prednisone and hiccup type spasms - Drug Interactions / Side Effects Message Board

coming up · 01-18-2004, 01:52 PM

Please help!! My fiance' took a dosage of Prednisone in March of 2003 and about three days after starting the prednisone he starting having these wierd type hiccups/spasms. We have been to specialist after specialist and no one can seem to get the problem under control. He has lost about 60 lbs and only seems to be getting worse. All his doctors are sticking with a diagnosis of intactable hiccups but I do not believe that hese are hiccups. He is unable to keep food down to the constant movement of his abdominal area. He has had MRIs, CT scans, an EEG, and numerous bloodwork. Has anyone ever experienced anything like this or know someone that has?

zuzu8 · 02-22-2004, 02:18 PM

Coming up-
You posted some time ago, so don't know if you're still around or will see this. I don't frequent this Board much but just came across your post.

Intractable hiccups can be devastating indeed. They are believed to be caused mainly by irritation of either the phrenic or vagus nerves anywhere along their paths.
Central nervous system diseases, toxins, drugs and metabolic abnormalities may also lead to hiccups.
Hiccups lasting longer than two days are termed "persistent" and those lasting longer than one month are considered "intractable.".

Given that the doctors have performed numerous tests to rule out serious underlying disease, has your fiance been given any medications to try?

Many pharmacologic and (nonpharmacologic remedies) have been used to try to abort hiccups. Medications that have been reported to be effective include chlorpromazine (Thorazine), nifedipine (Procardia), haloperidol (Haldol), phenytoin (Dilantin), metoclopramide (Reglan), baclofen (Lioresal) and gabapentin (Neurontin).
As a last resort, there is surgical management, which includes such techniques as phrenic nerve interruption or placement of diaphragmatic pacemakers. has this been discussed as an option?

zuzu xxx

Sandson · 02-23-2004, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coming up

Please help!! My fiance' took a dosage of Prednisone in March of 2003 and about three days after starting the prednisone he starting having these wierd type hiccups/spasms. We have been to specialist after specialist and no one can seem to get the problem under control. He has lost about 60 lbs and only seems to be getting worse. All his doctors are sticking with a diagnosis of intactable hiccups but I do not believe that hese are hiccups. He is unable to keep food down to the constant movement of his abdominal area. He has had MRIs, CT scans, an EEG, and numerous bloodwork. Has anyone ever experienced anything like this or know someone that has?

Coming up: I have been on high dosages of Prednisone. I do recall encountering that side effect. Your finance could try taking the medicine with large amounts of water or he can presaude his doctor to take him off it altogather. This medication has lousy side effects.