Ear stimulation may tame POTS symptoms

NCT ID NCT02281097

Ongoing Symptom relief Sponsor: Vanderbilt University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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

Summary

This study tests whether a mild electrical current applied to the skin of the ear can help people with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). POTS causes a rapid heart rate and symptoms like light-headedness and fatigue when standing. The treatment aims to stimulate the vagus nerve through the ear to improve heart rate and reduce symptoms. The trial involves 18 participants and compares the real stimulation to a sham (placebo) version.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve through the skin of the ear
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a non-drug way to manage POTS symptoms like light-headedness and fatigue.
What could go wrong: This is a very small early study with only 18 people, so results may not apply to everyone. The sham (placebo) group also gets some stimulation, which could blur the real effect.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome

As listed by the trial registrant

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

POSTURAL ORTHOSTATIC TACHYCARDIA SYNDROME

Contacts and locations

Locations

Autonomic Dysfunction Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Nashville, Tennessee, 37232-2195, United States

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