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Scientists map vagus nerve stimulation to reduce side effects in epilepsy

NCT ID NCT05395026

Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Duke University 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
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 This study
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 Results may not be published yet.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This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.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 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested different settings of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in 16 adults with epilepsy who were already scheduled for VNS device surgery. Researchers measured how stimulation affected heart rate and throat muscle contractions to find ways to reduce side effects. The goal is to improve future VNS programming for better epilepsy control with fewer discomforts.

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
What this could lead to
If successful, this could help doctors fine-tune VNS devices to reduce side effects like throat muscle contractions and heart rate changes.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage study with only 16 participants, focused on measuring effects rather than testing a new treatment. Results may not apply to all epilepsy patients.

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

16 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Nov 2022

Finished

Jul 2024

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 65 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: * adult epilepsy patients undergoing VNS electrode implantation or implanted pulse generator (IPG) replacement surgery * in good health * neurologically stable aside from epilepsy * able to provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * patients with another implanted electrical device (besides VNS) * a history of heart conditions that the surgeon considers a contraindication to study participation

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

epilepsy

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Epilepsy

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Duke University Medical Center

    Durham, North Carolina, 27710, United States

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