Effects of Octanoic Acid for Treatment of Essential Voice Tremor



Status:Completed
Healthy:No
Age Range:21 - Any
Updated:8/22/2018
Start Date:July 2013
End Date:March 31, 2017

Use our guide to learn which trials are right for you!

Essential voice tremor is a neurological condition that produces a regular, shaking quality
in the voice. One form of drug treatment that produces some improvement in tremor of the
hands is octanoic acid, which is a food additive that is similar to alcohol. Research
suggests that octanoic acid may reduce tremor in the hands/arms with few side effects and no
intoxication effects. This study will determine whether octanoic acid may be useful for
reducing tremor when it affects the voice. Researchers are hypothesizing that octanoic acid
will reduce the effects of tremor on the voice.

Background:

- Essential tremor of the voice produces regular shaking and hoarseness in the voice,
making it difficult speech difficult to understand

- Several previous studies have found that octanoic acid and octanol, which are related to
alcohol, can improve tremor in some people without producing many side effects and
without producing intoxication

- Researchers are interested in determining whether octanoic acid can improve tremor that
affects the voice

Objectives:

- To determine the effects of octanoic voice using voice recordings and listener ratings
of voice

- To determine the effects of octanoic acid on level of voice disability experienced by
people with essential voice tremor

Inclusion Criteria:

- Participants have a diagnosis of essential voice tremor and show signs of tremor
during the endoscopy examination (when pictures of the voice box are obtained)during
screening appointment

- Participants show measurable voice tremor from recordings of the voice during
screening appointment

Exclusion Criteria:

- Participants have a diagnosis or show signs of Parkinson's Disease or another
non-essential tremor movement disorder

- Participants have a diagnosis or show signs of spasmodic dysphonia (a different
neurological voice disorder)

- Participants have a diagnosis of a severe, non-stable medical condition, such as
kidney or liver failure, severe heart disease, severe lung disease, severe metabolic
disease, uncontrolled hyperthyroidism, or other life-threatening disease such as
active cancer

- Participants have a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus

- Participants are unable to suspend/stop a medication that they are currently taking
for tremor or voice disorder for 12 weeks to complete this study

- Participants have a dependence on alcohol or allergy to alcohol

- Participants are pregnant or lactating

- Participants have an allergy to soy

- Participants have Irritable Bowel Syndrome
We found this trial at
1
site
Syracuse, New York 13210
Phone: 315-443-9648
?
mi
from
Syracuse, NY
Click here to add this to my saved trials