Long Lasting Impairment of Taste and Smell as Side Effect of Lithium Carbonate in a Cluster Headache Patient. Issue 7 (17th June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: de Coo, Ilse F.; Haan, Joost
• Is Part Of: Headache. Volume 56:Issue 7(2016)
• Page Start: 1201
• Page End: 1203
• Publication Date: 2016-06-17
• Subjects: cluster headache -- lithium -- prophylactic treatment -- dysgeusia -- hyposmia -- side effect; Headache -- Periodicals; Headache -- Periodicals; 616.8491
• DOI: 10.1111/head.12872
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0017-8748

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Preventive treatment with lithium carbonate is a therapeutic option for chronic cluster headache. Lithium can lead to a broad spectrum of severe side effects, many of which are generally unknown. Case description: One week after starting treatment with lithium, a 55‐year‐old man with chronic cluster headache noticed a strange and unpleasant taste of various foods and a diminished smell. After 4 weeks, he decided to stop the therapy because of these complaints, but 9 months later both taste and smell still had not returned to normal. Discussion: We present the first description of long‐lasting dysgeusia and hyposmia as a side effect of lithium therapy in cluster headache. Dysgeusia has only rarely been reported as a side effect of lithium in other conditions and hyposmia has not previously been reported. Physicians should be aware of this rare, but severe, side effect when prescribing lithium.