Metoclopramide for patients with intractable hiccups: a multicentre, randomised, controlled pilot study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Intractable hiccups present a therapeutic challenge with limited treatment options.
• Existing data on metoclopramide for intractable hiccups is scarce.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of metoclopramide in managing intractable hiccups.
• To compare metoclopramide treatment against a placebo in a controlled setting.

Main Methods:

• A multicentre, double-blind, randomised, controlled pilot study involving 36 patients.
• Patients received either 10-mg metoclopramide or placebo thrice daily for 15 days.
• Primary outcome was total efficacy, including hiccup cessation and improvement.

Main Results:

• Metoclopramide demonstrated significantly higher total efficacy compared to placebo (P = 0.03).
• Overall efficacy was notably improved in the metoclopramide group.
• Adverse events were mild, with fatigue, mood upset, and dizziness being most common.

Conclusions:

• Metoclopramide is a potential treatment for intractable hiccups, exhibiting favorable efficacy and a manageable side effect profile.
• Further large-scale clinical trials are warranted to validate these preliminary findings.