Remedy for hiccups after drinking alcohol

Hiccups are repeated involuntary spasms of the breathing muscle beneath the lungs. Alcohol may irritate the stomach and food pipe, encourage swallowing of air, and make a large or fizzy drink easier to consume quickly. Reflux or stomach irritation can also contribute. A bout that fades is usually different from hiccups that continue, disturb sleep or occur with pain, vomiting or difficulty breathing. Hiccups themselves do not show that a person has a specific condition.

Stop drinking alcohol and sit upright. Take small, steady sips of cool water, breathe slowly, and loosen tight clothing around the abdomen. Avoid gulping, fizzy drinks, smoking and very spicy food while the episode is active. Do not try frightening yourself, swallowing dangerous objects or drinking large amounts quickly. If reflux symptoms recur, discuss them with a clinician; information about Acid Reflux and Gastritis may help you prepare for that conversation. Do not take another person’s medicine.

Arrange medical advice if hiccups persist, keep returning without a clear trigger, or prevent eating, drinking or sleeping. Seek urgent help for severe chest or abdominal pain, confusion, fainting, blue lips, breathing difficulty, repeated vomiting or inability to swallow. After heavy alcohol use, unusual sleepiness, slow or irregular breathing, seizures or inability to wake the person is an emergency. A clinician may look for dehydration, irritation, reflux or another cause rather than treating the sound alone.

Tell your clinician how long the hiccups last, how much you drank, whether they follow meals or lying down, and whether heartburn, nausea or pain occurs. Ask whether reflux treatment is appropriate and which warning signs should prompt urgent care.