Baclofen for Persistent Hiccups — May 2024

This month we published a focused piece on using baclofen to treat persistent hiccups. If you’ve tried home remedies and nothing works, this summary gives real, practical info from that article: how baclofen can help, what people experienced, and how to stay safe if you and your doctor consider it.

How baclofen helps

Baclofen is a muscle relaxant that acts on GABA-B receptors in the nervous system. That matters because hiccups are a quick, involuntary spasm of the diaphragm driven by a reflex loop in the brainstem and nerves. By calming that overactive reflex, baclofen can stop hiccups that last days or longer. The evidence mostly comes from case reports and small patient series—many people saw rapid relief, sometimes within hours. Still, it’s not a universal fix, but it’s one of the better-documented off-label options.

Use and safety tips

If you’re thinking about baclofen, talk with your healthcare provider first. Doctors usually start low and adjust. Typical short-term doses reported for hiccups are lower than some chronic spasticity regimens, but exact dosing should come from a prescriber. Watch for common side effects: drowsiness, dizziness, weakness, nausea, and occasional confusion. Combining baclofen with alcohol, benzodiazepines, or strong sedatives raises the risk of dangerous sedation.

Don’t stop baclofen suddenly if you’ve used it regularly—withdrawal can cause agitation, hallucinations, increased spasticity, and seizures. If a prescriber plans a short course for hiccups, they’ll often taper or limit duration to avoid this. Also mention kidney problems or pregnancy to your provider, since dosing and risks change with those conditions.

People who tried baclofen for persistent hiccups in our article described a few patterns: quick responders who stopped hiccups within a day, partial responders who needed a dose change, and non-responders who required other treatments. One clear point: early use after hiccups become prolonged appears more likely to help than waiting weeks. Your doctor can weigh this against side effects and other options like gabapentin, chlorpromazine, or non-drug therapies.

Want quick practical takeaways? If hiccups last beyond 48–72 hours, see a provider. Ask whether a short, monitored trial of baclofen is reasonable for you. Track how fast hiccups change after the first dose and report side effects right away. Keep other sedatives and alcohol low while using it.

This May post aimed to give clear, simple guidance based on current reports and patient experiences. If you need the full article details, dosing examples, and real-case notes, check the full post linked on the site. And as always, rely on your prescriber to adapt any information to your health situation.