title: Treatment of intractable hiccup with baclofen: results of a double-blind randomized, controlled, cross-over study.
abstract: Four patients with intractable hiccup were treated in a double-blind, randomized, placebo, cross-over study with an analogue of gamma-aminobutyric acid, Baclofen. There was a consistent and statistically significant (p = 0.03) improvement in hiccup severity with Baclofen, both subjectively (p = 0.03) and by hiccup-free periods (p = 0.003). The actual frequency of hiccup was not significantly altered by the medication. We propose that the mechanical aspects of hiccup are reduced by Baclofen, leading to a perceptual blockage and a decrease in the reflex severity induced by the gamma-aminobutyric acid analogue. We conclude that this medication may be useful for the treatment of intractable hiccup.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.forename: D Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Graham
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001418:Baclofen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006606:Hiccup / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001418:Baclofen