Hello, my Dad recently relapsed and is currently being treated with a Velcade, Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide), and dex combo. He has had hiccups for the last 5 days and is exhausted. His nurse practitioner / doctor have said this is common.
I am wondering if anyone has any tips for relief from the hiccups?
He is so exhausted he is actually considering stopping the regimen, but I believe it's the depression / sleep deprivation talking.
Thanks so much!
Forums
Re: Hiccups and Cytoxan
Hi Michelle,
Sorry to hear about your father's bad case of hiccups.
There are various home remedies out there. I personally have had luck with holding my breath for as long as possible. I also know several people who swear by eating ice cream as a solution.
In terms of prescription drugs, the ones I have heard recommended are as follows:
Prochlorperazine (Compazine, Stemetil) - Originally developed as an anti-psychotic; has anti-nausea and anti-seizure effects
Chlorpromazine (Thorazine, Largactil) - Another anti-psychotic that also has anticholinergic effects, meaning that it can counteract nausea but also cause constipation and fatigue
Baclofen (Kemstro, Lioresel) - Muscle relaxant used to treat excessive muscle movement such as the kind associated with cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis.
All of them seem to work relatively well, but I also don't think they are medications your father will want to be on for an extended period of time.
Best of luck,
Jim
Sorry to hear about your father's bad case of hiccups.
There are various home remedies out there. I personally have had luck with holding my breath for as long as possible. I also know several people who swear by eating ice cream as a solution.
In terms of prescription drugs, the ones I have heard recommended are as follows:
Prochlorperazine (Compazine, Stemetil) - Originally developed as an anti-psychotic; has anti-nausea and anti-seizure effects
Chlorpromazine (Thorazine, Largactil) - Another anti-psychotic that also has anticholinergic effects, meaning that it can counteract nausea but also cause constipation and fatigue
Baclofen (Kemstro, Lioresel) - Muscle relaxant used to treat excessive muscle movement such as the kind associated with cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis.
All of them seem to work relatively well, but I also don't think they are medications your father will want to be on for an extended period of time.
Best of luck,
Jim
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JimNY
Re: Hiccups and Cytoxan
With myself, it is the dexamethasone that causes the hiccups regardless of what it is combined with; 20 mg is better than 40 mg
In my case I feel that it is caused by delayed gastric emptying as the hiccups onset sometime after eating
Over the years what I have found minimizes or prevents them is to take motilium (domperidome ) 10mg 1/2 hour before meals and at bedtime for 1 -2 days after taking the dexamthasone as it's role is to speed gastric emptying; again 20mg of dexamethasone causes less problems than 40 mg
If hiccups do develop with this, then rebreathing in and out of a paper bag stops them
Being present for 5 days however is a different story and chlorpromazine is a standard used for years; hopefully once resolved you can identify the trigger and find something for prevention.
In my case I feel that it is caused by delayed gastric emptying as the hiccups onset sometime after eating
Over the years what I have found minimizes or prevents them is to take motilium (domperidome ) 10mg 1/2 hour before meals and at bedtime for 1 -2 days after taking the dexamthasone as it's role is to speed gastric emptying; again 20mg of dexamethasone causes less problems than 40 mg
If hiccups do develop with this, then rebreathing in and out of a paper bag stops them
Being present for 5 days however is a different story and chlorpromazine is a standard used for years; hopefully once resolved you can identify the trigger and find something for prevention.
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bond007
Re: Hiccups and Cytoxan
Michelle
It is beyond STOoPId. To even CONSIDER taking anti psychotic meds 4 hiccups. Don't listen 2 such ignorance.
It is beyond STOoPId. To even CONSIDER taking anti psychotic meds 4 hiccups. Don't listen 2 such ignorance.
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harpy
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sunshine
Re: Hiccups and Cytoxan
I got a bad case while I had 2 places in my spine that needed kyphoplasty. Every hiccup caused a spasm 5 seconds apart and I couldn't catch my breath. The worst case hit when out to eat and the friend with me was determined to go to the ER. I didn't, they quieted some, my doc called back with Rx for Thorazine and I take them with me everywhere. Have only used it one other time but it was a life saver! What doc lets you go 5 days with this? Unbelievable!
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Rus
Re: Hiccups and Cytoxan
Michelle and JimNY:
Since starting CyBorD (dex 40 mg once a week), hiccups have been really challenging. They last about 24 to 40 hours . First 24 hours are non stop (every 5-10 seconds). Balcofen did not help. Thorazine made them a little less vigorous, still lasted for two nights. Very difficult to sleep or do anything.
JimNY wrote:
Since starting CyBorD (dex 40 mg once a week), hiccups have been really challenging. They last about 24 to 40 hours . First 24 hours are non stop (every 5-10 seconds). Balcofen did not help. Thorazine made them a little less vigorous, still lasted for two nights. Very difficult to sleep or do anything.
JimNY wrote:
Hi Michelle,
Sorry to hear about your father's bad case of hiccups.
There are various home remedies out there. I personally have had luck with holding my breath for as long as possible. I also know several people who swear by eating ice cream as a solution.
In terms of prescription drugs, the ones I have heard recommended are as follows:
Prochlorperazine (Compazine, Stemetil) - Originally developed as an anti-psychotic; has anti-nausea and anti-seizure effects
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DexMed - Name: GV
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 2010 Smoldering. Symptomatic 9/2014
- Age at diagnosis: 62
Re: Hiccups and Cytoxan
Hi,
Also was the dex with me. i've had it happen twice now. first time for 36 hours during my first cycle on VCD (Velcade, cyclophosphamide, dex). Then I was prescribed Somac (pantoprazole), which stopped it for subsequent cycles.
Then I was given dex again as IV during my stem cell mobilization - and the hiccups happened again. if I had known I was getting dex, I would have taken Somac prior. So I got hiccups for about 12 hours before the Somac kicked in and stopped them.
john
Also was the dex with me. i've had it happen twice now. first time for 36 hours during my first cycle on VCD (Velcade, cyclophosphamide, dex). Then I was prescribed Somac (pantoprazole), which stopped it for subsequent cycles.
Then I was given dex again as IV during my stem cell mobilization - and the hiccups happened again. if I had known I was getting dex, I would have taken Somac prior. So I got hiccups for about 12 hours before the Somac kicked in and stopped them.
john
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JohnHamill - Name: John Hamill
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 50
Re: Hiccups and Cytoxan
My experience with hiccups was with dex.
At the 40 mg dose, I experienced severe hiccups for about 18 hours the day after taking dex. The hiccups are relentless and exhausting. My doctor recommended baclofen (Kemstro, Lioresal) 10 mg, three times daily, and the hiccups stopped.
Now that I am taking 20 mg dex, the hiccups are not a problem.
At the 40 mg dose, I experienced severe hiccups for about 18 hours the day after taking dex. The hiccups are relentless and exhausting. My doctor recommended baclofen (Kemstro, Lioresal) 10 mg, three times daily, and the hiccups stopped.
Now that I am taking 20 mg dex, the hiccups are not a problem.
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Dano - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 65
Re: Hiccups and Cytoxan
Hi Michelle,
I'm so sorry about your Dad. My husband has had hiccups on and off since he started treatment in 2012. It was really bad after his stem cell transplant, where he had them for days, and the doctor treated him inpatient with some drug, but it never completely stopped them.
I've researched and tried every home remedy out there, as the drugs never worked well, and he had too many other side effects without adding new ones.
The only one that has stopped them is one home remedy: Take one heaping teaspoon of peanut butter. It really works – stops them immediately. I've tried it myself when I had hiccups once, and it worked for me. I now keep the little to go cups of peanut butter everywhere. In the car, bedroom, etc. We've been using this for a year now and it works great for him, plus he gets protein.
Hope it works for you.
Good luck
I'm so sorry about your Dad. My husband has had hiccups on and off since he started treatment in 2012. It was really bad after his stem cell transplant, where he had them for days, and the doctor treated him inpatient with some drug, but it never completely stopped them.
I've researched and tried every home remedy out there, as the drugs never worked well, and he had too many other side effects without adding new ones.
The only one that has stopped them is one home remedy: Take one heaping teaspoon of peanut butter. It really works – stops them immediately. I've tried it myself when I had hiccups once, and it worked for me. I now keep the little to go cups of peanut butter everywhere. In the car, bedroom, etc. We've been using this for a year now and it works great for him, plus he gets protein.
Hope it works for you.
Good luck
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Dexter
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