Baclofen in the Management of Intractable Hiccups: A Case Report

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Many drugs and remedies are currently available for the treatment of hiccups; baclofen is good drug in relieving the intractable hiccups, where all other known durgs fail to provide relief. Hiccup is a sudden, involuntary contraction of inspiratory muscles (predominantly diaphragm) terminated by abrupt closure of glottis thereby stopping inflow of air and producing a typical sound. The basic defect seems to be stimulation of hiccup reflex arc vagus nerve, phrenic nerve and a hiccup centre in the upper spinal cord. Hiccup attacks usually last for few seconds or minutes and occur at brief interval. However intractable hiccup may be prolonged for months or years also.