Persistent Hiccups Following Use of Oral Dexamethasone: A Report of Two Cases from Abakaliki, Nigeria

Abstract

Hiccups are common, usually mild with no obvious cause and often resolve spontaneously. They are classified as transient, persistent and intractable depending on the duration. Drug induced hiccups have been reported in medical literature but not common and corticosteroids are often cited. This report involved 2 male patients who developed persistent hiccups following use of oral dexamethasone for inflammatory conditions. The hiccups were severe and intolerable and could not stop despite use of metoclopramide and chlor-promazine. The hiccups only stopped following discontinuation of the dex-amethasone. It should be noted that low dose of dexamethasone was used. Management of dexamethasone induced hiccups involves discontinuation of the drug, steroid rotation if the patient is steroid dependent and use of me-toclopramide and chlorpromazine. Clinicians should be aware of this known but rare adverse effect of dexamethasone as it could be severe, distressful and negatively impart patients care. There is a need for a high index of suspicion whenever a patient develops hiccups while taking dexamethasone.