A Meta-Analysis of Topiramate's Effects for Individuals with Alcohol Use Disorders

Background Influenced by several trials and reviews highlighting positive outcomes, topiramate is increasingly prescribed as a treatment for alcohol use disorders (AUDs). The only previously published meta‐analysis of topiramate for AUDs was limited by a sample of only 3 randomized, placebo‐controlled trials (RCTs). Methods A systematic search identified 7 RCTs (including a total of 1,125 participants) that compared topiramate to placebo for the treatment for AUDs. This meta‐analysis estimated the overall effects of topiramate on abstinence, heavy drinking, craving, and γ‐glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) outcomes and included several sensitivity analyses to account for the small sample of studies. Results Overall, the small to moderate effects favored topiramate, although the effect on craving was not quite significantly different from 0. The largest effect was found on abstinence (g = 0.468, p