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Ethanol, a clear colorless alcohol, has been consumed by humans for millennia, but its effects on the body are far from benign. At lower doses, it induces decreased inhibitions and loquaciousness, leading to its social appeal. However, it can cause severe consequences at higher doses, such as coma and respiratory depression, due to its zero-order elimination kinetics. Chronic ethanol abuse wreaks havoc on multiple organ systems, particularly the CNS and the liver. Abrupt cessation of ethanol...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder

Published on: June 23, 2023

Baclofen for alcohol withdrawal.

Jia Liu¹, Luning Wang

¹Department of Geriatric Neurology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China, 100853.

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

|January 21, 2011

Summary

Baclofen may help reduce symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) cost-effectively. However, current evidence is insufficient to recommend baclofen for AWS treatment due to limited high-quality studies.

Area of Science:

Pharmacology
Clinical Medicine
Addiction Research

Background:

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) presents significant clinical challenges.
Baclofen is explored as a potential treatment for AWS due to its safety profile and cost-effectiveness.
Previous observations suggest baclofen may rapidly reduce AWS symptoms without inducing euphoria or craving.

Purpose of the Study:

To systematically assess the efficacy and safety of baclofen in managing alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS).

Main Methods:

Comprehensive literature search of multiple databases (Cochrane, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL) and trial registers up to September 2010.
Inclusion criteria focused on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing baclofen to placebo or other treatments for AWS.
Independent review of studies, with author contact for additional data and adverse event collection.

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Main Results:

An initial search yielded 82 references, with full papers of 7 studies assessed.
Only one randomized controlled trial, involving 37 participants, met the inclusion criteria.
The limited number of eligible studies restricts definitive conclusions.

Conclusions:

The current body of evidence is insufficient to support the recommendation of baclofen for treating alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS).
Further well-designed randomized controlled trials are necessary to establish the efficacy and safety of baclofen for AWS.