Taste Alteration with Antiparkinsonian Medications

Evidence for Taste Changes in Parkinson's Disease Treatment

Changes in taste and smell have been reported by Parkinson's disease patients as contributing factors to weight loss, alongside other gastrointestinal side effects of antiparkinsonian medications 1
Side effects of drugs prescribed for PD that influence nutritional status include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, constipation, weight decrease, dry mouth, diarrhea, anorexia, and GI disorders 1
The ESPEN guideline specifically recommends monitoring side effects of antiparkinsonian drugs that might influence nutritional status and intervening on an individually tailored basis 1

Assess nutritional status regularly, as weight loss is common in Parkinson's disease patients and may be exacerbated by taste alterations 2
Monitor for specific side effects including changes in taste perception, dry mouth, and anorexia when prescribing levodopa or other antiparkinsonian agents 1
Increasing doses of levodopa and levodopa equivalent doses are associated with increased risk for malnutrition, requiring closer nutritional monitoring 1

Optimize antiparkinsonian treatment to ameliorate motor symptoms that contribute to dysphagia and nutritional problems 1
Increased fiber and fluid intake, along with probiotics, can help manage constipation that may compound nutritional issues 2
For levodopa specifically, give attention to homocysteine levels and vitamin B status, as levodopa use may be associated with impaired nutritional status 1, 3

Dry mouth from antiparkinsonian medications can secondarily affect taste perception 1
Medication adjustments should balance the management of taste-related side effects against the critical need for adequate motor symptom control 1