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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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