How can I treat stubborn hiccups?
Ask the doctor
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.
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