Successful treatment of intractable hiccup with methylphenidate in a lung cancer patient.
In a 56-year-old man with metastatic small-cell lung cancer, a persistent hiccup was refractory to classic treatments. Hyponatremia, neoplasic mediastinal involvement and liver metastases were though to be potential causative factors. Methylphenidate (MTP), a mild central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that is most commonly used for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, was started at a daily dose of 10 mg. It was rapidly efficient and well tolerated. This report suggests a potential advantage of MTP in the treatment of intractable hiccup in cancer patients.
Maréchal
R
R
Department of Internal Medicine, Institut Jules Bordet, Centre des tumeurs de l'Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
Berghmans
T
T
Sculier
P
P
D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000150:complications*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006606:Hiccup / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate