What do systematic reviews say?

Sertraline vs cognitive behavioural therapy

• Antidepressants for people with epilepsy and depression 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 118 participants
  Low

Add‐on felbamate vs placebo

• Felbamate add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant focal epilepsy 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  4 studies · 236 participants
  Very low

Stiripentol vs add‐on placebo

Add‐on stiripentol may leads to higher ≥ 1 adverse effects compared with add‐on placebo (low certainty).

• Stiripentol add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant focal epilepsy 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 2.65 [1.08, 6.47]
  1 study · 32 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

• Eslicarbazepine acetate add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant focal epilepsy 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  Moderate

Sulthiame vs phenytoin

Sulthiame showed no clear difference in all adverse effects compared with phenytoin (low certainty).

• Sulthiame monotherapy for epilepsy 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.05 [0.54, 2.07]
  1 study · 146 participants
  Low

Sulthiame vs placebo

• Sulthiame monotherapy for epilepsy 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 100 participants
  GRADE not reported

Add‐on lamotrigine vs placebo

It is very uncertain whether add‐on lamotrigine changes adverse effects compared with placebo (very low certainty).

• Lamotrigine add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant generalised tonic‐clonic seizures 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.91 [0.29, 2.86]
  2 studies · 270 participants
  Very low

Diazepam gel vs Placebo gel

Diazepam gel showed no clear difference in adverse effects compared with placebo gel (moderate certainty).

• Anticonvulsant therapy for status epilepticus 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.5 [0.94, 2.37]
  2 studies · 165 participants
  Moderate

Summary of findings ‐ Intravenous lorazepam vs intravenous diazepam

• Anticonvulsant therapy for status epilepticus 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 264 participants
  Very low

Summary of findings ‐ Intravenous lorazepam vs intravenous diazepam/intravenous phenytoin combination

Lorazepam IV showed no clear difference in adverse effects compared with diazepam plus phenytoin IV (moderate certainty).

• Anticonvulsant therapy for status epilepticus 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.85 [0.63, 1.15]
  2 studies · 370 participants
  Moderate

Rufinamide vs placebo

Rufinamide probably leads to higher adverse effects: nausea compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

• Rufinamide add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant epilepsy 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.87 [1.33, 2.64]
  3 studies · 1295 participants
  Moderate

Sulthiame vs levetiracetam

Sulthiame showed no clear difference in adverse effects (others) compared with levetiracetam (low certainty).

• Sulthiame monotherapy for epilepsy 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.19 [0.37, 3.85]
  1 study · 43 participants
  Low

Rufinamide vs placebo

Rufinamide probably leads to higher adverse effects: fatigue compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

• Rufinamide add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant epilepsy 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.46 [1.08, 1.97]
  3 studies · 1295 participants
  Moderate

Sulthiame vs levetiracetam

Sulthiame showed no clear difference in adverse effects (cardiac) compared with levetiracetam (low certainty).

• Sulthiame monotherapy for epilepsy 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 2.87 [0.12, 66.75]
  1 study · 43 participants
  Low

Sulthiame vs levetiracetam

Sulthiame may leads to higher adverse effects (airways) compared with levetiracetam (low certainty).

• Sulthiame monotherapy for epilepsy 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 2.67 [1.17, 6.12]
  1 study · 43 participants
  Low

Rufinamide vs placebo

Rufinamide may leads to higher adverse effects: diplopia compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Rufinamide add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant epilepsy 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 4.6 [2.53, 8.38]
  3 studies · 1295 participants
  Low

Rufinamide vs placebo

Rufinamide probably leads to higher adverse effects: headache compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

• Rufinamide add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant epilepsy 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.36 [1.08, 1.69]
  3 studies · 1228 participants
  Moderate

Rufinamide vs placebo

Rufinamide may leads to higher adverse effects: vomiting compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Rufinamide add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant epilepsy 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 2.95 [1.8, 4.82]
  4 studies · 777 participants
  Low

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors vs cognitive behavioural therapy

• Antidepressants for people with epilepsy and depression 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies · 0 participants
  GRADE not reported

Rufinamide vs placebo

Rufinamide probably leads to higher adverse effects: dizziness compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

• Rufinamide add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant epilepsy 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 2.52 [1.9, 3.34]
  3 studies · 1295 participants
  Moderate