Hiccups are an involuntarily powerful
spasm of the diaphragm, followed by a sudden inspiration with a closure of the glottis.
Hiccups that are caused by gastric distention, spicy foods and neural dysfunction can resolve themselves without any treatment. Some
hiccups are associated with certain diseases or they occur postsurgically, and life-restricting intractable
hiccups should be treated. The cause of
hiccups should be quickly determined so as to administer the proper treatment.
Hiccups often remit spontaneously within a short period of time, but they may also occur without remission for a prolonged period in some cases. We report here on a 36-year-old man who suffered with intractable
hiccups for 5 years. We administered a single oral dose of
baclofen, and then the
hiccups disappeared. We conclude that a single dose of
baclofen is a good treatment for intractable
hiccups.