Effect of Rose Odor Exposure on Ictal Apnea

Launched by VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · Aug 6, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring whether the scent of roses can help reduce breathing problems that sometimes happen during seizures in people with epilepsy, which might lower the risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). Participants will stay in the hospital’s epilepsy monitoring unit for two days. For the first 24 hours, they will have their brain activity and breathing monitored as usual. During the next 24 hours, they will continue to be monitored while a diffuser fills the room with rose scent. Throughout the entire 48 hours, participants will wear a belt around their chest to measure their breathing.

This study is open to adults with epilepsy who are already staying in the hospital for routine monitoring of their seizures and who will be monitored without changes to their seizure medications for at least 48 hours. While taking part, patients can continue their usual hospital activities but will need to wear the breathing belt most of the time. Some people might feel uncomfortable or have a reaction to the rose scent, and wearing the monitoring belt might feel a little restrictive, but the study is designed to be as easy and safe as possible.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Adult epilepsy patients over the age of 18
• • Admission to the inpatient epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC)
• • Undergoing observational EEG monitoring without treatment involving seizure medication changes or other interventions for at least 48 hours
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Patients under the age of 18
• • Patients receiving EEG monitoring without interventions from baseline for less than 48 hours
• • Patients who are not receiving EEG monitoring as a part of their inpatient admission.