Baclofen

M5M

DH has had several episodes of hiccups lasting an hour to as much as 36 hours straight. The PCP gave us Baclofen 5 mg to use PRN. I read online that it is a muscle relaxant and side effects can be weakness, instability, and confusion, which all showed up. Today he is exhausted and sleeping. Has anyone used a dosage less than the 5mg that we have? Seems like I could cut the pill in half…It did stop the hiccups!

SDianeL

I don’t have experience with Baclofen but I have a trick my Mom used to use to stop our hiccups. Not sure it will work on dementia patients but if he’s able to communicate it might. Ask him “where did you see your last rabbit” I know it sounds crazy but it works! Something about the area of the brain that causes hiccups. If the hiccups don’t stop right away, ask the question again and ask what color it was. A girl I worked with had hiccups all day and I asked her the question and they stopped. She called me a witch! 😁

sandwichone123

You might try cutting the pill in half, or you might figure he's probably exhausted from all those hiccups and that sleeping for a couple of days might be worth it to break the cycle.

M5M

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/262591#Comment_262591

That is indeed a unique cure….! We have tried using a narrow spatula to press down on the back of his throat….he thinks it works some. I don't think so, but its something he can control himself so I let him.

M5M

I did ask the pharmacist about cutting the pill, he says its fine, so next time that is what I will do. DH was so weak with the whole dosage.