title: Baclofen in the treatment of persistent hiccup: a case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Persistent hiccup is a worrying symptom both for patients, because of reduced quality of life, and for physicians, because of frustration for unsuccessful treatments.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To test baclofen administration for the treatment of persistent hiccup.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a series of seven patients affected by persistent hiccup successfully treated with baclofen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hiccup stopped in all patients after a single administration of the drug.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Baclofen is a GABA(B) receptor agonist. It is conceivable that the reduction of dopamine release by GABA(B) receptor stimulation is able to interrupt hiccup's reflex arc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mirijello
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Addolorato
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: D'Angelo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrulli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vassallo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Antonelli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leggio
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Landolfi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001418:Baclofen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D058786:GABA-B Receptor Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006606:Hiccup / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D058786:GABA-B Receptor Agonists; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central; D001418:Baclofen