I have very similar symptoms to Dogma, but it can't be drugs because I don't take ANY as yet. It must be the PD. The ENT specialist called it "Cacosmia" (smelling unpleasant odours), " Anosmia" (smelling no odour). Fancy names, but he had no idea of the cause. That was 13 yrs ago, and I was diagnosed with PD in Feb, so that was the cause. I have heard since that this quite common. Kind regards, Ladybird.

P.S. I'm not saying that drugs are not the cause with Dogma. They seem to cause so many serious side effects. It was just my case I was referring to. Ladybird.

I agree, it's hard to be sure which is the cause. I dunno. At least it seems the good news is most people seem to have temporary problems with really obnoxious smells. Hope this is the same.

Hello,

I've had PD for approx. 9 yrs. My sense of smell is very enhanced. It began in my early PD years with no PD drugs and has gradually increased over several years. It is very annoying and unpleasant. I often say to my husband, "Do you smell that?" Always his answer is 'no'.

I have noticed as I step down sinemet dose that I smell more. I bought an angel's trumpet flower tree and can now smell it. I could not smell it the first time it bloomed. I did not smell the popcorn at the hardware store this week (their cute little-town America draw-in for customers) and the strawberries at the Farmer's market that my friend raved over and had to buy. I never had a great sense of smell but things seem to be returning.

I remain unsure which part of the smell issue is PD and part might be sinemet. I smell things like feta cheese now and coffee while other smells elude me. There is the possibility that sinemet causes Parkinsonian symptoms like other drugs are proven to do like Reglan etc. I no longer have dystonia or dyskinesia but did noticeably shuffle last night at a block party so that the hostess asked if I needed a ride home after one glass of wine. In reading some old posts it seems like there is some debate on the topic.

I believe a common non-motor symptom of PD is the loss of the sense of smell.

My sense of smell has proved to be opposite of this.
The Sinemet seems to bring about that strong, unpleasant smell, maybe like you were talking about.
I've found that I'm allergic to the Teva and Purepak brands of Sinemet. When taking the Mylan brand of Sinemet, I didn't have that one strong, unpleasant smell. But, my pharmacies can't get it anymore, of course.
Anyone else have this problem?

She is allergic to sinemet suddenly and we just found out. I'll pass this on most def. b/c she's doing horribly. Apparently it ulcerates her esophagus. Thanks so much for mentioning this. It had not occurred to me.

Hello Dogma,

The inside of my mouth, esophagus, tongue are irritated and often bleed because of the Sinemet. Also, about 30 mins. to an hour after taking it, I start coughing up "stuff".
The pharmacist told me to take a Benadryl, and if it helped, then I would know I was allergic. Well, it helped. Although, I wasn't supposed to take Benadryl because I also take Selegiline. So, if she doesn't take an MAO inhibitor, and if she is able to take Benadryl, that would be a good test.
I'm still trying to find a pharmacy who can get the Mylan brand of Sinemet.

Sometimes, I think the adverse effects and side effects of these PD drugs are not worth loosening up, being relieved of the pain, and getting about more quickly.

Glad I could help, even though it was an accident.

Tonya

Sometimes the best things happen by accident. I'm forwarding this link to my mom and X'ing fingers. BIG thanks.

What you are experiencing are "olfactory hallucinations". I had exactly the same thing 15 years before I was officially diagnosed with PD. After these episodes, which were so disturbing, because they were always powerful and noxious types of odors, and then I lost my sense of smell completely. I was not officially diagnosed with PD until 4 years ago. Prior to that I had alot of non-motor symptoms, like "olfactory hallucinations", urinary incontinence, chronic insomnia, severe anxiety - my motor symptoms started many years later. Loss of smell is a major bio-marker for PD. My sense of smell has come back about 25% over the past few years. Please speak to your Neurologist about this...sorry I don't have better news for you.

Lexie