What do systematic reviews say?

Finasteride vs placebo

Finasteride showed no clear difference in adverse events compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Interventions for female pattern hair loss 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.03 [0.45, 2.34]
  1 study · 137 participants
  Low

Low‐level laser comb vs Placebo (sham/placebo device)

• Interventions for female pattern hair loss 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 141 participants
  Low

Minoxidil vs placebo

Minoxidil showed no clear difference in adverse events compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Interventions for female pattern hair loss 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.24 [0.82, 1.87]
  4 studies · 727 participants
  Low

Rosuvastatin vs placebo

• Pharmacological interventions for treating heart failure in patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 39 participants
  GRADE not reported

Carvedilol vs placebo

It is very uncertain whether carvedilol changes adverse events compared with placebo (very low certainty).

• Pharmacological interventions for treating heart failure in patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.92 [0.67, 1.27]
  1 study · 30 participants
  Very low

Intervention not reported

• Interventions to optimise prescribing for older people in care homes 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 1228 participants
  Low

Systemic oral acyclovir vs placebo

• Interventions for men and women with their first episode of genital herpes 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 130 participants
  Very low

Intervention not reported

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Self management interventions for type 2 diabetes in adult people with severe mental illness 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Intervention not reported

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for necrotising pancreatitis 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Antibiotic eardrops (with or without a corticosteroid) vs oral antibiotics

Antibiotic eardrops (with or without a corticosteroid) showed no clear difference in adverse events compared with oral antibiotics (low certainty).

• Interventions for children with ear discharge occurring at least two weeks following grommet (ventilation tube)… 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.37 [0.12, 1.09]
  3 studies · 705 participants
  Low

Imiquimod vs cidofovir

Summary of findings for imiquimod showed no clear difference in total serious adverse events compared with cidofovir (moderate certainty).

• Medical and surgical interventions for the treatment of usual‐type vulval intraepithelial neoplasia 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.26 [0.88, 1.81]
  1 study · 168 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

• Diet, physical activity, and behavioural interventions for the treatment of overweight or obesity in preschool… 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 88 participants
  Very low

Intervention not reported

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Diet, physical activity, and behavioural interventions for the treatment of overweight or obesity in preschool… 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Orthodontic appliances (palatal crib) vs no treatment

• Interventions for the cessation of non‐nutritive sucking habits in children 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
  SoF (orthodontic appliances vs no treatment): Adverse events - insufficient information reported. Table 3 (adverse outcomes after one month; Haryett 1967), orthodontic treatment group: reported upset 6/22 (27%); speech…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Oral cryotherapy (ice chips, ice-cold water, ice cubes or crushed ice held in the mouth during cancer treatment) vs no intervention or control intervention (control)

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: oral cryotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  High-dose melphalan-based treatment prior to HSCT (haematological cancers)
  Adverse events reported narratively: one study did not report adverse events (Askarifar 2015); another reported no serious adverse events (Toro 2013); the remaining two reported low rates of shooting pain from the…
  3 studies
  GRADE not reported
• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: oral cryotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Fluorouracil (5FU) treatment for solid cancers
  Adverse events reported narratively (not meta-analysed): one study reported no adverse effects (Katranci 2012); the other four 5FU studies reported low rates of very minor adverse events (headache, chills,…
  5 studies · 444 participants
  GRADE not reported

Psychological intervention + orthodontic treatment (palatal crib or palatal arch) vs no treatment

• Interventions for the cessation of non‐nutritive sucking habits in children 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Table 3 (adverse outcomes after one month; Haryett 1967), combined psychological plus orthodontic treatment group: reported upset 4/22 (18%); speech difficulty 6/22 (27%); eating difficulty 6/22 (27%); developing…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Micro-invasive treatment (proximal sealing or resin infiltration): resin sealant, glass ionomer sealant, polyurethane/adhesive patch, or resin infiltration vs Non-invasive / control treatment

• Micro‐invasive interventions for managing proximal dental decay in primary and permanent teeth 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 to 3 years
  The four studies that measured adverse events reported no adverse events after micro-invasive treatment (no events in either arm)
  4 studies
  GRADE not reported

Laminectomy plus radiotherapy vs radiotherapy

• Interventions for the treatment of metastatic extradural spinal cord compression in adults 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 29 participants
  GRADE not reported

Decompressive surgery plus radiotherapy vs radiotherapy

• Interventions for the treatment of metastatic extradural spinal cord compression in adults 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 101 participants
  GRADE not reported

High‐dose corticosteroids vs moderate‐dose or no corticosteroids

High‐dose corticosteroids probably leads to higher serious adverse events compared with moderate‐dose or no corticosteroids (moderate certainty).

• Interventions for the treatment of metastatic extradural spinal cord compression in adults 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 8.02 [1.03, 62.37]
  2 studies · 77 participants
  Moderate