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Case Reports
. 2024 Jun 3;16(6):e61559.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.61559. eCollection 2024 Jun.

Yawning as a Rare Side Effect With Increased Escitalopram Dose: A Case Report

Nayan Sinha  1 , Ragini Patil  1 , Rishitha Kotla  1 , Namita Sahu  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Yawning as a Rare Side Effect With Increased Escitalopram Dose: A Case Report

Nayan Sinha et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Yawning is a normal physiological process that occurs naturally in all human beings in different settings, such as hunger, drowsiness, or stress. It is typically harmless, but abnormal yawning can be seen in many medical conditions. In psychiatry, it frequently occurs in disorders like depression, insomnia, and anxiety due to disturbed sleep. It has also been observed as an adverse reaction of some drugs, like escitalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Escitalopram is a widely prescribed, well-tolerated antidepressant and antianxiety drug that can induce a range of side effects, one of which is excessive yawning. Its excessive occurrence can be distressing for patients, affecting their socio-occupational functioning. Clinically, differentiating yawning induced by escitalopram treatment from that in depression can be a diagnostic hurdle. Awareness and recognition of this lesser known side effect can improve patient outcomes by allowing for timely adjustments and easing the discomfort.

Keywords: antidepressants and yawning; drug-induced yawning; escitalopram; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (ssri); yawning.

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Conflict of interest statement

Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

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