Contemplating a trial? How to select a study.

There are several key factors to consider when selecting a study:

Your ability to comply with the study requirements. This will involve understanding how long the study is, how often you will be expected to go to the clinic, and other directions the study coordinator will review with you before you sign up.

The criteria the study has for participation. You may not be a fit for all studies for your condition. Review the high-level inclusion and exclusion criteria to see if you match what the study is looking for, like specific symptoms and length of diagnosis.

How the drug is administered. Study details will include how the treatment is administered (e.g., a pill or IV). Keep in mind how well you tolerate that type of treatment when deciding whether to sign up for a study.

The different treatment arms. Treatment arms in a study refer to different treatment groups assigned to different dosages of a medication or, in some cases, a placebo. Placebos are a sugar pill administered just like the real treatment, but without active ingredients.

Whether the trial includes an open label extension. Some trials include an open label extension, which gives trial participants access to the treatment after the trial without cost. For participants that respond well to the treatment, that can mean many months of access to an effective solution.