What do systematic reviews say?

Levamisole vs cyclophosphamide

Levamisole showed no clear difference in adverse effects: infection compared with cyclophosphamide (low certainty).

• Non‐corticosteroid immunosuppressive medications for steroid‐sensitive nephrotic syndrome in children 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.08 [0.67, 1.75]
  1 study · 40 participants
  Low

Levamisole vs steroids or placebo or both, or no treatment

Levamisole showed no clear difference in adverse effects: leucopenia compared with steroids or placebo or both, or no treatment (low certainty).

• Non‐corticosteroid immunosuppressive medications for steroid‐sensitive nephrotic syndrome in children 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 4.18 [0.72, 24.21]
  3 studies · 214 participants
  Low

Levamisole vs cyclophosphamide

Levamisole showed no clear difference in adverse effects: leucopenia compared with cyclophosphamide (low certainty).

• Non‐corticosteroid immunosuppressive medications for steroid‐sensitive nephrotic syndrome in children 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.25 [0.04, 1.48]
  2 studies · 97 participants
  Low

Levamisole vs steroids or placebo or both, or no treatment

Levamisole showed no clear difference in adverse effects: ANCA positive/arthritis compared with steroids or placebo or both, or no treatment (low certainty).

• Non‐corticosteroid immunosuppressive medications for steroid‐sensitive nephrotic syndrome in children 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 3 [0.13, 71.92]
  1 study · 100 participants
  Low

Levamisole vs cyclophosphamide

It is very uncertain whether levamisole changes adverse effects: abnormal liver function tests compared with cyclophosphamide (very low certainty).

• Non‐corticosteroid immunosuppressive medications for steroid‐sensitive nephrotic syndrome in children 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.33 [0.01, 7.72]
  1 study · 40 participants
  Very low

Levamisole vs placebo

• Interventions for prevention of herpes simplex labialis (cold sores on the lips) 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 99 participants
  Very low

Levamisole 50 mg three times per day for days 1 and 2 vs Levamisole 50 mg three times per day for day 1 and placebo for day 2 (lower dose)

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

  16 weeks
  Two patients in each group reported unwanted effects.
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Levamisole (150 mg per day) vs placebo

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Patients receiving levamisole reported more adverse effects than those receiving placebo (mild stomach upset/nausea, diarrhoea, sleeplessness, dysgeusia/dysosmia), however no adverse effects were reported as requiring…
  8 studies
  GRADE not reported