Hiccups Triggered by Medications: Common Causes and Proven Remedies

Ever had hiccups that wouldn’t stop-no matter how many times you held your breath or swallowed sugar? If you’ve recently started a new medication, it might not be coincidence. Medication-induced hiccups are more common than most people realize, and they can turn from a minor annoyance into a full-blown disruption of sleep, eating, and daily life. Unlike the brief hiccup that fades after a few minutes, these last for days, sometimes weeks. And they’re often missed because doctors don’t always link them to drugs.

Why Do Medications Cause Hiccups?

Hiccups happen when the diaphragm spasms suddenly, followed by the vocal cords snapping shut. It’s a reflex controlled by nerves running from your brainstem to your chest. Certain medications mess with this system. They might irritate the vagus or phrenic nerves, change brain chemistry, or swell your stomach enough to trigger the reflex.

The biggest culprits? Corticosteroids like dexamethasone and prednisone. In one study, 41% of cancer patients on dexamethasone combined with cisplatin developed hiccups. Even low doses-just 4mg daily-can do it. Benzodiazepines like midazolam, used before surgery, cause hiccups in up to 12% of patients. Opioids like morphine are another common trigger, especially in people using them long-term for pain. The stomach distension from these drugs can push up on the diaphragm, setting off the hiccup reflex.

Antibiotics like azithromycin and moxifloxacin are less common, but cases exist. One 2023 report described a man who got nonstop hiccups after starting moxifloxacin for tuberculosis. The pattern is clear: if your hiccups started within hours or days of beginning a new drug, the link is likely real.

Who’s Most at Risk?

Men are more likely than women to get medication-induced hiccups, especially from steroids. One study found 97% of cases linked to dexamethasone were male. Age matters too-older adults are more sensitive to drug effects on the nervous system. People with existing nerve damage, like those with diabetes or multiple sclerosis, are also more vulnerable.

Cancer patients are a high-risk group. Dexamethasone is routinely given before chemotherapy to prevent nausea. But it often comes with a side effect no one warns you about: hiccups so bad you can’t sleep, eat, or talk. One Reddit user described 72 hours of relentless hiccups after their first dexamethasone dose. On Drugs.com, dexamethasone has a 2.3 out of 5 rating specifically for hiccup side effects, based on 87 reviews.

How Long Do They Last?

Most medication-induced hiccups are short-lived-65% go away within 48 hours. But for 30%, they stick around longer than two days. And 5% become intractable-lasting over a month. Persistent hiccups can lead to exhaustion, weight loss, dehydration, and even cracked ribs from the constant spasms.

The good news? If the drug is the cause, stopping or lowering the dose often fixes it. But that’s not always possible. Cancer patients can’t just quit dexamethasone. People with chronic pain can’t stop morphine. That’s where targeted treatment comes in.

What Works: Proven Remedies

Before jumping to pills, try simple, evidence-backed home fixes:

• Swallow a teaspoon of granulated sugar-this works in 72% of cases, according to a 2021 JAMA study.
• Gargle ice water. The cold shocks the nerves and stops the reflex in 65% of people.
• Hold your breath for 10-15 seconds, then slowly exhale. Repeat 3 times. Success rate: 58%.
• Drink a glass of water quickly while pinching your nose.

These aren’t myths. They’re tested. And they’re safe.

If those don’t work, and the hiccups keep going, it’s time for medication. The only FDA-approved drug for hiccups is chlorpromazine (Thorazine). It’s not perfect-it can cause drowsiness, low blood pressure, and movement issues-but it works for 50-60% of people. It’s often used as a last resort.

Better options? Baclofen, a muscle relaxant that acts on GABA-B receptors in the brain. Studies show it resolves steroid-induced hiccups in 60-70% of cases. Start with 5mg three times a day. Many patients report relief within hours. In one trial, giving baclofen before dexamethasone cut hiccup rates from 41% down to just 13%.

A new drug, GBX-204, is in phase 3 trials and shows even better results-82% resolution rate. It’s not available yet, but it’s a sign that the medical community is finally taking this seriously.

Why Doctors Miss It

Here’s the frustrating part: most drug labels don’t list hiccups as a side effect. You won’t find it on the insert for dexamethasone or morphine. That means doctors don’t think to ask. A 2019 study found 35% of medication-induced hiccup cases were misdiagnosed as GERD, anxiety, or even heart problems.

The solution? If you get hiccups after starting a new drug, say it out loud. Ask: “Could this be from my medicine?” Use the Naranjo scale-a simple tool doctors use to rate if a drug likely caused a side effect. Answer a few yes/no questions: Did the hiccups start after the drug was given? Did they improve when the drug was stopped? Are there other possible causes?

What to Do If You Can’t Stop the Drug

If you need the medication-for cancer, chronic pain, or autoimmune disease-you don’t have to suffer. Talk to your doctor about:

• Switching to a different steroid (like methylprednisolone instead of dexamethasone).
• Adding prophylactic baclofen before your dose.
• Using ondansetron (Zofran) for nausea instead of dexamethasone-some patients report hiccups disappear when they make this switch.

One patient on Patient.info wrote: “Five days of nonstop hiccups. Switched from dexamethasone to ondansetron. Gone in two hours.” That’s the kind of win that matters.

The Bigger Picture

This isn’t just about discomfort. Medication-induced hiccups cost the U.S. healthcare system an estimated $28.7 million a year in unnecessary scans, ER visits, and hospital stays. In 2024, the American Medical Association added a new ICD-10 code-R09.2-MIH-just for medication-induced hiccups. That means doctors will start tracking it properly.

The FDA updated dexamethasone’s labeling in 2021 to include hiccups as a “clinically significant adverse reaction.” The European Medicines Agency now requires hiccup data for all new CNS drugs. This is progress.

But awareness is still low. A 2023 FDA survey found only 37% of providers correctly identified medication-induced hiccups. That’s why your voice matters. If you’ve had this happen, tell your doctor. Share your story. It’s the best way to make sure others don’t suffer in silence.