# A Case Report on Hiccups Improvement With Gabapentin

## TL;DR

This case report shows that gabapentin significantly improved chronic hiccups in an elderly patient without causing side effects.

## Contribution

The report presents a novel case where gabapentin effectively treated long-term hiccups unresponsive to traditional psychiatric drugs.

## Key findings

- Gabapentin 300 mg three times daily reduced hiccups to under 15 minutes daily.
- The treatment was well-tolerated with no reported side effects.
- The patient had a 40-year history of chronic hiccups unresponsive to chlorpromazine and haloperidol.

## Abstract

Hiccups, or Singultus, are a common condition among individuals. Several medications are under research for hiccup management, including Gabapentin, an analog of the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which has shown effective outcomes in patients with persistent hiccups, highlighting the need for larger clinical studies to evaluate their efficacy and safety. Despite that, Gabapentin works on the α-2-δ subunit of calcium channels, mediating its effect. Like many hiccup treatments, the exact mechanism through which Gabapentin alleviates hiccups is not fully understood.

This case reports an 87-year-old male with a 40-year history of chronic hiccups, unresponsive to traditional psychiatric treatments, including chlorpromazine and haloperidol. The patient began escitalopram 20 mg daily for low mood and later added gabapentin 300 mg three times a day, which significantly improved his hiccups to under 15 minutes daily without any side effects. This case highlights the efficacy and safety of Gabapentin as an effective and well-tolerated treatment for persistent hiccups of unknown cause.