A few months ago I succumbed to a particularly drawn-out case of the hiccups. Two nights in, sleepless from constant hiccuping, I made it to the ER. The cause was heartburn, triggered by an earlier night of celebratory drinking, irritating my esophagus. The irritation was close enough to my diaphragm to stimulate it.

One dose of thorazine, given by the ER doctor, and the hiccoughs subsided. Thorazine dampens the vagus nerve. This was the intended effect. Less intended was my complete lack of motivation to do anything outside the confines of my apartment for the rest of the weekend. (I also took great interest in my neighbourhood parks, for once.)