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Meta-Analysis
. 2019 Jun;34(6):1018-1024.
doi: 10.1007/s11606-019-04899-7. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

Symptom-Triggered Therapy for Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Jürgen L Holleck  1   2 , Naseema Merchant  3   4 , Craig G Gunderson  3   4
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Symptom-Triggered Therapy for Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Jürgen L Holleck et al. J Gen Intern Med. 2019 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Benzodiazepines are the standard medication class for treating alcohol withdrawal. Guidelines recommend dosing based on objectively measured symptoms (symptom-triggered therapy) rather than fixed dose regimens. However, the superiority of symptom-triggered therapy has been questioned, and concerns have been raised about its inappropriate use and safety. We aimed to assess whether symptom-triggered therapy is superior to fixed dose schedules in terms of mortality, delirium, seizures, total benzodiazepine dose, and duration of therapy.

Methods: A systematic literature search using Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Registry through February 2018 was conducted for randomized controlled trials of patients with alcohol withdrawal syndrome comparing fixed dose benzodiazepine schedules to symptom-triggered therapy. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Outcomes were pooled using random effects meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was estimated using the I2 statistic. Strength of evidence was assessed using methods outlined by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Results: Six studies involving 664 patients were included. There were no deaths and only one seizure in each group. Four studies reported delirium, which occurred in 4 out of 164 patients randomized to symptom-triggered therapy compared to 6 out of 164 randomized to fixed dose therapy (odds ratio, 0.64 [95% CI, 0.17-2.47]). Three studies reported duration of therapy, which was 60.4 h less with symptom-triggered therapy (95% CI, 39.7-81.1 h; p < 0.001). Six studies reported total benzodiazepine dosage, which was 10.5 mg in lorazepam-equivalent dosing less with symptom-triggered therapy (95% CI, 7.1-13.9 mg; p = 0.011).

Discussion: Moderate strength evidence suggests that symptom-triggered therapy improved duration of therapy and total benzodiazepine dose in specialized detoxification settings of low-risk patients but the applicability of this evidence in general hospital settings is low. There was insufficient evidence for any conclusions about symptom-triggered therapy for the major outcomes of mortality, seizure, and delirium in any setting.

Prospero registration: CRD42017073426.

Keywords: alcohol withdrawal delirium; benzodiazepines; evidence-based medicine; meta-analysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they do not have a conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study flow diagram of literature search.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Difference in duration of treatment in hours.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Difference in mean total benzodiazepine dose (mg lorazepam): symptom-triggered therapy (STT) vs fixed dose therapy (FDT).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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