First Aid & Emergencies

Hiccups Treatment

1. Try Home Remedies

• Hold your breath.

• Drink a glass of water quickly.

• Put a teaspoon of sugar on the tongue and let it slowly dissolve. For a young child, use corn syrup.

• Pull on the tongue.

• Gargle water.

• Use smelling salts.

2. When to See a Health Care Provider

• See a health care provider if the hiccups last more than 3 hours and are severe enough to interfere with eating, breathing, or sleeping.

• See a doctor quickly if severe stomach pain, fever, shortness of breath, vomiting, throat tightness, weight loss, or coughing up blood accompany hiccups.

A health care provider may try medication to control more severe, chronic hiccups.