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7.1 Withdrawn for medical reasons: topiramate	5	873	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	2.06 [0.88, 4.80]
7.2 Withdrawn for medical reasons: valproate	2	87	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.75 [0.10, 5.87]
7.3 Withdrawn for medical reasons: levetiracetam	2	331	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.22 [0.06, 0.85]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]