Do α2-Adrenergic Agonists Decrease the Symptoms Associated With Opioid Withdrawal?

Study Selection

This systematic review included randomized controlled clinical trials that compared the administration of an α2-adernergic agonist with other interventions such as placebo or methadone to reduce symptoms of opioid withdrawal. Outcomes included withdrawal signs and symptoms, adverse effects, or treatment course completion. Four review authors developed a set of inclusion and exclusion criteria by which studies were chosen. One review author assessed potential studies according to this list; however, all 4 authors confirmed these decisions.

Data Extraction and Synthesis

One author extracted data with a standardized data extraction form, with assistance from other review authors when there was uncertainty. Outcomes of interest were recorded on the form and key findings were summarized descriptively and then considered for quantitative meta-analysis. Risk of bias was assessed with the approach recommended by the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Risk ratios were calculated for dichotomous data, whereas standardized mean differences were calculated for continuous data. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed with the χ2 test, visual inspection of forest plots, and the I2 statistic. A random-effects model was used to combine results for all analyses.