Skip to main content
. 2014 Feb 13;2014(2):CD008544. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008544.pub2

Comparison 3. Anticonvulsants versus placebo according to length of trial.

Outcome or subgroup title No. of studies No. of participants Statistical method Effect size
1 Dropouts 16   Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
1.1 Up to six weeks 4 198 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.67 [0.37, 1.19]
1.2 Over six weeks 12 1477 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.99 [0.76, 1.29]
2 Heavy drinking, dichotomous outcome: over six weeks 4 309 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.94 [0.67, 1.32]
3 Alcohol use, continuous outcome: drinks/drinking day 11   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
3.1 Up to six weeks 3 155 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐2.14 [‐4.21, ‐0.06]
3.2 Over six weeks 8 971 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐1.44 [‐2.46, ‐0.42]
4 Alcohol use, continuous outcome: heavy drinking 12   Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
4.1 Up to six weeks 4 211 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.45 [‐0.73, ‐0.17]
4.2 Over six weeks 8 918 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.32 [‐0.53, ‐0.10]
5 Continuous abstinence, dichotomous outcome 8   Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
5.1 Up to six weeks 3 141 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 1.23 [0.65, 2.32]
5.2 Over six weeks 5 493 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 1.19 [0.92, 1.54]
6 Abstinence, continuous outcome 8   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
6.1 Days abstinent (%): up to six weeks 3 107 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 5.82 [‐6.87, 18.51]
6.2 Days abstinent (%): over six weeks 5 707 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 9.98 [0.95, 19.01]
7 Adverse events 11   Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
7.1 Withdrawn for medical reasons: up to six weeks 1 57 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.22 [0.04, 1.41]
7.2 Withdrawn for medical reasons: over six weeks 10 1332 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 1.52 [0.72, 3.20]