Effective Interventions to Overcome Severe Gag Reflex (NCT07099131) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingEarly Phase 1
Effective Interventions to Overcome Severe Gag Reflex
United States45 participantsStarted 2025-12-07
Plain-language summary
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of various techniques in alleviating gag reflex following gag reflex stimulation.
Primary aim: To compare if there is any reduction in gag reflex from each of the following interventions
* Acupuncture (CV-24)
* Tape
* Anesthetic spray Secondary aim: to compare the degree of gag reduction
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* 18 years or older (individuals below 18 years will be excluded from the study as the study procedures might not be well tolerated by them, and they are not the primary population on which these procedures are used).
* Students, faculty, or staff of Tufts SDM
* Subjects who score a 2 or higher on the Gagging Severity Index (GSI)7 and have a positive gag reflex response when stimulated with a cotton swab at the base of the tongue/uvula/tonsil region.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Adults unable to consent (cognitively impaired adults)
* Wards of the state
* Pregnant women (those that are self-reported)
* Current use of anticoagulants
* Allergy to xylocaine
* Those with bleeding disorders
* Those who participated in the Calibration phase of this study
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Change in Gag Reflex Severity Index (GSI) Score From Pre- to Post-Intervention