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Ear nerve zaps could curb drug cravings in small trial

NCT ID NCT07689981

Disease control Sponsor: Shanghai Mental Health Center Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting This study
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 Results may not be published yet.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This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.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 Jul 08, 2026 · Last updated Jul 09, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests whether a gentle electrical stimulation of a nerve in the ear (called taVNS) can help people who are dependent on the drug tiletamine. Thirty participants will receive either real or sham stimulation over five days. Researchers will measure changes in cravings, mood, stress, and brain activity to see if the treatment works and how it might help.

What this could mean

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

Active substance
Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS)
What this could lead to
If it works, this could point toward a non-drug treatment for substance use disorders, helping reduce cravings and improve mood.
What could go wrong
This is a very small, early trial with only 30 people. The effect may be small or no different from sham stimulation, and results may not apply to other substances.

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

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 30 people

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

Expected to start

Jul 2026

An estimate. Start dates often move.

Expected to finish

Jan 2028

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 60 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: * Age 18-60 years ≥6 years of education\[7.1\] DSM-5 diagnosis of substance use disorder related to tiletamine Tiletamine use ≥6 months and ≥1 time/week Ability to provide informed consent Willingness to complete follow-up assessments Exclusion Criteria: * Severe cognitive impairment History of epilepsy, brain injury, neurological disease or serious psychiatric disease Use of cognition-enhancing medications within 6 months Other psychoactive substance abuse within past 5 years (except nicotine) Metal implants in the head or severe skin sensitivity

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Behavior, Addictive substance-related disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Drug craving Substance use disorder (SUD) Tiletamine use disorder

How to take part

Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.

  1. The places running it

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

  2. The official record

    ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

    Open the record ↗

  3. A doctor treating you

    A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Shanghai Mental Health Center

    Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, 200030, China

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