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Placebo pill
A placebo pill produces therapeutic effects through the patient's psychological expectation and belief in treatment, rather than through any active pharmacological mechanism.
A placebo pill produces therapeutic effects through the patient's psychological expectation and belief in treatment, rather than through any active pharmacological mechanism. Used for Research tool for clinical trials and placebo-controlled studies, Demonstration of placebo effect in educational and research settings.
At a glance
| Generic name | Placebo pill |
|---|---|
| Also known as | soybean oil placebo capsules, inactive substance, Placebo Oral Pill, methylcellulose (sugar pill), sugar pill |
| Sponsor | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Placebo effects arise from complex neurobiological processes including expectation, conditioning, and the activation of endogenous pain-relief and reward systems. The placebo pill itself contains no active pharmaceutical ingredient; its therapeutic benefit depends entirely on the patient's perception and the clinical context in which it is administered. Placebo effects are well-documented in clinical research and can produce measurable improvements in subjective symptoms, particularly pain, nausea, and fatigue.
Approved indications
- Research tool for clinical trials and placebo-controlled studies
- Demonstration of placebo effect in educational and research settings
Common side effects
- Nocebo effect (adverse events due to negative expectation)
Key clinical trials
- Autonomic Determinants of POTS - Pilot1 (EARLY_PHASE1)
- Diclofenac as a KMO Inhibitor (EARLY_PHASE1)
- Autonomic Determinants of POTS - Pilot 2 (EARLY_PHASE1)
- Curcumin to Improve Inflammation and Symptoms in Patients With Clonal Cytopenia of Undetermined Significance, Low Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome, and Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (PHASE2)
- Pharmacological and Behavioral Treatment After Bariatric Surgery: Acute (Stage 1) (PHASE2, PHASE3)
- Defining Neurobiological Links Between Substance Use and Mental Illness (NA)
- Dronabinol in Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) (PHASE4)
- Acute Vitamin D Supplementation on Testosterone in Females (NA)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |