title: Corticosteroid rotation to alleviate dexamethasone-induced hiccup: a case series at a single institution.
abstract: Dexamethasone, one of the key medications for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), may cause hiccups as an adverse effect. In this case series, we present five patients who developed hiccups after receiving dexamethasone for CINV. We successfully switched dexamethasone to an equipotent dosage of either methylprednisolone or prednisolone, which resolved the hiccups while maintaining adequate control of CINV. This was achieved without changing the rest of the antiemetic regimen, chemotherapy doses, or the use of other medications such as baclofen, haloperidol, and metoclopramide for hiccups. Further studies on switching dexamethasone to alternative corticosteroids in patients developing hiccups after administration of dexamethasone are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA. jkang2@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Jung Hun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Moon Jin
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hoon Gu
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Myoung Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Gyeong-Won
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bruera
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006606:Hiccup / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D056144:Pyriform Sinus; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000932:Antiemetics; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone