SynthesisThe Cochrane database of systematic reviews2013
Baclofen for alcohol withdrawal.
Synthesis in The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 21 citations in OpenAlex.
- Baclofen for alcohol withdrawal.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2019Pooled it
- Baclofen for alcohol withdrawal.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2017Pooled it
- Ultrasonography for diagnosis of alcoholic cirrhosis in people with alcoholic liver disease.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2016Pooled it
- Cost-effectiveness analysis of baclofen and chlordiazepoxide in uncomplicated alcohol-withdrawal syndrome.Indian journal of pharmacologyTrial
- Orexin/hypocretin based pharmacotherapies for the treatment of addiction: DORA or SORA?CNS drugs · 2014Review
- The management of alcohol use disorders: the impact of pharmacologic, affective, behavioral, and cognitive approaches.The primary care companion for CNS disorders · 2014Article
Corrections and comments
- Updated by
- Update of
Authors and funding
2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe treatment baclofen can rapidly reduce symptoms of severe alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) in alcoholic patients, with a significant reduction in the cost. Baclofen is easy to manage, and rare euphoria, craving and other pleasant effects are reported by patients treated with baclofen.
objectivesTo assess the efficacy and safety of baclofen for patients with AWS. SEARCH
methodsWe searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in The Cochrane Library (October 2012), MEDLINE (1966 to October 2012), EMBASE (1980 to October 2012) and CINAHL (1982 to October 2012). We also searched registers of ongoing trials, for example ClinicalTrials.gov, Controlled-trials.com, EUDRACT, etc. At the same time, we handsearched the references quoted in the identified trials, and contacted researchers, pharmaceutical companies and relevant trial authors seeking information about unpublished or uncompleted trials. All searches included the non-English language literature. SELECTION CRITERIA: All randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating baclofen versus placebo or any other treatment for patients with AWS. Uncontrolled, non-randomized or quasi-randomized trials were excluded. Both parallel group and cross-over design were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently assessed references retrieved for possible inclusion. All disagreements were resolved by an independent party. Study authors were contacted for additional information. Adverse effects information was collected from the trials. MAIN
resultsWe identified a total of 113 references from all electronic databases searched excluding duplicates. After screening of titles and abstracts, full papers of 10 studies were obtained and assessed for eligibility. Finally, two RCTs with 81 participants were eligible according to the inclusion criteria. Regarding the efficacy, one study suggested that both baclofen and diazepam significantly decreased the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment of Alcohol Scale Revised (CIWA-Ar) score, without any significant difference between the two interventions. The other study showed no significant difference in CIWA-Ar score between baclofen and placebo but a significantly decreased dependence on high-dose benzodiazepines with baclofen compared to placebo. Meanwhile, only one study reported the safety outcomes and there were no side effects in either the baclofen or diazepam groups. AUTHORS'
conclusionsThe evidence for recommending baclofen for AWS is insufficient. More well designed RCTs are needed to prove its efficacy and safety.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.