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Cited by 21Alcoholism and Thiamine DeficiencySubstance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesAlcohol Consumption and Health Effects

Gabapentin to treat acute alcohol withdrawal in hospitalized patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Mattle, Anna G., McGrath, Patrick, Sanu, Austin, Kunadharaju, Rajesh, Kersten, Brian, Zammit, Kimberly, Mammen, Manoj J.·2022·Drug and Alcohol Dependence
DOI 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109671
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Abstract

Background Gabapentin is an antiepileptic medication with evidence of benefit in alcohol use disorder patients. The mechanism of action of gabapentin may also benefit patients suffering from acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS).Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to examine if gabapentin can effectively replace/reduce the use of benzodiazepines for the treatment of acute alcohol withdrawal symptoms in hospitalized patients. Time to alcohol withdrawal symptom resolution, amount of benzodiazepines administered, rate of resolution of alcohol withdrawal symptoms, serious withdrawal-related complications, and hospital length of stay (LOS) were examined.Results Eight retrospective studies (n = 2030) were included in this meta-analysis. There were no studies that examined study outcomes for patients who received only gabapentin and no benzodiazepines; in all studies, gabapentin-treated patients may have received benzodiazepines prior to gabapentin. There were no significant differences between gabapentin-treated and benzodiazepine-treated groups in time to symptom resolution, amount benzodiazepines administered, withdrawal-related complications, or LOS. There was a significant difference in the rate of symptom resolution favoring gabapentin-treated patients (p = 0.05); however, this analysis included only one study. Subgroup analyses of severe AWS patients revealed a significant decrease in LOS (p = 0.04) and a decrease in amount of benzodiazepines administered (p = 0.02) in gabapentin-treated patients, but these analyses included only one study. Subgroup analysis of patients receiving only gabapentin without benzodiazepines found a significantly decreased LOS in the gabapentin group compared to the benzodiazepine group (p < 0.001), but this analysis included only two studies.Conclusions There is insufficient evidence to support the widespread use of gabapentin to treat inpatients suffering AWS. All studies included in this meta-analysis are retrospective with high risk of confounding. Well-designed, randomized, controlled studies of gabapentin to treat patients with AWS are required.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109671

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  • In subgroup analyses for severe AWS patients, there was a significant decrease in hospital length of stay and a reduction in benzodiazepine administration in gabapentin-treated patients.

    “Subgroup analyses, particularly for severe AWS patients, indicated a significant decrease in hospital length of stay and a reduction in benzodiazepine administration in gabapentin-treated patients [30].”

    From A Narrative Review of Current and Emerging Trends in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder (2024) · cites this paper as [30]

  • In a meta-analysis of 2030 patients, there were no significant differences in time to symptom resolution, amount of benzodiazepines administered, withdrawal-related complications, or hospital length of stay between gabapentin-treated and benzodiazepine-treated groups, but there was a notable difference in the rate of symptom resolution favoring gabapentin-treated patients.

    “The analysis found no significant differences in time to symptom resolution, the amount of benzodiazepines administered, withdrawal-related complications, or hospital length of stay between gabapentin-treated and benzodiazepine-treated groups. However, there was a notable difference in the rate of symptom resolution favoring gabapentin-treated patients.”

    From A Narrative Review of Current and Emerging Trends in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder (2024) · cites this paper as [30]

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Related

Authors
Mattle, A. G., McGrath, P., Sanu, A., Kunadharaju, R., Kersten, B., Zammit, K., & Mammen, M. J.
Affiliations
  • Kaleida Health (US)
  • New York Institute of Technology (US)
  • University at Buffalo, State University of New York (US)
  • University of Rochester Medicine (US)
ORCID
Venue
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2022-12
Volume
241
Pages
109671
ISSN
0376-8716 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109671
OpenAlex
W4307045945
Cited by
21
References
34
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1
FWCI
0.69
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Drug and Alcohol Dependence (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Alcoholism and Thiamine Deficiency
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
Keywords
gabapentin, hospitalized patients, alcoholism, length of hospital stay, antiepileptic drugs
MeSH terms
Gabapentin, Alcoholism, Benzodiazepines, Humans, Retrospective Studies, Substance Withdrawal Syndrome

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