Chemotherapy hiccups could be caused as a side effect to the corticosteroid drug Dexamethosone, which is given to combat nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy. These drugs are more prone to affect men than women. The more the hiccups occur, the less likely the patients’ chances are to have  nausea and vomiting. Alongside, few anti emetic drugs given to suppress nausea which work by inhibiting the 5HT3 Receptor also induce chemotherapy hiccups. Hiccups are involuntary contraction of aspiratory muscles. Many chemotherapy patients experience severe hiccups after being administered with corticosteroid drugs.

Hiccup can be triggered during cisplatin chemotherapy. Many chemotherapy patients experience hiccups after being administered cisplatin. One must not be wary about the side effect as it subsides naturally once you are done with the doses. Hiccup is a common symptom evident in some forms of cancer such as prostate gland cancer, esophagus cancer and pancreatic cancer. In such cases, the patients are given chemotherapy drugs for prostate cancer and so on.

Cancer patients must immediately consult their oncologist before following any home remedies like drinking water to settle down the hiccup. Such trials could at times reciprocate the side reaction and could be antagonistic.

How to cure Chemotherapy Hiccups?

Chemotherapy hiccups, if related to reflex action could be cured by using a pillow below your head and back. One might as well use a recliner bed. One must keep away foods that are difficult to digest like milk and cheese. In more adverse condition your oncologist might suggest you some medications to combat the chemotherapy related hiccup.

Some home remedies and general practices that could check chemotherapy hiccups are:

1. Eat a spoonful of sugar syrup
2. Drink ample water throughout the day to keep your body hydrated
3. Drink a carbonated beverage, soda or lemon juice to suppress hiccup
4. During the hiccup try rubbing your back of your neck with your palms; this could subside the uneasiness
5. At times holding your breath for few seconds could control a hiccup related spasm

One must unfailingly contact their oncologists if their hiccups persist for more than one day as this might be a chronic hiccup. Some common medicines those could be used to cure hiccups include anticonvulsants, phenothiazine and baclofen. Eventually, nasogastric intubation or an insertion of a tube may provide some relief.