Benadryl for hiccups...

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wondering if anyone can shed some light...

After placing an LMA after standard induction today, patient began began hiccupping. After deepening the patient, it persisted, and we administered 25 mg benadryl. I was curious as to the mechanism of action, cant seem to figure it out, or find it anywhere.

Any input greatly appreciated

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

I have no idea why Benadryl would be given. Never heard of such. Sometimes our polypharmacy-inclined physician colleagues will give something IV just to be doing something, rather than wait a little time and allow a passing event to clear.

So why did the patient hiccup? My guess would be inhalation gases blown down toward the stomach during induction.

If Benadryl appeared to clear the hiccups, I'd suggest it was coincidental.

You know the KISS Principle? (Keep It Simple, Stupid) Sometimes it's hard to resist the urge to DO something.

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I know you can treat CHRONIC hiccups with baclofen, and chlorpromazine (and sometimes promethazine). But I don't really know what the MOA would be for diphenhydramine and hiccups? like the above poster said, maybe he just wanted to give something?

SC, pharmD

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Benadryl makes you drowsy, so to me it seems like it may help relax your airway & cure your hiccups IMO.

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Uhh, this patient was already asleep.

I see it happen now and then. Deepening was probably the right thing to do. That and wait.

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