A study of nearly 900,000 type 2 diabetes patients published in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery suggests a link between long-term GLP-1 drug use and sensory impairment. Researchers Jonathan Zontag and Nir Zontag found GLP-1 users have an 81% higher risk of smell disturbances and a 52% higher risk of taste disturbances. While the observational study suggests potential nervous system mechanisms, medical experts like Dr. Mir Ali emphasize these side effects are rare and the health benefits of the drugs outweigh these risks.
GLP-1 drug side effects
- ▪A study published in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery found that long-term use of GLP-1 drugs for type 2 diabetes is associated with an increased risk of smell and taste disturbances
- ▪The study analyzed health records of nearly 900,000 patients with type 2 diabetes from the TriNetX Global Collaborative Network between December 2017 and April 2026
Smell impairment in patients
- ▪GLP-1 drug users had an 81% higher risk of smell disturbances compared to patients on other diabetes medications
- ▪In the study, smell disturbances were reported by 649 participants in the GLP-1 group compared to 316 participants in the control group
Taste impairment in patients
- ▪In the study, taste disturbances were identified in 769 participants in the GLP-1 group compared to 445 participants in the control group
Diabetes treatment research
- ▪The analyzed study was observational and does not prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship between GLP-1 medications and impaired taste or smell
- ▪Researchers suggest the sensory disturbances may be connected to the expression and secretion of GLP-1 within the central or peripheral nervous system, including the olfactory bulb and chemosensory pathways
Clinical implications for prescribers
- ▪Bariatric surgeon Dr. Mir Ali and clinical medicine professor Dr. Zhaoping Li advise that the weight loss and health benefits of GLP-1 drugs outweigh the potential risks of temporary sensory changes.
- ▪Medical experts state that taste and smell dysfunction does not appear to be a common or widespread side effect of GLP-1 medications in clinical practice
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