Why Would Hiccups Last For More Than A Hour For The Past Few Days?

Posted on Tue, 26 Jun 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 26 Jun 2018 Answered on

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 Last reviewed on

Question : For 3 days hiccups lasting an hour or so for no apparent reason. Not eating or taking liquids. Tough to sleep. Can control by drinking a glass of water slowly. A while later (an hour maybe 3 hours) they come back.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Michelle Gibson (33 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
different possible causes

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

In most persons recurrent hiccups are related to one of the following- (1) gastric distension from food, air, alcohol
(2)psychological eg excess excitement or stress
(3)sudden change in ambient (surrounding) or gastric temperature
(4)use of alcohol or tobacco in excess

In rare cases, recurrent hiccups can be associated with more serious causes such as- (1)trauma to the nerve supplying the diaphragm,
(2) infection,
(3)presence of a mass which can be benign or malignant,
(4) reflux,
(5) low potassium, calcium or sodium,
(6) side effect of medication

These are some of the more serious causes , but as mentioned, they are not as common.

There are medications that can help such as chlorpromazine, metoclopramide, baclofen, phenytoin. These are some of the options available to you if the hiccups continue or worsen.
You would need to see your doctor to be assessed , he or she can give you a prescription.

I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar