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. 2014 Feb 13;2014(2):CD008544. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008544.pub2

Comparison 2. Specific anticonvulsants versus placebo.

Outcome or subgroup title No. of studies No. of participants Statistical method Effect size
1 Dropouts 14   Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
1.1 Topiramate 6 979 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.91 [0.65, 1.28]
1.2 Gabapentin 4 169 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.62 [0.33, 1.16]
1.3 Valproate 3 126 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.83 [0.59, 1.17]
1.4 Levetiracetam 2 331 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.94 [0.29, 3.04]
2 Heavy drinking, dichotomous outcome: valproate 2 81 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.64 [0.42, 0.98]
3 Alcohol use, continuous outcome: drinks/drinking day 10   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
3.1 Topiramate 5 760 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐1.55 [‐2.56, ‐0.53]
3.2 Gabapentin 3 155 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐2.14 [‐4.21, ‐0.06]
3.3 Valproate 2 81 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐2.55 [‐4.96, ‐0.14]
4 Alcohol use, continuous outcome: heavy drinking 10   Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
4.1 Topiramate 5 696 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.44 [‐0.69, ‐0.20]
4.2 Gabapentin 4 183 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.45 [‐0.75, ‐0.15]
4.3 Valproate 2 80 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.39 [‐0.84, 0.06]
5 Abstinence, continuous outcome 8   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
5.1 Time to first relapse (weeks): valproate 2 80 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 1.45 [‐2.46, 5.36]
5.2 Days abstinent (%): topiramate 3 537 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 15.51 [4.55, 26.47]
5.3 Days abstinent (%): gabapentin 3 107 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 5.82 [‐6.87, 18.51]
6 Continuous abstinence, dichotomous outcome 4   Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
6.1 Gabapentin 2 81 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 1.12 [0.30, 4.24]
6.2 Levetiracetam 2 331 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.97 [0.68, 1.38]
7 Adverse events 9   Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
7.1 Withdrawn for medical reasons: topiramate 5 873 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 2.06 [0.88, 4.80]
7.2 Withdrawn for medical reasons: valproate 2 87 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.75 [0.10, 5.87]
7.3 Withdrawn for medical reasons: levetiracetam 2 331 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.22 [0.06, 0.85]
8 Craving (OCDS total score or analogue scale) 6   Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
8.1 Topiramate 3 425 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.39 [‐0.82, 0.04]
8.2 Gabapentin 2 71 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.33 [‐0.81, 0.16]
8.3 Valproate 2 57 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.21 [‐0.90, 0.48]
9 Liver enzyme levels 4   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
9.1 GGT: Gabapentin 3 84 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐4.75 [‐25.36, 15.87]
9.2 GGT: Valproate 2 80 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.68 [‐48.11, 49.47]