Recovery from Dexmedetomidine-Induced Unconsciousness Study

This study is looking at how quickly people recover from being unconscious due to a medicine called dexmedetomidine, which is used for anesthesia. Researchers want to see if biological sex affects this recovery time. They are also testing if a special brain scan called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation-Electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) can measure brain activity during sedation without waking you up. You might be able to join if you are a healthy adult between 18 and 65 years old, a non-smoker, and have a normal body weight. The main goal is to measure how long it takes for you to become responsive again, up to 120 minutes. The study is currently recruiting a small group of 12 participants.

Study design: This is an interventional pilot study involving 12 healthy volunteers. It is not specified if it's randomized or blinded.
What's involved: You would receive dexmedetomidine to induce unconsciousness and undergo Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation-Electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) brain scans. The primary measurement is time to return of responsiveness, up to 120 minutes.
Compensation: Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up: Your recovery will be monitored for up to 120 minutes after receiving the intervention.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

REcovery From DEXmedetomidine-induced Unconsciousness

Recruiting

NAAges 18–65InterventionalBasic science

Massachusetts General Hospital

~12 participants

Updated 2026-01-22 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What's tested:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation-Electroencephalography

At a glance

Recruiting sites

1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now

RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open

What they're measuring

Time to return of responsiveness

Measured over Up to 120 minutes

Conditions

Anesthesia

Healthy

Consciousness, Level Altered

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states

Massachusetts1

Study leadership

Emery N Brown, MD, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Massachusetts General Hospital

Who to contact

Emery N Brown, MD, PhD

[email protected]

+1 617-324-1879

Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

Add a private profile and we'll compare every criterion below against your situation — and tell you which ones are met, uncertain, or excluding.

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Between the ages of 18 to 65

Normal body weight and habitus, body mass index (BMI) 18 to 30 kg/m2

Non-smoker

No history of taking stimulants or substance abuse

For women: either use of hormonal contraception, or \> 45 years old and last menstrual period \> 12 months ago in the absence of any contraceptives.

American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification 1 (ASA 1)

Fluent in English (sufficient to communicate with the study team and understand the consent form)

Exclusion

Neurologic: epilepsy or positive history of a seizure, stroke, central disorders of hypersomnolence, neuroimmunological disorder (e.g. multiple sclerosis), Meniere's disease, Parkinson's disease, peripheral neuropathy, no significant visual or hearing impairments, findings in the clinical examination suggesting a neurologic disorder

Psychiatric: history or treatment for an active psychiatric problem (including Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and anxiety disorder)

Cardiovascular: hypertension, symptomatic hypotension or bradycardia, myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, dysrhythmias, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, valvular disease, familial history of sudden cardiac death

Respiratory: bronchitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, smoking, shortness of breath, sleep apnea

Gastrointestinal: esophageal reflux, hiatal hernia, ulcer

Hepatic: hepatitis, jaundice, ascites

Renal: acute or chronic severe renal insufficiency

Reproductive: pregnancy, breast-feeding

Endocrine: diabetes, thyroid disease, adrenal gland disease

Hematologic: blood dyscrasias, anemia, coagulopathies

Musculoskeletal: prior surgery or trauma to head neck or face, arthritis, personal or family history of malignant hyperthermia

Medications: regular use of prescription and non-prescription medications expected to affect central nervous function, anticoagulant or thrombocyte-aggregation inhibiting therapy; exception: oral hormonal contraception

Allergies: dexmedetomidine, phenylephrine, betablockers (including labetalol and esmolol), hydralazine, glycopyrrolate

What this trial measures

Time to return of responsivenessUp to 120 minutes
The time to return of responsiveness will be measured in minutes and from the moment of dexmedetomidine discontinuation to the return of clicking a button in response to auditory stimulation.

Trialytics