What do systematic reviews say?

Non-specific immunotherapy (recombinant interleukin-2 or BCG cell wall preparation) plus standard therapy vs Standard therapy alone (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy)

Non-specific immunotherapy (recombinant interleukin-2 or BCG cell… showed no clear difference in adverse effects compared with standard therapy alone; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  24 to 70 months · Moderate to severe chills (BCG-CWP, all grades)
  RR 11.00 [0.67, 179.29]
  1 study · 24 participants
  GRADE not reported
• Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  24 to 70 months · Nausea/vomiting (rIL-2, grades >=3)
  RR 3.40 [0.15, 77.34]
  1 study · 30 participants
  GRADE not reported
• Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  24 to 70 months · Stomatitis (rIL-2, all grades)
  RR 1.47 [0.75, 2.90]
  1 study · 30 participants
  GRADE not reported

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (erlotinib, gefitinib or lapatinib) plus standard therapy (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy) vs Standard therapy alone (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy)

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (erlotinib, gefitinib or lapatinib) plus… led to higher adverse effects compared with standard therapy alone (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy); GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  40 to 60 months · Skin toxicity (lapatinib, all grades)
  RR 2.02 [1.23, 3.32]
  1 study · 67 participants
  GRADE not reported
• Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  40 to 60 months · Gastrointestinal complaints (gefitinib, all grades)
  RR 1.04 [0.98, 1.11]
  1 study · 226 participants
  GRADE not reported
• Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  40 to 60 months · Gastrointestinal complaints (lapatinib, all grades)
  RR 15.53 [2.18, 110.55]
  1 study · 67 participants
  GRADE not reported

EGFR monoclonal antibody (cetuximab or nimotuzumab) plus standard therapy (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy) vs Standard therapy alone (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy)

• Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  24 to 70 months · Mucositis (all grades)
  Mucositis all grades: not estimable due to high heterogeneity (P=0.0009; I2=86%) between subgroups (cetuximab; nimotuzumab) and within cetuximab (I2=93%); 1417 participants, 3 studies. Table 3, row 1.6 (Ang 2014;…
  3 studies · 1417 participants
  GRADE not reported
• Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  24 to 70 months · Skin toxicity/acneiform rash (cetuximab, all grades)
  RR 6.56 [5.35, 8.03]
  2 studies · 1311 participants
  GRADE not reported
• Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  24 to 70 months · Xerostomia (grades >=3)
  RR 1.36 [0.80, 2.31]
  2 studies · 1311 participants
  GRADE not reported

Sulodexide (heparin plus dermatan sulphate chains) vs prednisone

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Sulodexide was without significant adverse events; one significant adverse event (gastritis) was reported for the prednisone group.
  1 study · 20 participants
  GRADE not reported

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

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

Group B cognitive behavioural therapy: cognitive behavioural therapy + risperidone vs placebo and cognitive and behavioural therapies

It is very uncertain whether group B cognitive behavioural therapy: cognitive behavioural therapy… changes adverse effects: specific ‐ doctors' assessment of adverse effects… compared with cognitive behavioural therapy + placebo (very low certainty).

• Interventions for prodromal stage of psychosis 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.03 [0.55, 1.91]
  1 study · 65 participants
  Very low

Triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% cream with occlusive dressing vs clobetasol cream 0.05% cream

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for chronic palmoplantar pustulosis 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Extraction of the primary (baby) canine (single primary tooth extraction) vs No extraction (non-intervention control)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for promoting the eruption of palatally displaced permanent canine teeth, without the need for surgical… 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Only root resorption was assessed; other adverse effects (gingival disease, demineralisation) were not reported.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Meglumine antimoniate (IMMA) (20 mg/kg/d for 20 days) vs placebo (3 tablets/4 times a day

Meglumine antimoniate (IMMA) (20 mg/kg/d for 20 days) probably leads to higher adverse effects (number of participants who had at least one adverse… compared with placebo (3 tablets/4 times a day (moderate certainty).

• Interventions for American cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.51 [1.17, 1.96]
  1 study · 134 participants
  Moderate

Atypical antipsychotics vs placebo

Atypical antipsychotics may leads to higher adverse effects (AEs) compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Pharmacological intervention for irritability, aggression, and self‐injury in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 4.19
  11 studies · 974 participants
  Low

Calcineurin inhibitors ± oral steroids vs oral steroids alone

Calcineurin inhibitors ± oral steroids may leads to lower adverse effects: acne compared with oral steroids alone (low certainty).

• Interventions for minimal change disease in adults with nephrotic syndrome 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.15 [0.03, 0.67]
  4 studies · 270 participants
  Low

IFN‐α + PUVA vs PUVA

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for mycosis fungoides 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Laxative plus bulking agent vs laxative alone

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for preventing postpartum constipation 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Calcineurin inhibitors ± oral steroids vs oral steroids alone

Calcineurin inhibitors ± oral steroids showed no clear difference in adverse effects: hypertension compared with oral steroids alone (low certainty).

• Interventions for minimal change disease in adults with nephrotic syndrome 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.86 [0.23, 3.2]
  3 studies · 219 participants
  Low

Intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate vs corticosteroid injection

Intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate showed no clear difference in complications (adverse effects) compared with intra-articular injection of corticosteroids (betamethasone); GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for managing temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 1.20 [0.44, 3.30]
  1 study · 40 participants
  GRADE not reported

Calcineurin inhibitors ± oral steroids vs oral steroids alone

Calcineurin inhibitors ± oral steroids showed no clear difference in adverse effects: diabetes or hyperglycaemia compared with oral steroids alone (low certainty).

• Interventions for minimal change disease in adults with nephrotic syndrome 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.48 [0.19, 1.25]
  7 studies · 450 participants
  Low

Calcineurin inhibitors ± oral steroids vs oral steroids alone

Calcineurin inhibitors ± oral steroids may leads to lower adverse effects: obesity or Cushing's Syndrome compared with oral steroids alone (low certainty).

• Interventions for minimal change disease in adults with nephrotic syndrome 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.11 [0.02, 0.59]
  5 studies · 388 participants
  Low

Gentamicin sponge vs primary closure

Gentamicin sponge showed no clear difference in adverse effects ‐ complication rate at 1 week after surgery compared with primary closure alone (moderate certainty).

• Interventions for hidradenitis suppurativa 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.78 [0.58, 1.05]
  1 study · 200 participants
  Moderate

Gentamicin sponge vs primary closure

Gentamicin sponge showed no clear difference in adverse effects ‐ complication rate at 3 months after surgery compared with primary closure alone (moderate certainty).

• Interventions for hidradenitis suppurativa 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.9 [0.5, 1.62]
  1 study · 200 participants
  Moderate