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Pharmacopsychiatry 2019; 52(05): 209-216
DOI: 10.1055/a-0795-3689
Review
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

The Efficacy of Tiapride and Carbamazepine Combination Therapy in Reducing Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Sahar Latifi
1   Resident of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Danuvius Klinik GmbH, Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, Technischen Universität München, Bavaria, Germany
,
Thomas Messer
2   Head of Department, Professor of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Danuvius Klinik GmbH, Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, Technischen Universität München, Bavaria, Germany
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

received 24 June 2018
revised 06 November 2018

accepted 08 November 2018

Publication Date:
06 December 2018 (online)

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Abstract

The combination of tiapride (TIA) and carbamazepine (CBZ) as an alternative treatment option to benzodiazepines and clomethiazole has been investigated by several investigations. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to further explore the efficacy of this combination in order to render more definite answers whether this combination can be recommendable in the clinical practice. We systematically searched electronic databases including PubMed (MEDLINE), EMBASE, OVID, Cochrane, Google Scholar, and Scopus for human studies. Statistical homogeneity was checked by χ2 test and I2 using Cochran heterogeneity statistic. Our analysis showed a significant efficacy of the combination of TIA and CBZ in reducing alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) (p<0.0001, z-value: 4.07). The cumulative analysis illustrated that the favorable efficacy of this combination therapy has been consistent over time. Our study shows that the combination of TIA/CBZ is an effective treatment in management of AWS in patients with alcohol abstinence. However, the safety of this combination could not be proven, so we recommend its prescription after an informed consent.

Key words

tiapride - carbamazepine - systematic review - alcoholism - withdrawal symptoms
 

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