Could a blood pressure drug clear ICU brain fog?
NCT ID NCT04742673
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether giving intravenous guanfacine to critically ill patients with delirium in the ICU could improve their brain function. 46 adults on breathing machines or for shock were randomly assigned to receive guanfacine or a placebo. Researchers measured days without delirium or coma, time off the ventilator, and cognitive test scores.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Guanfacine (intravenous)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a treatment to reduce delirium and improve thinking in critically ill patients.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase proof-of-concept study with only 46 participants. Results may not apply to all ICU patients, and the drug may cause side effects like low blood pressure.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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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
Locations
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, Tennessee, 37212, United States
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