title: Magnesium for alcohol withdrawal.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients have been given magnesium to treat or prevent alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS). Evidence to support this practice is limited, and is often based on the controversial link between hypomagnesaemia and AWS.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effects of magnesium for the prevention or treatment of AWS in hospitalised adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched the Cochrane Drugs and Alcohol Group Register of Controlled Trials (August 2012), PubMed (from 1966 to August 2012 ), EMBASE (from 1988 to August 2012), CINAHL (from 1982 to March 2010), Web of Science (1965 to August 2012). We also carried out Internet searches.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised or quasi-randomised trials of magnesium for hospitalised adults with, or at risk for, acute alcohol withdrawal.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two review authors independently extracted data with a standardised data extraction form, contacting the correspondence investigator if the necessary information was not available in the reports. Dichotomous outcomes were analysed by calculating the risk ratio (RR) for each trial, with the uncertainty in each result expressed with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Continuous outcomes were to be analysed by calculating the standardised mean difference (SMD) with 95% CI. For outcomes assessed by scales we compared and pooled the mean score differences from the end of treatment to baseline (post minus pre) in the experimental and control groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four trials involving 317 people met the inclusion criteria. Three trials studied oral magnesium, with doses ranging from 12.5 mmol/day to 20 mmol/day. One trial studied parenteral magnesium (16.24 mEq q6h for 24 hours). Each trial demonstrated a high risk of bias in at least one domain. There was significant clinical and methodological variation between trials.We found no study that measured all of the identified primary outcomes and met the objectives of this review. Only one trial measured clinical symptoms of seizure, delirium tremens or components of the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol (CIWA) score. A single outcome (handgrip strength) in three trials (113 people), was amenable to meta-analysis. There was no significant increase in handgrip strength in the magnesium group (SMD 0.04; 95% CI -0.22 to 0.30). No clinically important changes in adverse events were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is insufficient evidence to determine whether magnesium is beneficial or harmful for the treatment or prevention of alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarai
authors.forename: Aaron M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tejani
authors.forename: Alice Hill Wah
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: I Fan
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000430:Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium / Q000188:drug therapy; D020270:Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000009:adverse effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate; D008274:Magnesium