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

## TL;DR

This case report highlights that increased escitalopram doses can cause excessive yawning, a rare but distressing side effect that can impact patients' daily lives.

## Contribution

The report adds to the understanding of escitalopram's side effects by documenting a rare case of yawning as a dose-related adverse effect.

## Key findings

- Excessive yawning was observed in a patient receiving increased escitalopram doses.
- The yawning was distressing and affected the patient's socio-occupational functioning.
- Differentiating escitalopram-induced yawning from that in depression can be clinically challenging.

## 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.