Could a muscle relaxant stop deadly heart rhythms?

NCT ID NCT04134845

Completed Disease control Sponsor: Vanderbilt University Medical Center Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested whether a single dose of dantrolene, a muscle relaxant, could reduce the risk of dangerous heart rhythms in 68 people with structural heart disease who were scheduled for a procedure to treat ventricular tachycardia. Participants received either dantrolene or a placebo, and researchers measured if the drug made it harder to trigger a dangerous heart rhythm. The goal was to see if dantrolene could be a new tool to control heart rhythm problems.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: dantrolene (a muscle relaxant)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a new way to prevent dangerous heart rhythms in people with heart disease.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-phase trial with only 68 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. Dantrolene is a muscle relaxant and may cause side effects like muscle weakness or liver issues.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for STRUCTURAL HEART DISEASE are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

heart disorder ventricular tachycardia

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA

Contacts and locations

Locations

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.