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Suggest Remedies For Constant Hiccups

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Posted on Tue, 14 Jun 2016
Question: I've been getting the hiccups for the last 48 hours off and on, but they're more on than off. They're very violent and aside from discomfort, they're making me extremely nauseating. Can this be caused by gas and is there anything that can be done to help alleviate the problem?
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Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Sparkling water

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

One thing that sometimes shuts hiccups down is to drink sparkling water, which you can get from the grocery.

Hiccups are usually not caused by excess gas (that would be burping) but by a problem with the vagus nerve or diaphragm.

When hiccups have been going on for more than 48 hours, it is usually time to try to treat it medically. I suggest that at this point you go in to urgent care or ER for help with this. Chlorpromazine is an old time drug used for this purpose, particularly in people who have intractable hiccups after surgery with general anesthesia. Metoclopramide (Reglan) and Baclofen are used for this too.

If the hiccups return after treatment, then evaluation as to the cause is indicated. Causes are wide ranging - tranquilizers, electrolyte imbalances, GERD, etc.

I hope this helps and you are soon hiccup free.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1991

Answered : 3134 Questions

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Suggest Remedies For Constant Hiccups

Brief Answer: Sparkling water Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome, One thing that sometimes shuts hiccups down is to drink sparkling water, which you can get from the grocery. Hiccups are usually not caused by excess gas (that would be burping) but by a problem with the vagus nerve or diaphragm. When hiccups have been going on for more than 48 hours, it is usually time to try to treat it medically. I suggest that at this point you go in to urgent care or ER for help with this. Chlorpromazine is an old time drug used for this purpose, particularly in people who have intractable hiccups after surgery with general anesthesia. Metoclopramide (Reglan) and Baclofen are used for this too. If the hiccups return after treatment, then evaluation as to the cause is indicated. Causes are wide ranging - tranquilizers, electrolyte imbalances, GERD, etc. I hope this helps and you are soon hiccup free.