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Hiccups: a treatment review
1Clinical Pharmacy Office, St. Joseph's Medical Center, South Bend, Indiana 46634-1935, USA.
Pharmacotherapy
|November 1, 1996
Summary
Intractable hiccups are rare, making large trials difficult. While chlorpromazine is approved, alternative drug therapies like metoclopramide and valproic acid show promise for managing this condition.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Intractable hiccups present a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.
- The rarity of this condition limits the scope of clinical trials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the anatomy and pathophysiology of intractable hiccups.
- To explore available non-drug and drug therapies for intractable hiccups.
Main Methods:
- A MEDLINE search of the National Library of Medicine database (1966-1994) was conducted.
- Pertinent articles were reviewed for older references and related literature.
Main Results:
- Chlorpromazine is the only FDA-approved drug but may not be suitable for all patients.
- Alternative therapies investigated include metoclopramide, valproic acid, nifedipine, and baclofen.
Conclusions:
- Effective management of intractable hiccups requires a thorough understanding of underlying mechanisms.
- Further research into alternative pharmacologic agents is warranted due to limitations of current treatments.