Nerve block may ease headaches after brain bleeding, reduce opioid use

NCT ID NCT06621329

What the study statuses mean

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Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now This study
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Aug 19, 2026 · Updated 3 times

Summary

This study tests a nerve block (sphenopalatine ganglion block) given through the nose to treat severe headaches after a type of brain bleed called subarachnoid hemorrhage. About 40 adults with a secured aneurysm will receive either the block plus standard pain meds or standard meds alone. The goal is to see if the block lowers pain scores and reduces the need for opioids during the hospital stay.

What this could mean

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

Active substance
bupivacaine with or without dexamethasone
What this could lead to
If it works, this could offer a new way to manage severe headaches after brain bleeding and reduce reliance on opioids.
What could go wrong
This is a small early-phase pilot study with only 40 people. The nerve block may not provide better pain relief than standard care, and there are risks from the procedure or medications.

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

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Phase 2/3

Runs two stages together: whether the treatment works, then large-scale confirmation.

Participants

About 40 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Started

Oct 2024

Expected to finish

Oct 2027

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 to 100 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Acute subarachnoid hemorrhage * Age greater than 18 years * Secured aneurysm * Patient can verbalize pain score to clinician, nurse, medical translator, or surrogate decision * maker * Patient or surrogate decision maker is available to consent Exclusion Criteria: * Less than 18 years old * Unsecured aneurysm * Pregnant or lactating * Prisoner * Unable to verbalize pain score to clinician, nurse, medical translator, or surrogate decision maker * Nasal or facial trauma or surgery within the last three months * Allergy to lidocaine, bupivacaine, or dexamethasone * Patient is unable to consent and no available surrogate decision maker

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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.

How to take part

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  1. The places running it

    1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.

  2. The official record

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  3. A doctor treating you

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Contacts and locations

Locations

  • UC Davis Medical Center

    RECRUITING

    Sacramento, California, 95817, United States

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