The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether guanfacine or cromolyn sodium can improve symptoms and physical functioning in adults with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). Both medications are FDA-approved for other conditions but are investigational for the treatment of POTS.
The main questions this study aims to answer are:
Does treatment with guanfacine or cromolyn sodium improve physical functioning in adults with POTS compared with placebo? Does treatment with guanfacine or cromolyn sodium improve fatigue, cognitive function ("brain fog"), gastrointestinal symptoms, and overall symptom burden in adults with POTS?
Researchers will compare guanfacine, cromolyn sodium, and placebo to determine whether either active treatment provides greater improvement in symptoms and physical functioning than placebo.
Participants will:
Be randomly assigned to receive guanfacine, cromolyn sodium, and placebo during separate 4-week treatment periods in a randomized, double-blind crossover study.
Continue standard non-drug POTS management, including recommendations for fluid and salt intake, exercise, compression garments, and other lifestyle measures.
Complete questionnaires that measure physical function, fatigue, cognitive symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, and overall health throughout the study.
Attend scheduled study visits for safety monitoring and assessment of study outcomes.
Provide blood, urine, and sputum samples so researchers can evaluate biomarkers related to POTS and better understand how these treatments may work.
a heart rate increase of ≥30 bpm within the first 10 minutes of standing or tilt-table testing, without orthostatic hypotension (systolic BP drop ≥20 mmHg)
Frequent symptoms of orthostatic intolerance (e.g., dizziness, palpitations, GI complaints) persisting ≥3 months
Symptom onset within 3 months of a recognized POTS trigger (e.g., infection, vaccination, injury, surgery, pregnancy, or puberty)
Symptomatic response to mediator-targeting medications (e.g., antihistamines, mast cell stabilizers) - also eligible
Anemia,
Active infection,
Dehydration,
Hyperthyroidism,
Johns Hopkins University
Lead sponsor
Dysautonomia International
Collaborator