DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 54-year-old female in fairly good health. The only medications I take are Buspar and Dexilant.
I would like to know if you could tell me why I smell metal all the time. My husband and son don’t, but I do. Do I need to have blood work done to find the cause? Thank you for your response.
DEAR READER: One of your medications may cause this smell. The Dexilant is commonly used for erosive esophagitis caused by acid reflux. Reflux can cause bad breath and a metallic taste (and possibly scent). The medication itself can also cause breath odor.
Other possibilities include your brain registering a scent that isn’t present or becoming more sensitive to odors others don’t detect. Further causes include pregnancy, bad breath, migraine, a history of head trauma, exposure to certain chemicals, a side effect of anesthesia or a cold or sinus infection. Depression, anxiety or other psychological disturbances can also cause an altered sense of smell.
I suggest you speak to your physician about this. Perhaps a referral to an ear-nose-and-throat specialist is in order.
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