Some say that by simply waiting and not worrying about them, the problem is likely to resolve more quickly. If hiccups are caused by an underlying condition, treating that condition may help get rid of them. If hiccups are persistent, a doctor may prescribe medication. This is often the case if a patient is:. Generally, doctors will reserve medication as a final resort having tried other options. Medications will also only be prescribed for severe and longer-term hiccups.
Certain triggers cause most cases of hiccups. Avoiding these triggers can reduce the risk of hiccups occurring; these triggers include:. If hiccups are caused by an underlying medical condition, such as GERD , treating that condition can prevent them. For a detailed explanation of what causes hiccups, read our article here.
In the majority of cases, hiccups resolve on their own within a short period of time. Sometimes, however, they may persist and become a nuisance, impacting sleep, eating, or everyday life. Babies often get hiccups; they are a normal part of their development. Babies are not typically disturbed by hiccups. However, hiccups can sometimes disrupt feeding and sleeping. If the hiccups do not go away after minutes, feeding should be resumed as this can also help.
Feeding a baby when they are calm can help prevent hiccups from occurring. If a baby gets hiccups a lot, it could be a sign of another medical condition.
Caregivers should speak to a doctor if hiccups occur frequently or upset the baby. Breathing into a paper bag works a different way. It increases the carbon dioxide CO 2 level in your blood, and it's been shown that as CO 2 levels go up, hiccups tend to recede. A maneuver called "supra-supramaximal inspiration" was described in the Journal of Emergency Medicine many years ago.
You exhale and then take a very deep breath and hold it for 10 seconds. Then, without exhaling, you breathe in again, pause, and then breathe in a third time.
The doctors theorize that stacking three inhalations in a row stops hiccups both by increasing CO 2 levels in the blood and by immobilizing the diaphragm. The most commonly prescribed medicine for hiccups, and the only one approved by the FDA, is chlorpromazine Thorazine. Often, drugs approved to treat one condition prove useful in treating another. That's the case with chlorpromazine, which was first approved as a drug to treat psychotic disorders.
It can also treat hiccups, either in pill form or — in severe cases — intravenously. Small studies suggest that several other drugs also may work, including baclofen, metoclopramide, phenytoin, valproic acid, and gabapentin, although the FDA has not approved their use to treat hiccups.
Other small studies suggest that marijuana, acupuncture, or hypnosis may help. Although surgical approaches have been developed, they are a last resort, reserved for the rare cases that last, literally, for years. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
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Tips for enjoying holiday meals. Overview Hiccups: What causes them Open pop-up dialog box Close. Hiccups: What causes them Hiccups are caused by involuntary contractions of your diaphragm — the muscle that separates your chest from your abdomen and plays an important role in breathing.
Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Bope ET, et al. Symptomatic care pending diagnosis. In: Conn's Current Therapy Philadelphia, Pa. Accessed Feb. Walsh D, et al. In: Palliative Medicine. Lembo AJ. Overview of hiccups.
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