{"id":15178761,"date":"2026-06-26T02:15:33","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T06:15:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/can-glp-1-drugs-like-ozempic-really-change-your-sense-of-smell-and-taste\/"},"modified":"2026-06-28T01:42:38","modified_gmt":"2026-06-28T05:42:38","slug":"can-glp-1-drugs-like-ozempic-really-change-your-sense-of-smell-and-taste","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/can-glp-1-drugs-like-ozempic-really-change-your-sense-of-smell-and-taste\/","title":{"rendered":"Can GLP-1 Drugs Like Ozempic Really Change Your Sense of Smell and Taste?"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1296\" height=\"728\" src=\"https:\/\/media.post.rvohealth.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/holding-GLP-1RA-syringe-1296x728-header.jpg\" alt=\"Female holding GLP-1 injection pen\" class=\"wp-image-4862511\" \/><figcaption>Some GLP-1 users report changes in their taste and smell, according to a new study. Tatsiana Volkava\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Researchers report that GLP-1 drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes may impair a person\u2019s sense of taste and smell.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Experts say taste and smell dysfunction doesn\u2019t appear to be a common side effect of GLP-1s, which are widely prescribed for weight loss.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>The weight loss benefits of these medications likely outweigh any negative effects on smell and taste.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>GLP-1 medications prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes may affect a person\u2019s sense of smell and taste, according to a new study.<\/p>\n<p>Researchers report that study participants who used GLP-1 drugs had a higher rate of disturbances in taste and smell than people who were only prescribed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/diabetes\/medications-list\">diabetes medications<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>They said the effects of GLP-1s on these sensory functions could be connected to the drugs\u2019 absorption into a person\u2019s nervous system.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis study suggests that GLP-1RA therapy is associated with a higher risk of smell and taste disturbance, highlighting the need for closer monitoring and greater public health awareness,\u201d the study authors wrote.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFuture research is required to validate these findings and to further explore the mechanisms underlying this association,\u201d they added.<\/p>\n<p>The researchers published their findings on June 25 in the journal <a href=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamaotolaryngology\/fullarticle\/2850571?\">JAMA Otolaryngology \u2013 Head &amp; Neck Surgery<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Experts say that loss of smell or taste from GLP-1 medications doesn\u2019t appear to be widespread.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.memorialcare.org\/providers\/mir-b-ali\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mir Ali<\/a>, MD, a bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in California, said he hasn\u2019t heard many concerns from his patients about taste or smell impairment. Ali wasn&#8217;t involved in the study.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t think it should discourage people from taking these medications,\u201d he told Healthline. \u201cThe trade-off of getting to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/how-much-should-i-weigh-for-my-height-and-age\">a healthy weight<\/a> far outweighs any changes to taste or smell.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>GLP-1s linked to taste, smell dysfunction<\/h2>\n<p>For their study, the researchers examined the medical records of two groups of participants in the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/trinetx.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TriNetX Global Collaborative Network\u00a0program<\/a>, which involved more than 170 healthcare institutions from December 2017 to April 2026.<\/p>\n<p>Each group consisted of more than 430,000 adults with a diagnosis of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/type-2-diabetes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">type 2 diabetes<\/a>\u00a0who had no history of taste or smell impairment. Participants in each group were about 55% female, with an average age of about 57 years.<\/p>\n<p>One group had been prescribed a GLP-1 medications after their diabetes diagnosis. The other group was prescribed a diabetes medication but did not use any GLP-1 drugs.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/health\/weight-loss\/glp1-for-weight-loss\">GLP-1 medications<\/a> approved to treat type 2 diabetes include:\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.healthline.com\/nutrition\/buy-ozempic-online\">Ozempic<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/health\/drugs\/rybelsus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rybelsus<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/nutrition\/buy-mounjaro-online\">Mounjaro<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/health\/drugs\/trulicity#_noHeaderPrefixedContent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Trulicity<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>There was a follow-up period of 3 months to 2 years after the discontinuation of the use of GLP-1 medications.<\/p>\n<p>The researchers reported that taste disturbances were identified in 769 participants in the GLP-1 group, compared with 445 in the control group.<\/p>\n<p>Smell disturbances were reported by 649 participants in the GLP-1 group, compared with 316 in the control group. The researchers said that the smell and taste dysfunction could be related to the olfactory bulb and chemosensory pathways.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese findings align with evidence that GLP-1 is widely expressed and secreted within the nervous system, supporting potential effects in either the central or peripheral nervous system,\u201d the researchers wrote.<\/p>\n<p>Ali said weight loss can affect a person\u2019s sense of taste and smell. He added that there aren\u2019t really any treatments for temporary smell and taste dysfunction. \u201cAs weight stabilizes, taste and smell tend to return to a more normal state,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uclahealth.org\/providers\/zhaoping-li\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Zhaoping Li<\/a>, MD, a professor of clinical medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, noted the new study is observational and doesn\u2019t prove a cause-and-effect relationship between GLP-1s and impaired taste and smell. Li wasn&#8217;t involved in the study.<\/p>\n<p>Li shared that her patients have not encountered serious smell or taste dysfunction. \u201cIt has not been a major issue,\u201d she told Healthline. \u201cI don\u2019t think it will have a major impact on people\u2019s acceptance of these drugs.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Li said that taste and smell impairment caused by the medication has a simple solution. \u201cIf it is related to the drugs, then you stop taking the drugs,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<h2>Why your sense of smell and taste matters<\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nidcd.nih.gov\/health\/statistics\/quick-statistics-taste-smell\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">estimated<\/a>&nbsp;that 12% of people in the United States have some sort of smell dysfunction. That percentage is higher in older age groups.<\/p>\n<p>Experts say smell has many important functions. They say it helps people determine what to eat, influences food taste, and affects socialization. Smell also provides a warning for hazardous events such as fires or gas leaks.<\/p>\n<p>The sense of smell is connected to the part of the brain involved in behavioral and emotional responses. That\u2019s why certain odors spark strong emotions, influence behavior, and trigger memories, according to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uclahealth.org\/news\/article\/why-your-sense-of-smell-is-important-to-your-health\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UCLA Health<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/smell-impaired\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Impaired smell<\/a>&nbsp;can be the complete inability to smell or the partial inability to smell. It can be a temporary or a permanent condition.<\/p>\n<p>Temporary smell dysfunction can be caused by allergies or <a href=\"\/health\/bacterial-vs-viral-infections\">bacterial and viral infections<\/a>. In older adults, impaired smell is considered a typical age-related change. However, it can also be a sign of:\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"\/health\/alzheimers-disease\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Alzheimer\u2019s disease<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/health\/parkinsons\/stages\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Parkinson\u2019s disease<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/health\/coronavirus-covid-19\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">COVID-19<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/health\/brain-tumor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">brain tumors<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It\u2019s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nidcd.nih.gov\/health\/statistics\/quick-statistics-taste-smell\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">estimated<\/a>&nbsp;that almost 20% of people in the United States over the age of 40 have some alteration in their sense of taste.<\/p>\n<p>Your&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/types-of-taste\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sense of taste<\/a>&nbsp;helps you evaluate food and drinks, so you can determine what\u2019s safe to eat. It also prepares your body to digest food.<\/p>\n<p>You can develop\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/how-to-get-your-taste-buds-back\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">impaired taste<\/a>\u00a0from respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19, as well as allergies, sinus infections, or nasal polyps. Some medications may also affect the sense of taste, as can dental conditions such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/gingivitis\">gum disease<\/a> and inadequate oral hygiene.<\/p>\n<p>Smell and taste disturbances have also been&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC12634025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reported<\/a>&nbsp;in people with type 2 diabetes.<\/p>\n<p>Li said the COVID-19 pandemic has made people more sensitive to changes in taste and smell. \u201cCOVID really taught us a lesson in this regard,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<h2>What to know about GLP-1 drugs<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/weight-loss\/glp1-for-weight-loss\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">GLP-1 medications<\/a>&nbsp;work by suppressing a person\u2019s appetite and managing their blood sugar levels.<\/p>\n<p>Some of the drugs are taken daily as oral tablets, while others are injected on a weekly basis.<\/p>\n<p>Some are approved as prescription treatments for type 2 diabetes, while others, such as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/drugs\/wegovy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wegovy<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/drugs\/zepbound\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Zepbound<\/a>, and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/drugs\/saxenda\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Saxenda<\/a>, have been approved as weight loss treatments.<\/p>\n<p>Researchers have&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health-news\/zepbound-wegovy-which-glp-1-best-for-weight-loss\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reported<\/a>&nbsp;that GLP-1 drugs that contain the active ingredient tirzepatide may be more effective for weight loss than GLP-1 medications that contain the active ingredient semaglutide.<\/p>\n<p>A&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health-news\/glp-1-drugs-benefits-risks-health-outcomes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2025 study<\/a>&nbsp;concluded that GLP-1 drugs can help improve heart and brain health but might also cause kidney and gastrointestinal issues.<\/p>\n<p>In December 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health-news\/who-recommends-glp-1-drugs-obesity-treatment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">new guidelines<\/a> recommending GLP-1 medications to help treat obesity.<\/p>\n<p>Ali said people starting GLP-1s need to recognize that the drugs only suppress appetite, and a healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced diet and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/exercise-and-weight-loss\">regular exercise<\/a> is important.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe medications are only a tool to help patients switch to a more healthy diet,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople have to think of obesity as a long-term condition.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"inmi-source\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health-news\/glp-1-drugs-may-cause-smell-and-taste-disturbances\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">News \u2013 World \u2013 Canada \u2013 rss.app #1 \u2192 manual entry<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Some GLP-1 users report changes in their taste and smell, according to a new study. Tatsiana Volkava\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>Researchers report that GLP-1 drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes may impair a person\u2019s sense of taste and smell.<\/p>\n<p>Experts say taste and\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15183873,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[103],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15178761","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-canada"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15178761-holding-glp-1ra-syringe-1296x728-header-1.jpg",1296,728,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15178761-holding-glp-1ra-syringe-1296x728-header-1-300x169.jpg",300,169,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15178761-holding-glp-1ra-syringe-1296x728-header-1-620x348.jpg",620,348,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15178761-holding-glp-1ra-syringe-1296x728-header-1-768x431.jpg",768,431,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15178761-holding-glp-1ra-syringe-1296x728-header-1-940x528.jpg",940,528,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15178761-holding-glp-1ra-syringe-1296x728-header-1.jpg",1296,728,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15178761-holding-glp-1ra-syringe-1296x728-header-1.jpg",1296,728,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15178761-holding-glp-1ra-syringe-1296x728-header-1-998x665.jpg",998,665,true],"ignition_item":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15178761-holding-glp-1ra-syringe-1296x728-header-1-670x446.jpg",670,446,true],"ignition_item_lg":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15178761-holding-glp-1ra-syringe-1296x728-header-1.jpg",1296,728,false],"ignition_article_media":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15178761-holding-glp-1ra-syringe-1296x728-header-1-510x510.jpg",510,510,true],"ignition_minicart_item":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15178761-holding-glp-1ra-syringe-1296x728-header-1-160x160.jpg",160,160,true],"profile_24":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15178761-holding-glp-1ra-syringe-1296x728-header-1-24x24.jpg",24,24,true],"profile_48":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15178761-holding-glp-1ra-syringe-1296x728-header-1-48x48.jpg",48,48,true],"profile_96":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15178761-holding-glp-1ra-syringe-1296x728-header-1-96x96.jpg",96,96,true],"profile_150":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15178761-holding-glp-1ra-syringe-1296x728-header-1-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"profile_300":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15178761-holding-glp-1ra-syringe-1296x728-header-1-300x300.jpg",300,300,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"news.iNthacity","author_link":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/author\/atombo\/"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/articles\/news\/canada\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Canada<\/a>","tag_info":"Canada","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15178761","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15178761"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15178761\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15178762,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15178761\/revisions\/15178762"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15183873"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15178761"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15178761"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15178761"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}