Missy Chauvin Experiences a Surprise Side Effect

Missy Chauvin, our Action News reporter, was having a conversation with her amie Madeline, otherwise known as The Prophetess, regarding some minor health problems calling for a traiteur, a Cajun folk healer.  Just in passing, Missy commented that Dr. Williams, her OB-GYN, put her on Anafranil (clomipramine) to help her deal with her nerves.

Missy said, "This is embarrassing, Maddy.  But I think that a side effect of the new drug he gave me causes me to experience the Big O whenever I yawn!  Last night I yawned while Henry was doing the weather before the sports update and I'm afraid I was a bit loud and obvious.  However, the director complimented me on my ad-libbing to perk up interest.  When we don't have a hurricane threat, the weather report is just plain bo-ring!"

"Oh, my goodness, Missy," Madeline said  "That must be distressing.  Are you doing anything about it?"

"Well, I drink espresso before we go on camera.  I also attend City Council meetings and listen to Father Devereaux's sermons; but watching World Cup soccer seems to work best of all."

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Over 30 years ago McLean and co-researchers reported an unusual side effect associated with clomipramine (Anafranil): about five percent of persons who use this drug, they report experiencing orgasms when they yawn!

Now clomipramine is an antidepressant and anti-OCD medication that has more general effects than the specific seroronin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): it also affects norepinephrine, dopamine, and other neurotransmitter sites.  In a way, we can describe its effects as somewhat less specific.

Now a common undesirable side effect of antidepressants is decreased libido on the part of the user, including the commonly-used SSRIs.  However, SSRIs are preferred because they have fewer side effects.

However, for about five percent of clomipramine users, whenever they yawn, they experience an orgasm.  Some like this side effect!

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McLean, J. D., Forsythe, R. G., and Kapkin, I. A.  Unusual side effects of clomipramine associated with yawning.   The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry / La Revue canadienne de psychiatrie, Vol 28(7), Nov 1983, 569-570.