Mechanism: neurotransmitter-related(dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, acetylcholine, etc)
Drugs that may be associated with yawning:
(1) opiate or opioids
(2) serotonin reuptake inhibitors (venlafaxine)
(3) benzodiazepines
(4) barbiturates
(5) dopaminergic agonists (apomorphine, bromocriptine, levodopa)
(6) dopamine agonists
(7) cholinergic drugs (physostigmine)
(8) sodium channel inhibitors (lidocaine, flecainide)
(9) monoamine oxidase B (MAO) inhibitors
Diagnosis:
(1) The patient has the onset of yawning or an increase from baseline.
(2) The onset is after starting an implicated medication.
(3) The yawning returns to baseline after the drug is discontinued.
(4) Re-exposure to the drug is followed by increased yawning.
(5) The yawning cannot be explained by other cause.
