| Corticosteroids are a mainstay of antiemetic regimens for the prevention of acute and delayed emesis. Among the corticosteroids, dexamethasone is the drug used for antiemetic indication and it can induce hiccups. The frequency of occurring hiccups in male and female gender is equivalent, although intractable hiccups occur at a much higher rate in men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted for a period of 6 months and a total of 50 patients were observed and the inclusion criteria was the patient’s undergoing chemotherapy with dexamethasone antiemetic prophylaxis, adult patients greater than 18 years of age and the exclusion criteria was the patients receiving dexamethasone for any other indications. The outcome measures was development of Hiccups during chemotherapy. The causality assessment of hiccups was done using the Naranjo scale. RESULTS: Out of 50 patients observed in our study, 29 were male and 21 patients were female. A greater proportion of male patients ( 9 out of 10 patients) developed hiccups and only one female patient developed hiccups and among 10 patients who developed hiccups were receiving different doses of dexamethasone and it concludes that hiccups is not dose related. CONCLUSION: Dexamethasone has been reported to cause hiccups and the dexamethasone induced hiccups is not dose related. If dexamethasone is essential for the treatment, then administering baclofen 5mg three times a day until the last dose of dexamethasone might be an option or replacing Dexamethasone with Methylprednisolone can control Dexamethasone induced hiccups which should be an individualized clinical decision.ddd |
