Neurological Disorders - Neurontin & Sense of Smell/Taste

Author

Neurontin & Sense of Smell/Taste

Anonymous

2004-10-11, 7:10 pm

Two years ago, I was involved in a near-fatal car accident wherein I
suffered a severe open head wound, and an "open complex depressed skull
fracture" and 38 other broken bones in my upper torso.

One of the lingering side effects is an almost complete loss of my sense of
smell and taste. I was told that this was most likely due to a severed or
severely damaged olfactory nerve and that the probability of my sense of
smell and taste returning was virtually zero.

Recently, however, I have smelled some very faint things I recognize: the
smell of popcorn, the subtle fragrance of my lover's hair when she stands
next to me, a nearby chimney with smoke coming out of it.

I have two questions: 1) can smell and taste return after such injuries, and
2) I've been on 1,200-4,200mg daily of Neurontin for the past two years
(currently its down to the 1,200mg level). Can Neurontin cause smell/taste
problems? I've only recently started smelling things again after my
Neurontin levels have been reduced to 1200mg.

Thanks,

Mark Fenton

pinkrainbow

2004-10-11, 10:08 pm

the only "senses" side-effects.... i could find in the cps was vision =
problems. Sorry, but it sounds promising that some of it's coming back! =
Thank God it wasn't fatal..boy, i'll bet 'life' takes on a whole new =
meaning after that! Your a walking miracle..was it worth it to =
survive?..seriously, after 38 broken bones! and a open complex depressed =
skull! wouldn't have thought one could survive that..so hallelljua! it =
must be very frustating losing smell and taste, i've lost taste before, =
and had no idea how much it adds to a meal!, and smell i think would be =
almost as bad. I am so sorry this happened to you, and yet i don't hear =
any self-pity...you sound like a very strong, brave man. So glad you =
have a loving partner to support you through this...hopefully someone =
else will have something useful to add
hugs(gentle..make that make-believe one! and your in my prayers
love pinkrainbow.

"Anonymous" <Anony@mous.com> wrote in message =
news:GtBad.17847$hj.8431@fed1read07...
> Two years ago, I was involved in a near-fatal car accident wherein I=20
> suffered a severe open head wound, and an "open complex depressed =
skull=20
> fracture" and 38 other broken bones in my upper torso.
>=20
> One of the lingering side effects is an almost complete loss of my =
sense of=20
> smell and taste. I was told that this was most likely due to a severed =
or=20
> severely damaged olfactory nerve and that the probability of my sense =
of=20
> smell and taste returning was virtually zero.
>=20
> Recently, however, I have smelled some very faint things I recognize: =
the=20
> smell of popcorn, the subtle fragrance of my lover's hair when she =
stands=20
> next to me, a nearby chimney with smoke coming out of it.
>=20
> I have two questions: 1) can smell and taste return after such =
injuries, and=20
> 2) I've been on 1,200-4,200mg daily of Neurontin for the past two =
years=20
> (currently its down to the 1,200mg level). Can Neurontin cause =
smell/taste=20
> problems? I've only recently started smelling things again after my=20
> Neurontin levels have been reduced to 1200mg.
>=20
> Thanks,
>=20
> Mark Fenton
>=20
>

Kwami Fabu

2004-10-12, 2:09 am

On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 12:49:57 -0700, "Anonymous" <Anony@mous.com> :

>Two years ago, I was involved in a near-fatal car accident wherein I
>suffered a severe open head wound, and an "open complex depressed skull
>fracture" and 38 other broken bones in my upper torso.
>
>One of the lingering side effects is an almost complete loss of my sense of
>smell and taste. I was told that this was most likely due to a severed or
>severely damaged olfactory nerve and that the probability of my sense of
>smell and taste returning was virtually zero.
>
>Recently, however, I have smelled some very faint things I recognize: the
>smell of popcorn, the subtle fragrance of my lover's hair when she stands
>next to me, a nearby chimney with smoke coming out of it.
>
>I have two questions: 1) can smell and taste return after such injuries, and
>2) I've been on 1,200-4,200mg daily of Neurontin for the past two years
>(currently its down to the 1,200mg level). Can Neurontin cause smell/taste
>problems? I've only recently started smelling things again after my
>Neurontin levels have been reduced to 1200mg.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Mark Fenton
>
I take 4 g Neurontin daily and haven't had any weird olfactory events. Then
again my crash wasn't as bad as yours. Brain injury can have strange effect
on all the senses, independent of medication. And brain recovery is almost
impossible to predict as you well know.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
KFabu
"No matter where you go, there you are."

Michael S.

2004-10-12, 7:11 pm

In article <GtBad.17847$hj.8431@fed1read07>,
"Anonymous" <Anony@mous.com> wrote:

> Two years ago, I was involved in a near-fatal car accident wherein I
> suffered a severe open head wound, and an "open complex depressed skull
> fracture" and 38 other broken bones in my upper torso.
>
> One of the lingering side effects is an almost complete loss of my sense of
> smell and taste. I was told that this was most likely due to a severed or
> severely damaged olfactory nerve and that the probability of my sense of
> smell and taste returning was virtually zero.
>
> Recently, however, I have smelled some very faint things I recognize: the
> smell of popcorn, the subtle fragrance of my lover's hair when she stands
> next to me, a nearby chimney with smoke coming out of it.
>
> I have two questions: 1) can smell and taste return after such injuries, and
> 2) I've been on 1,200-4,200mg daily of Neurontin for the past two years
> (currently its down to the 1,200mg level). Can Neurontin cause smell/taste
> problems? I've only recently started smelling things again after my
> Neurontin levels have been reduced to 1200mg.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mark Fenton
>
>

Wow, what a story. I'm glad you survived, that you have a lover, and
that your sense of smell may be returning! I took Neurontin for a little
over a year. I don't remember it affecting olefactories though. I
actually don't remember MUCH from that year.

For me, Neurontin was a horrible thing. It made me into a near zombie. I
was Mr. Nice Soft Maleable. I thought the opiates were making me stupid,
but when I reduced my dosage of Neurontin, and my head began to clear
up, I realized it was the Neurontin, and I ramped off completely. It was
like getting my brain back!

In an argument once after that with my wife, when she was really mad,
she said she liked me a lot better when I had been all drugged up! :-)

So anyway, I stay AWAY from Neurontin now.

Michael

Jerry Story

2004-10-21, 7:07 am

Every substance taken into the body, the body must either use it or get rid of it.