Recruiting
Phase 2

BCS+Active & BCS+Inactive

Sponsor:

University of Montana

Code:

NCT06960759

Conditions

Chronic Cough (CC)

Refractory Chronic Cough

Unexplained Chronic Cough

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

BCS+inactive

BCS+active

Study Details

Brief summary:

This study is testing new ways to help people who have chronic cough that has not improved with typical treatments. One approach is called behavioral cough suppression (BCS) therapy, which teaches people techniques to stop themselves from coughing. Another approach uses a natural substance thought to help reduce the body's sensitivity to cough triggers.

In this study, we will test two treatments and include one no-treatment control group. The control group will undergo baseline testing, cough monitoring, and an fMRI brain scan and will be offered BCS at end of study participation.

The two treatments include:

  • BCS therapy with active inhaled treatment (BCS+active),
  • BCS therapy with inactive inhaled treatment (BCS+inactive),

The investigators will enroll 135 adults with refractory chronic cough (RCC). 100 participants who qualify and are willing and able to complete 14 study visits in the clinic and two online study visits will be randomly assigned to one of the two treatments. The no-treatment control group (n=35) will be recruited from adults with RCC who are willing to complete baseline testing and fMRI but are not able or willing to attend 14 study clinic visits. These participants will not be randomized.

The investigators want to find out how these treatments affect:

  • How sensitive someone is to things that make them cough,
  • How well they can hold back a cough when they try,
  • How their brain responds to things that cause an urge-to-cough,
  • And how much their coughing affects their quality of life.

The investigators believe both treatments will reduce sensitivity to cough stimulants, reduce cough severity, and improve quality of life, but BCS+active inhaled treatment will work better than BCS+inactive inhaled treatment.

Conditions

Chronic Cough (CC)

Refractory Chronic Cough

Unexplained Chronic Cough

Study ID

NCT06960759

Start date

Aug 13, 2026

Status verified date

Aug, 2026

Completion date

Mar 31, 2030

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Jun 30, 2029

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

INCLUSION CRITERIA

To be eligible to participate, participants must meet the following criteria:

  • 18 - 99 years of age
  • Diagnosis of refractory or unexplained chronic cough
  • Normal chest imaging (x-ray or CT scan) within past 2 years, without change in cough symptoms
  • If you a potential participant has asthma, the following criteria must be met:

  • Asthma diagnosed by a pulmonary provider
  • Documentation from a pulmonary provider that asthma is well-controlled
  • Agree to carry prescribed rescue inhaler to each study visit
  • Can tolerate, and agree to, avoid rescue inhaler use for 4 hours prior to each study visit. If rescue inhaler use is unavoidable within 4 hours of a study visit, agree to inform researchers in advance so that the session can be rescheduled.
  • Normal pulmonary function testing with spirometry (FEV1/FVC of at least 70% if diagnosed with asthma) within 2 years (6 months for those with a diagnosis of asthma), without change in symptoms since (NOTE: spirometry is included as part of cough threshold testing and can serve as this criteria if the participant has not had spirometry within the designated time.)
  • Laryngoscopy or stroboscopy within 2 years without evidence of structural pathology and no change in vocal quality since exam
  • Proficient reader/speaker of English
  • Willing to take a pregnancy test before enrollment (if applicable)
  • Willing to use contraception during the study (if applicable)
  • Access to reliable internet, working email address (for surveys) and a smart phone (for use with CoughMonitor Watch)
  • Demonstrates understanding in study procedures and risks in order to consent
  • Available, and willing, to comply to all study procedures and clinic visits.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

Any of the following will be grounds for exclusion from the study:

  • Currently a smoker of any substance or has a positive history of smoking any substance within the last 6 months
  • Currently suffering from any signs of an upper respiratory infection (other than cough)
  • Hemoptysis (coughing up blood) within the last 6 months
  • Pulmonary diagnosis other than asthma
  • Asthma criteria - participant is deemed ineligible if screened for one or more of the following:

  • Use of rescue inhaler in response to active asthma symptoms ≥ 2 times per week
  • Respiratory related emergency department visit within the past 4 weeks
  • Respiratory related ICU admission within the past 12 months
  • Asthma exacerbation requiring systemic corticosteroid use within the past 4 weeks
  • Pregnant or trying to become pregnant
  • Any complaints or clinical symptoms of dysphagia
  • Live with someone with chronic cough or work with someone with chronic cough who is in close proximity (e.g., within 25 feet) on a daily or nearly daily basis
  • Known allergy to peppers
  • Currently receiving or has received BCS therapy for management of refractory chronic cough
  • Excluded concomitant medications:

  • Inhaled pulmonary medications (inhaled corticosteroids, short-acting beta agonists, long-acting beta-agonist, short-acting muscarinic antagonists), unless prescribed for asthma by pulmonary provider: 30 days prior to Visit 1 through completion of study participation
  • ACE inhibitor (benazepril, captopril, enalapril, fosiniopril, lisinopril, perindopril, quinapril, ramipril, trandolapril): 30 days prior to Visit 1 through completion of study participation.
  • Narcotic antitussive (hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine, codeine, tramadol): 7 days prior to Visit 1 through completion of study participation
  • Non-narcotic antitussive (benzonatate/Tessalon, dextromethorphan/Delsym, carbetapentane/Solotuss): 7 days prior to Visit 1 through completion of study
  • P2X3 receptor antagonist (gefapixant/Lyfnua): 14 days prior to Visit 1 through completion of study
  • Any off-label prescription medication prescribed for cough (pregabalin/Lyrica, gabapentin/Neurontin, amitriptyline/Elavil): 14 days prior to Visit 1 through completion of study \*if a neuromodulator is prescribed for something other than cough, participant must be on a stable dose for a minimum of 7 days

The following additional exclusion criteria will apply to participants who will undergo fMRI:

  • Presence of metal implants, devices or fragments (e.g., shrapnel) in the body
  • Claustrophobia

Study Design

Enrollment

135 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

active comparator: Behavioral treatment plus inactive drug

Participants receive behavioral cough suppression therapy (BCST) combined with an inactive inhaled substance.

experimental: Behavioral treatment plus inhaled drug

Participants receive behavioral cough suppression (BCS) therapy combined with inhaled drug designed to enhance BCS therapy

no intervention: fMRI Control

Participants will undergo assessments without treatment

Interventions

BCS+inactive

Behavioral cough suppression therapy plus inactive inhaled drug. Treatment given twice per week for 12 sessions.

BCS+active

Behavioral cough suppression therapy combined with inhaled natural substance known to desensitize sensory nerves. Treatment given twice per week for 12 sessions.

Primary outcome measure

  • Cough threshold sensory testing (CTT) [ Time Frame: From enrollment to 4 weeks following enrollment ]
  • Cough suppression threshold difference (CS Thresh Diff) [ Time Frame: From enrollment to 4 weeks following enrollment ]
  • Urge-to-Cough Sensory Motor Threshold Difference (UTC S-M Thresh Diff) [ Time Frame: From enrollment to 4 weeks following enrollment ]
  • Blood oxygen level dependent neural responses (BOLD) [ Time Frame: 4 weeks following enrollment BCS+CAP and BCS+Sham participants; enrollment to 1 week post-enrollment for the fMRI control group ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Laurie J Slovarp, PhD

406-243-2107laurie.slovarp@umontana.edu

Marie Jetté, PhD

marie.jette@cuanschutz.edu

Locations

Emory University

Recruiting

Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30322

Contacts

Amanda Gillespie, PhD

404-778-3381amanda.i.gillespie@emory.edu

University of Montana

Recruiting

Missoula, Montana, United States, 59812

Contacts

Laurie J Slovarp, PhD

406-243-2107laurie.slovarp@umontana.edu

More Information

Sponsor

University of Montana

Last update posted

Aug 18, 2026

Last verified

Aug, 2026

Keywords

  • cough hypersensitivity syndrome
  • randomized control trial
  • neurogenic cough
  • refractory chronic cough
  • unexplained chronic cough
  • chronic cough
  • behavioral cough suppression therapy

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-10-02. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of Montana on 2026-08-18. Recruitment status is synced daily from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the sponsor's current status. Confirm during your call.