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Q. I took Miacalcin a few years ago, and ever since then my sense of smell has disappeared. That's dangerous, since I can't smell smoke or natural gas. It is also sad that I can't smell bread baking or fresh peaches or any of those wonderful things.
It also affects my sense of taste. I can taste the basics of salty, sweet, hot and sour, but the great delight of good eating is gone. I used to be an excellent cook and published a cookbook, but now that I can't taste, I can't season.
I feel that Miacalcin caused this loss. Has anyone else reported a similar side effect?
A. Miacalcin Nasal Spray (calcitonin) is used to treat osteoporosis. Problems with the senses of taste and smell are reported in the official prescribing information. Unfortunately, when a drug affects the sense of smell, there is little that can be done to reverse the problem. This side effect should be better publicized.
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Was there any gradual loss, or was it well after you stopped taking it? My mom is on it, I would like to tell her about warning signs. I got some 30% loss of smell sensitivity from the zinc Zicam nasal that was recalled.
The comment appears odd to me because I have heard of zinc bringing back a person's sense of smell after a concussion.
THAT happened to me with my asthma medicine -inhaler- but it came back after 8 or 9 months after I stopped.
years ago I used Zicam for a cold (scary loss of smell) I used to have a keen sense of smell now it is greatly diminished.
Two years ago I took Amiodarone on the advice of a Cardiologist for 5 weeks. I lost my sense of taste and smell and it has not come back. The only tastes I experience is when I eat overly salted or overly sweet or very burnt foods. So I too hesitate to cook for others. I'd advise no one to take that drug ---- taste and smell are too precious to give up.
I also use this drug. My teeth are just breaking off at the gum or a little above, no pain. Any idea what could cause this? I can't afford a dentist at this time. I've lost 5 front lower teeth, still able to eat by being careful.
I too lost some sense of smell with my asthma inhaler.
Has anyone on this prescription (Miacalcin Nose spray) developed Multiple Myeloma... I used this for number of years. This is the only major prescription drug that I used for osteoporosis treatment for many years.
I just wonder?
thanks
My wife & I have been using Miacalcin for 3 or 4 years. Neither of us have had any negative results with it. In fact a radiologist I work with looked at some recent x-rays of mine and remarked that my bone structure looks like I'm in my mid fifties. I'll be 70 in July. I also have bone density tests yearly and the results indicate continuously improved density, somewhat more slowly in the hip region than in the spine. I also walk around 18 miles a week and I think that helps too.
I just read your letter about miacalcin for osteoporosis. I was given this several years ago, and it gave me a terrible headache and congestion. After being treated by several different doctors for sinus infection, having a brain scan, having allergy tests, and taking several rounds of cortisone, someone finally suggested the miacalcin might be the problem.
My doctor took me off the med and I got better. I even called the company and they told me they couldn't discuss it with me and to have the doctor call. I thought this would be an easy way to get the treatment, but now I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
My sense of smell and taste was altered after ingesting a tainted product from a supplement store. This lasted for 6 months. I was referred to a "specialist”, actually an oral surgeon, who was familiar with taste and smell disorders. He had me take 0.5 mg of Clonazepam twice daily and after one week my taste and smell started to return to normal. It now has been 3 months and I have returned to about 95% normal previous to taking the supplement. He has helped many patients with this disorder including burning tongue or burning mouth syndrome.
My mother took osteo meds for 6 years and has "jaw rot"--her bottom teeth loosened and fell out. She finally stopped taking them about 1.5 years ago after I sent her several articles about the side effects of osteo drugs. It's a shame because, according to her, the meds "didn't work" anyway and now she has "weak teeth" that aren't set properly into her jaw.
Unfortunately, too many of us take whatever meds are given us, without doing our own exploration as to their potential side effects, and then perhaps look for alternatives--exercise and diet. 12 Years ago if my mother had known this outcome, she would not have taken the meds.
I just googled and read a list of side effects for Miacalcin--yikes!
Tamara, where in Google did you find this information? can you give here the website?
Just google miacalcin and it will bring it up. pk
I can relate with you regarding Miacalcin. I have taken it for 3 years and noticed about six months ago that my sense of taste and smell was diminishing. At first I attributed it to a sinus infection that I had however it continued to get worse so I contacted my doctor who took me of this medication.
I cannot associate this problem with other drugs as I take no other medications. Foods no longer taste the same with much the same symptoms as the first poster and my sense of smell is very selective. I went to an aerobics class this morning where they had been painting the room and several of the others asked to have the window open as the paint odor was excessive. I however didn't even smell the paint. That kind of told me that my sense of smell was worse than I thought.
I took Miacalcin for two years and also lost much of sense of taste and smell. After two years there has been no improvement. All I can taste are salty or highly seasoned foods; the foods that I used to love now taste like I'm eating bland Farina. Presently I'm taking Fosamax and my fingernails are becoming soft and peeling. I'm wondering if there are any osteoporosis meds that don't have side effects?