How can I deal with hiccups while at home?

DonnyBoy, My husband who is being treated for CIDP with infusions of methylprednisolone has developed severe hiccups several times after treatment. His neurologist prescribed odansetron (Zofran), which I guess is typically used for nausea, but can also be used for hiccups. He never had to use it, as the problem subsided on it's own. He still gets occasional hiccups, but much less severe. Good luck and I hope yours go away soon. Most people don't realize how horrible hiccups can be!

DonnyBoy, One more thing... although I don't think this works for every situation. My mother used to get severe hiccups during the day, and she always took a spoonful of black currant jam to stop them (had to be black currant and it had to contain the berries). Sounds strange, but she swore by it as the only thing that stopped her hiccups. My husband tried it, but (as he says) never had any "Ah-Ha" moments using the jam.

Thanks for your husband's story, for a possible medication, and for your sympathy. I am going to reach out to my neurologist and see if she thinks medication could help. My own hiccups, which have been extensive and demoralizing, may be calming down. Like your husband I may not need the medication by the time I get it!

Here's another hiccup cure, one that doesn't any extra ingrediants. Although' if the nerve to your diaphram is irritated, you may need medication. Worth a try.
The diaphram is a compicated muscle. It has both voluntary and involuntary aspects. If you notice, the hiccups always happen durring the resting phase of the muscle. So we take control of it by holding our breath. And sometimes it works, but we can't do it long enough to be effective. Solution? Breath in a kind of yoga way. Always giving your diaphram a signal. Start in a quite place where you don't have to talk. Purse your lips (like you are going to whistle,( but don't) so there is a small amount of pressure behind your exhalations. And breathe, completely emptying your lungs before you begin filling them again. Never let go of your diaphram. Fill your lungs (slowly) as full as you can before starting to exhale. Do this througth 3 or so cycles and finish on an exhalation and then relax. Your hiccups are usually gone by now and this method has had lots of successes, But there may be an unlying condition that requires medical intervention. Best wishes and good luck.

Thanks for this. It sounds like the focus on breathing that I go through when trying to relax after lying down with a CPAP mask on. Let me understand what you mean. After pursing your lips so there is a small amount of pressure, is the exhalation through the mouth? And what does never let go of your diaphram mean? I guess I'm not that aware of my diaphram. I do appreciate your trying to help me!

I know this may sound stupid but try a little sugar on your tongue. Hope it works for you!!

Tried it twice and although it shifted my attention to the tongue, the hiccups re-emerged fairly promptly. Thanks for the suggestion.

I know it is difficult to describe. You don't have to hold you nose shut. It is a minor player in the process. I will try to describe the process as if I am doing it.
Seek a quiet place, stand or sit, your choice. Start by inhaling slowly, ignore your nose. Inhale until lungs are full and immediately start exhaling until lungs are empty. (At end you will need to push the air slightly.)) Immediately start inhaling again. That is what I mean by keeping a signal going to your diaphram. And it does take some practice. Repeat inhale/exhale one more time and end on an exhale. Just relax, don't breathe 'til you need to. Just sit (or stand.) If the hiccups are still with you, give it a few minutes before you try it again. I have never had them last through more than two rounds. Glad to answer more questions if you have them.

I have suffered from intractable hiccups for years, lasting several hours, very painful and sometimes ending in vomiting. I have gastroparesis in which your stomach doesn’t empty like it should and pressure builds up on the diaphragm, causing the spasms. Anything that causes stomach distention like air or excess food will trigger them. So for prevention, avoid eating too much at once, avoid straws and carbonated beverages. Alcohol can trigger hiccups, iced drinks are worse than hot as they slow stomach emptying. I found 2 drugs that taken together stop them very quickly. You take these as soon as hiccups start. Reglan (metoclopromide) 10-20 mg. It promotes peristalsis to empty stomach and Robaxin (Methocarbamol), a muscle relaxant 750-1500 mg. Hiccups gone in 15 minutes. Ask your doctor for these Rx meds. Interestingly I have CIDP too.

I appreciate all the suggestions and observations everyone has made in response to my post. I still have the continuous 24x7 hiccups but fortunately a little more under control now. I have been taking Thorazine 25 mg 3x/day, and am switching to a half tablet 3x/day and adding Gabapentin 100 mg 2 capsules 3x/day. There are indeed many medications out there that can address hiccups. My neurologist needed to choose one best suited to my neurological problems, which fall into the Clippers characterization.