Phantom Smells after going off SSRI or SNRI

@secretwhitepop I have been off of Effexor for 10 and still smell cigarette smoke at times when I KNOW the smell is not present. I ceased mentioning this as no one else could smell thus. Never occurred to me to even try to find out why. I was convinced I was smelling cigarette smoke. Thanks for your question as mayhap I am not crazy afterall! We shall see if anyone else has this issue. Most interesting.

@parus, @secretwhitepop - Good morning- This is such an excellent topic. I use too get them with migraines, not necessarily when the headache was present but during my "migraine period" Since I have been taking CBD oil I haven't had any, or they are extremely mild. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322698.php
I remember driving up to MA to visit my sister-in-law and started to smell something odd. My husband swore that the rubber smell wasn't real. I too thought, "OMG, another thing to make me crazy" but it wasn't. I think that it's very important to know that most of the things that we think are crazy within ourselves aren't. As individuals we just aren't that special. Rarely is something very new experienced by one person alone. We have to give ourselves credit for just being human.

AARRGGHHH! These phanthom smells are a mystery. I no longer even mention them for fear of embarrassing myself. Whew, I am human!! Not at all sure I am very impressed with such at times.
I can also assure all I do not think that smelling odd smells for no reason is something supernatural.
@merpreb Thank you for the info!!!

@parus... 10 years or months? Please say months!

I’m so glad I’m not alone! So... if I do everything right, will this go away? I want to smell my peonies again!

@secretwhitepop That would be 10 years. Have no idea if there is a connection to Effexor. I do know at that time I had no idea what some medications can do. Your question did pique my interest. Be interesting to see what others may have to think. I do know when my thyroid isn’t functioning properly this happens as well.

The smell thing is the oddest thing! Whenever I went to my parents house, I was compelled to clean it. My dad was sick and, unbeknownst to us, mom had dementia. Neither of them were bathing regularly and the smell always lingered in my nose. It wasn’t a sweaty smell, just old people. Dad was very ill and eventually passed away almost exactly one year ago. It’s been an incredibly stressful time for me. (And of course this is the time I chose to ween off Effexor!). Anyway, I’ve been reading that stress causes phantom smells too. Just throwing that out there.

I’ve always had a really keen sense of smell. I hope I don’t lose it entirely. When I get that cigarette smell going, that’s about all I can smell. And it’s truly awful! And also, even at work, I sometimes even smell that old people smell. Crazy!

@secretwhitepop - Good morning. Sometimes when we have an emotional reaction to smells we tend to keep them around longer. "old people" smells in a house or nursing homes can stay with anyone longer than anyone would want. It's as if we are saying to ourselves, "why isn't there better care here"? So back to you, have you had any health check-up lately to rule out any illnesses? Have you seen an ENT? I find that it's always best, if something is physically bothersome, to get it checked out by a doctor. I have too often been wrong in self diagnosis. Here is a great article, although 2 years old. @parus you might like this too.
https://www.drweil.com/health-wellness/body-mind-spirit/disease-disorders/phantosmia-smelling-smoke-all-the-time/

I definitely had an emotional reaction to the old people smell. I wondered why everyone couldn’t smell it like I could! The article was interesting, thanks. I also remember from psychology class that smells trigger memories more than sight or sound, so whenever I smell “that smell” it takes me right back to my dad in his last days.

If this episode of smelling smoke lasts a few more days, I will seek out an ENT. I am suffering with a cold at the moment, so my sinuses are sensitive.

I really like this forum. It has been quite helpful and interesting!

@secretwhitepop - Morning. I'm very glad that you won't wait too long before seeking a dr's opinion. Also, don't forget, everyone's sniffer is different. It also changes as we get older.
Here is some fun stuff: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snJnO6OpjCs