What is it?
Hiccups lasting longer than 48 hours are considered persistent or longer than usual.
- Hiccups lasting longer than 1 month are termed intractable.
Cause
Conditions that can give rise to diaphragmatic irritation that causes hiccups include:
Syndromes
Metabolic causes of hiccups include:
Central nervous system-related causes of hiccups include:
Conditions associated with irritation of the following branches of the vagus nerve irritation can cause hiccups:
- Meningeal branches:
- Ear conditions:
- Throat conditions:
- Recurrent laryngeal nerve:
- Chest conditions:
- Abdominal conditions:
Other causes:
Medication
- Benzodiazepines: At low doses, these medications have been linked to the development of hiccups; however, at higher doses, they may help treat hiccups.
- Short-acting barbiturates
- Inhaled anaesthetics
- Donepezil
- Cisplatin
- Dexamethasone
- Alpha-methyldopa
Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:
Do not wait, phone for ambulance if have or develop:
Treatment:
- Many of the traditional non-pharmacologic remedies used in the emergency department have a sound physiologic basis, in that they have an effect on components of the hiccup reflex.
- Examples include:
- Stimulation of the nasopharynx by applying forcible traction to the tongue, swallowing granulated sugar, gargling with water, sipping ice water, drinking from the far side of a glass, biting on a lemon, or inhaling noxious agents [i.e. smelling salts (ammonia), talk to your pharmacist first]
- C3-5 dermatome stimulation by tapping or rubbing the back of the neck, coolant sprays, or acupuncture
- Direct pharyngeal (back of the throat) stimulation by a nasal or oral catheter (as much as 90% effective)
- Direct uvular (back of the tongue) stimulation by a spoon or cotton-tip applicator
- Removal of gastric contents by means of emetics or a nasogastric tube
The following remedies lead to vagal stimulation (only one should be used at any given time):
- Iced gastric lavage
- Valsalva maneuver
- Carotid sinus massage (performed only by experienced personnel after exclusion of contraindications)
- Digital ocular globe pressure (performed only by experienced personnel after exclusion of contraindications)
- Digital rectal massage
Medscape
Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice
Detailed Information
Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Hiccups in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).
- NHS
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- Medscape
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- Pharmaceutical Journal
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- Healthline
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- Medical News Today
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- WebMD
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- Cleveland Clinic
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- Drugs.com
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- National Organisation of Rare Diseases
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- Verywell Health
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- DR Axe
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