Background Clinical trials showed that gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) both prevents and suppress withdrawal symptoms, and improves the medium-term abstinence rate. Methods. Randomized and quasi-Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT), and Controlled Clinical Trials (CCT) were evaluated for inclusion in the review. A specific search strategy was elaborated, and applied on biomedical databases. The authors of included and excluded studies, and pharmaceutical companies were contacted to identify other studies. Two authors separately scanned abstracts and reports for inclusion, assessed their quality, and abstracted data. Results. Twelve RCTs studies were included. Ten studies were conducted in Italy, one in Germany, and one in Austria. Six studies evaluated the effectiveness of GHB in reducing the withdrawal syndrome, and six in maintaining abstinence at mid-term. According to the quality assessment, four studies were judged as of high quality, six of moderate quality, and two of low quality. GHB is more effective than placebo on withdrawal syndrome, whilst no difference is shown in the comparison both versus diazepam and clomethiazole. GHB seems more effective than placebo in increasing the average stay in program, the controlled drinking rate, and in reducing the relapses and the craving score. In the comparison of GHB vs NTX, some difference emerge in abstinence rate and craving score (both favour GHB). In the comparison among GHB and disulfiram some difference emerge in the abstinence rate craving score (both favour GHB).
Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) in the treatment of alcohol-dependence: a Cochrane review
VIGNA-TAGLIANTI, Federica;
2008-01-01
Abstract
Background Clinical trials showed that gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) both prevents and suppress withdrawal symptoms, and improves the medium-term abstinence rate. Methods. Randomized and quasi-Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT), and Controlled Clinical Trials (CCT) were evaluated for inclusion in the review. A specific search strategy was elaborated, and applied on biomedical databases. The authors of included and excluded studies, and pharmaceutical companies were contacted to identify other studies. Two authors separately scanned abstracts and reports for inclusion, assessed their quality, and abstracted data. Results. Twelve RCTs studies were included. Ten studies were conducted in Italy, one in Germany, and one in Austria. Six studies evaluated the effectiveness of GHB in reducing the withdrawal syndrome, and six in maintaining abstinence at mid-term. According to the quality assessment, four studies were judged as of high quality, six of moderate quality, and two of low quality. GHB is more effective than placebo on withdrawal syndrome, whilst no difference is shown in the comparison both versus diazepam and clomethiazole. GHB seems more effective than placebo in increasing the average stay in program, the controlled drinking rate, and in reducing the relapses and the craving score. In the comparison of GHB vs NTX, some difference emerge in abstinence rate and craving score (both favour GHB). In the comparison among GHB and disulfiram some difference emerge in the abstinence rate craving score (both favour GHB).
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