ago.

IMC.

[FAISUL in reply to ImC_]

Thanks for that, another spray which worked for me is otrivine nasal spray, but after taking it for 3-4 days, it stops working.