Can a device replace pills for opioid withdrawal?
NCT ID NCT04325659
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested a device called the Bridge, which uses mild electrical pulses to ease opioid withdrawal symptoms. 36 adults with opioid addiction were randomly assigned to get the active device, withdrawal medication (lofexidine), or a placebo. The goal was to see if the device could reduce withdrawal severity and keep people in treatment. Results could offer a new, drug-free way to manage withdrawal.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Bridge Device (neuromodulator device) and lofexidine (medication)
What this could lead to
If successful, this could provide a non-drug option for managing opioid withdrawal, potentially improving treatment retention and reducing relapse.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-phase trial with only 36 participants. The device was cleared based on safety, not proven efficacy, so it may not work better than existing treatments.
Disclaimer
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the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit
Baltimore, Maryland, 21224, United States