What do systematic reviews say?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rufinamide vs placebo

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

• Rufinamide add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant epilepsy 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.94 [1.44, 2.61]
  6 studies · 1759 participants
  Moderate

Sulthiame add‐on vs placebo

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

• Sulthiame add‐on therapy for epilepsy 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 3.4 [0.42, 27.59]
  1 study · 37 participants
  Very low

Stiripentol vs add‐on placebo

Add‐on stiripentol showed no clear difference in neurological 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 [0.88, 8.01]
  1 study · 32 participants
  Low

Topiramate vs placebo

Topiramate probably leads to higher adverse effects ‐ paraesthesia compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

• Topiramate add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant focal epilepsy 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 3.65 [1.58, 8.39]
  7 studies · 1071 participants
  Moderate

Stiripentol vs add‐on placebo

• Stiripentol add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant focal epilepsy 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 32 participants
  GRADE not reported

Topiramate vs placebo

Topiramate may leads to higher adverse effects ‐ weight loss/decrease compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Topiramate add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant focal epilepsy 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 3.99 [1.82, 8.72]
  9 studies · 1070 participants
  Low

Topiramate vs placebo

Topiramate leads to higher adverse effects ‐ 'thinking abnormally' compared with placebo (high certainty).

• Topiramate add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant focal epilepsy 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 5.7 [2.26, 14.38]
  4 studies · 640 participants
  High

IVIg vs placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Intravenous immunoglobulins for epilepsy 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

PUFA vs placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation for drug‐resistant epilepsy 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found