A Phase 1 interventional study of Normal saline infusion and Dexmedetomidine in Sleep Disorders, sponsored by University of California, San Francisco. Terminated at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 45 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-05.
Sponsored by University of California, San Francisco · Phase 1, Interventional, and Other
Cognitive dysfunction, either alone or as an element in the syndrome of delirium, is a common occurrence with an incidence as high as 75% in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and can independently result in serious consequences including higher mortality rate. Delirium develops through a complex interaction between the patient's baseline vulnerability (risk factors) and precipitating factors such as disruption of sleep that may occur during hospitalization. While sedative-hypnotic agents that are used to facilitate hypnosis and the management of mechanically ventilated patients converge on the neural substrate that mediate endogenous sleep, they do so at different juncture points depending on its molecular mechanism of hypnotic action. Hypnotic agents that modulate the GABAA receptor converge at the level of the hypothalamus while α2 adrenergic agonists converge on sleep pathways within the brainstem. This translational project seeks to determine whether sedation mediated by activation of α2 adrenoceptors (dexmedetomidine) is more like natural sleep than that provided by a sedative agent that modulates the GABAA receptor (propofol). The investigators will examine volunteers who will be monitored continuously by electroencephalography (EEG) and whole-brain functional connectivity by magnetoencephalography (MEG) during each of three sleep stages, namely, that induced by dexmedetomidine, propofol, or saline (natural sleep, control). The two drug-induced sleep regimens will be compared to natural sleep using EEG and brain connectivity by MEG
In this proposal the investigators seek to determine whether sedation mediated by activation of α2 adrenoceptors (dexmedetomidine) is more like natural sleep than that provided by a sedative agent that modulates the GABAA receptor (propofol), two common widely used sedative agents in ICU. Ten volunteers will be enrolled and each subject will be studied on three experimental sessions. Subjects will be randomized to receive a continuous infusion of either saline, dexmedetomidine (DEX), or propofol in each of the three sessions. By relying on clinical rating scales, the investigators ensure that the doses of DEX and propofol administered induce equisedative states before progressing to magnetoencephalography and electroencephalography data collection.
If the restorative and reparative benefits of sleep mitigate the development of cognitive dysfunction, this will result in shorter ICU length of stay for critically ill patients with a concomitant reduction in healthcare costs. Furthermore, it is possible that the restorative properties of sleep for the central nervous system can extend to the immune system with less infection and/or greater likelihood of survival from sepsis.
In this manner, our project will translate experimental data towards clinical practice and the adoption of rational and clinically supported interventions in the ICU that are likely to improve not only patient reported outcome measures, but also the chance of surviving critical illness.
Each experimental session will take a maximum of 7 hours (5 hours maximum for control sessions).
Sessions have to be separated by at least one week. Subjects will be enrolled for a minimum of 3 weeks (1 session on each week) and no more than 3 months.
747 studies on the registry are indexed under Sleep Wake Disorders; 182 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 3 is below the median of 66 across 531 interventional studies indexed under Sleep Wake Disorders.
Browse Sleep Wake Disorders studies →University of California, San Francisco is the lead sponsor of 2,169 studies on the registry; 372 are open to participants now.
Of its 267 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 202 (76%) have results posted.
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Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
BMI (body mass index)
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
For this arm, the volunteer subject will receive a saline infusion during the sleep session.
Other: Normal saline infusion
For this arm, the volunteer subject will receive a DEX infusion for sedation during the sleep session.
Drug: Dexmedetomidine
For this arm, the volunteer subject will receive a propofol infusion for sedation during the sleep session.
Drug: Propofol
Normal saline infusion
Infusion of Dexmedetomidine will be administrated during the overnight sleep study. An initial target concentration of 0.25 ng/ml will be selected. After 5 min, the sedative point will be assessed and the concentration will be adjusted stepwise by increments and decrements of 0.05 ng/ml. This process will be repeated until the target sedative state is achieved. Using the Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS) infusion rates, using known pharmacokinetic parameters will be adjusted to achieve equivalent levels of sedation (RASS -3) for both DEX and propofol sessions. We aim to achieve an RASS of -3 so that the subjects are "moderately sedated". This state of sedation will be maintained for 3-4 hours.
Also known as: Precedex, DEX
For propofol, an initial concentration of 0.75 ng/ml will be targeted. Depending on the score achieved, the infusion rate will be increased or decreased every 5 min by 0.2 ng/ml until the target sedative state is achieved. Note that the target sedative state (RASS score of -3) is the same for both DEX and propofol sessions, with the investigator being unaware of which drug is being administered. To ensure the investigator is not aware of the type of drug being administered, all drug delivery systems will be covered. Intravenous drug delivery will be continued throughout the scanning period for 3-4 hours to maintain equivalent levels of sedation for both DEX and propofol.
Also known as: Diprivan
Compare the electroencephalography features of sleep produced by three sleep-induced regimens
The investigators will evaluate the "power" in the delta rhythm range and amount of slow-wave-sleep
Time frame: Data will be collected during patient's sleep, which will last 4hours.
Compare the magnetoencephalography features of sleep produced by three sleep induced regimens
The investigators will evaluate the magnetoencephalography-defined brain connectivity
Time frame: Data will be collected during patient's sleep, which will last 4hours.
Plan to share: No
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This study is terminated, as verified in Jun 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Studies of the drugs tested here: Dexmedetomidine · Propofol
University of California, San Francisco →