Could a mild zap to the head replace opioids after sleep apnea surgery?
NCT ID NCT03735004
First seen Jun 22, 2026 · Last updated Jun 22, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether a weak electrical current applied to the head (called TES) can help control pain after major sleep apnea surgery. 45 adults received either a combined direct and alternating current or direct current only through skin electrodes. The goal was to see if this non-drug approach could reduce pain and the need for opioid medications, which can be risky for sleep apnea patients.
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This is a summary of
the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Stanford Univeristy Medical Center
Stanford, California, 94305, United States
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
transcranial electrostimulation (TES) device
What this could lead to
If it works, this could offer a drug-free way to manage pain after sleep apnea surgery, reducing reliance on opioids and their side effects.
What could go wrong
This is a small, completed study with only 45 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The effect may be modest or not better than placebo.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.