Could sniffing alcohol beat nausea pills for kids?
NCT ID NCT05418244
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study tests whether inhaling isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) can reduce nausea in children aged 7 to 17 in the emergency department. About 84 kids will be randomly assigned to sniff an alcohol pad, a standard nausea medicine (ondansetron), or a placebo (saline pad). The main goal is to see how much nausea scores drop after 10 and 30 minutes.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Inhaled isopropyl alcohol (from a prep pad)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a fast, needle-free option for nausea relief in kids.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial (84 kids) comparing to a placebo and standard drug. The effect may be short-lived or not better than existing treatments.
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
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Phase 2/3
Runs two stages together: whether the treatment works, then large-scale confirmation.
- Participants
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About 84 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Apr 2022
- Expected to finish
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Jun 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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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
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7 to 17 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide 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: * Patients with a chief complaint of nausea or vomiting * Ages 7-178 years, both sexes * Weight ≥ 15 kg * Baxter Animated Retching Faces (BARF) nausea severity score ≥ 4/10 Exclusion Criteria: * 1\. Require IV access * Inability to breathe in/out through the nose * Anosmia (self- or parental report) * Allergy to isopropyl alcohol or ondansetron * Current or history of alcohol abuse * Inability to communicate feeling nauseous * Inability to follow directions regarding taking deep breaths through the nose * Known prolonged QT interval * Pregnancy * Received antiemetics within the last 8 hours * Currently taking apomorphine
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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
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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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
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Oishei Children's Hospital
RECRUITINGBuffalo, New York, 14203, United States
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