title: Novel use of amantadine: to treat hiccups.
abstract: Persistent hiccups may have a considerable impact on general health through disturbance of diet, sleep, and mood. They can cause exhaustion, malnutrition, dehydration, wound dehiscence, and even death in extreme cases. We report a complex clinical case of intractable hiccups in a patient with cancer of the pancreas and Parkinson's disease and some of the problems encountered when attempting symptom control. We also discuss a potential therapeutic response to a novel agent, amantadine, unlicensed in the treatment of hiccups.
authors.affiliation: Palliative Care Team Office, Cancer Care Centre, York Hospital, York, UK. sarahdoc_2000@yahoo.com.au
authors.forename: Sarah K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Wilcox
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garry
authors.forename: Miriam J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000547:Amantadine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006606:Hiccup / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D020280:Sertraline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D008061:Whipple Disease / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000547:Amantadine; D020280:Sertraline