Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40347309›Full record

SynthesisCNS drugs2025

Optimal Dose of Baclofen for the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-analysis.

Kazumasa Kotake, Ryuhei So, Nozomu Hashimoto, Eriya Imai, Takao Kaneko, Masahiro Banno, Yuki Furukawa

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in CNS drugs, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Kazumasa KotakeDepartment of Pharmacy, Zikei Hospital/Zikei Institute of Psychiatry, 100-2 Urayasu Honmachi, Minami-Ku, Okayama-shi, Okayama, 702-8508, Japan. kottanketty@gmail.com.ORCID 0000-0001-9869-1177
Ryuhei SoScientific Research WorkS Peer Support Group (SRWS-PSG), Osaka, Japan.ORCID 0000-0002-9838-350X
Nozomu HashimotoDepartment of Psychiatry, Okayama Psychiatric Medical Center, Okayama, Japan.ORCID 0000-0003-4605-2378
Eriya ImaiScientific Research WorkS Peer Support Group (SRWS-PSG), Osaka, Japan.ORCID 0000-0002-4511-4672
Takao KanekoScientific Research WorkS Peer Support Group (SRWS-PSG), Osaka, Japan.ORCID 0000-0002-9510-013X
Masahiro BannoScientific Research WorkS Peer Support Group (SRWS-PSG), Osaka, Japan.ORCID 0000-0002-2539-1031
Yuki FurukawaScientific Research WorkS Peer Support Group (SRWS-PSG), Osaka, Japan.ORCID 0000-0003-1317-0220

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesBaclofen, a traditional treatment for spasticity, is gaining interest for its use in alcohol use disorder (AUD). To assist clinicians in using baclofen for effective and safe treatment of AUD, we investigated the optimal target dosage of baclofen through a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis.

methodsWe searched Cochrane, EMBASE, MEDLINE via PubMed, PsycINFO, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform for randomized controlled trials on 1 and 2 April 2024. Inclusion criteria were patients aged ≥ 18 years diagnosed with AUD according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-IV, DSM-IV-TR, or International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10, and treated with baclofen monotherapy. Continuous outcomes-percent days abstinent, drinks per drinking day, heavy drinking days (HDDs), craving, and anxiety-were analyzed as mean or standardized mean differences. Binary outcomes-relapse and dropout, including due to adverse events-were analyzed as odds ratios. Each outcome was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool. A one-stage random-effects dose-response meta-analysis was performed using restricted cubic splines with fixed knots at 10%, 50%, and 90% percentiles.

resultsA total of 14 trials (1344 patients) were included. Increasing the dose of baclofen up to 50-60 mg/day was associated with a higher percent days abstinent and reduced craving. However, a higher baclofen dose increases the risk of dropout due to adverse events. Commonly observed adverse events were drowsiness, sedation, somnolence and fatigue. Baclofen up to 50-60 mg/day did not significantly affect drinks per drinking day, HDDs, anxiety, relapse or dropout. Doses > 60 mg/day lacked reliable evaluation due to limited data and study heterogeneity.

conclusionsBaclofen up to 50-60 mg/day may increase percent days abstinent and reduce craving, but may increase dropout due to adverse events. Clinicians should carefully consider individual patient factors when prescribing baclofen to patients with AUD.

Indexed as

AlcoholismBaclofenGABA-B Receptor AgonistsDose-Response Relationship, DrugHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeBaclofenGABA-B Receptor Agonists

Identifiers

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.