What do systematic reviews say?

Clofazimine (100 mg daily for 30 days, then 100 mg every other day) vs placebo

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  6 months
  Clofazimine was associated with an increase in cutaneous adverse effects (skin pigmentation and drying) (Fisher's exact test P=0.015), but these were reported to be easily controlled.
  1 study · 43 participants
  GRADE not reported

Perilla cooking oil vs Soybean cooking oil

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  8 months
  No adverse events were reported.
  1 study · 33 participants
  GRADE not reported

Pentoxifylline vs placebo

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  60 days (plus 60-day follow-up)
  Patients receiving pentoxifylline reported more adverse events than those in the placebo group but this was not statistically significant (69% reported adverse effects: dizziness, headaches, stomach upset, increased…
  1 study · 26 participants
  GRADE not reported

Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 2.5% to 5.25% vs Chlorhexidine, 0.2% to 2% (solution or gel)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies
  No studies found

Colchicine (0.5 mg per day for 3 months) vs prednisolone

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 months
  Colchicine was associated with statistically significantly more adverse effects than prednisolone (nine participants reporting adverse effects on colchicine versus two on prednisolone).
  1 study · 34 participants
  GRADE not reported

Tetracycline suspension (250 mg, held in mouth 2 minutes then swallowed, four times daily for 5 days) vs placebo

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  5 days per outbreak
  Adverse event rates were comparable between groups.
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Sodium hypochlorite 5.25% vs Normal saline

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies
  No studies found

Colchicine (0.5 mg three times per day) vs placebo

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  6 months
  There was a greater percentage of treatment interruptions in the colchicine group due to gastrointestinal adverse effects (Fisher's exact test P=0.009). The review noted potential evidence of harm at a dose of 1.5 mg…
  1 study · 43 participants
  GRADE not reported

Camel thorn (plant distillate) vs placebo

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  up to 14 days
  No evidence of drug side effects was observed.
  1 study · 93 participants
  GRADE not reported

LongoVital (herbal plus vitamin component) vs LongoVital (herbal component alone)

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 months
  Reported adverse events were minor and evenly distributed between the groups (Kolseth 2005).
  1 study · 40 participants
  GRADE not reported

Prednisone (oral, commencing 25 mg with phased dose reduction over 2 months) vs Montelukast (leukotriene receptor antagonist)

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  2 months
  The study reported more drug-related adverse effects for those treated with prednisone than montelukast.
  1 study · 40 participants
  GRADE not reported

LongoVital (herbal component alone) vs placebo

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Reported adverse events were minor and evenly distributed between the groups (Kolseth 2005). 'Very few and mostly harmless side-effects' were observed (Bratel 2005).
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Home‐based child development interventions for preschool children from socially disadvantaged families 2011 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies · 0 participants
  GRADE not reported

Corticosteroids vs placebo

• Corticosteroids for the treatment of idiopathic acute vestibular dysfunction (vestibular neuritis) 2011 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 73 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

• Balance training (proprioceptive training) for patients with rheumatoid arthritis 2010 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies · 0 participants
  GRADE not reported

Any denture cleansing method (mechanical or chemical) vs Another therapy, placebo, or no treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for cleaning dentures in adults 2009 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Noticeable absence of reports about adverse effects; no included study assessed the extent of adverse effects (for example the aftertaste of sodium hypochlorite, or mechanical or chemical damage to denture materials)…
  0 studies
  No studies found

Prophylactic valaciclovir (lower dose) vs Prophylactic valaciclovir (higher dose)

• Interventions for the prevention and treatment of herpes simplex virus in patients being treated for cancer 2009 · Cochrane All outcomes
  One study reported adverse effects (Warkentin 2002). Twenty patients allocated to receive high dose valaciclovir reported adverse effects (42%); for the low dose group this number was 27 (52%). Adverse effects were…
  1 study · 100 participants
  GRADE not reported

Aciclovir (oral or intravenous) for treatment vs placebo

• Interventions for the prevention and treatment of herpes simplex virus in patients being treated for cancer 2009 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Adverse effects were assessed in both studies. For intravenous aciclovir the most commonly reported adverse effect was a reaction at the injection site (8 (16%) aciclovir versus 3 (7%) placebo; all patients, n = 97);…
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

Prophylactic aciclovir (oral or intravenous) vs placebo

• Interventions for the prevention and treatment of herpes simplex virus in patients being treated for cancer 2009 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Adverse effects were reported in nine trials. Diagnosis was by evaluation of clinical signs and symptoms (e.g. rash, neurological impairment) and by laboratory tests including renal and hepatic function. None of the…
  9 studies
  GRADE not reported

Systemic oral acyclovir vs placebo or no treatment

• Acyclovir for treating primary herpetic gingivostomatitis 2008 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Amir 1997b: two children in each group (2 vs 2) had mild gastrointestinal symptoms that resolved spontaneously after 24 to 48 hours without a change in study treatment. Ducoulombier 1988: no significant adverse effects…
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported