What Causes Recurrent Hiccups In An Elderly Person?

Posted on Thu, 6 Aug 2015

Question: Doctor, my mom is 91. She has developed escessive hiccupping...Its not a belch, for sure a hiccup, as far as I can see. It lasts about 2 minutes then goes away, but maybe about 6 -8 times per day. She takes meds for blood pressure.

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (28 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
I will recommend she goes back to Nexium!

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.

I am so sorry to hear about this hiccup that your mom has. I have reviewed her information fully. Her medications are unlikely to cause this. One of the common causes of hiccups are gastric reflux. The fact that she had been on Nexium for several years means she must have had some form of it. Having stopped and now presenting with repetitive episodes of hiccup, this could be suggestive of recurrence of the acid reflux. I will suggest that she take the drug and we evaluate her response to this. If the hiccups subside, then that’s the solution. However, if the hiccups persist, then I will recommend more detailed evaluation and treatment.

I will like that you try this and get back to me with preliminary response in the next 48-72hours.

I hope this helps. I wish you and your mother well. Thanks for using our services and do feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.

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