What do systematic reviews say?

Minoxidil 2% vs minoxidil 5%

Minoxidil 2% showed no clear difference in adverse events compared with minoxidil 5% (low certainty).

• Interventions for female pattern hair loss 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.02 [0.91, 1.2]
  4 studies · 1006 participants
  Low

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

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

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

Fresh frozen plasma vs no treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for prophylaxis of hepatic veno‐occlusive disease in people undergoing haematopoietic stem cell… 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Testosterone vs placebo

Testosterone therapy showed no clear difference in adverse events (all cause) compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Interventions for sexual dysfunction in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.07 [0.07, 15.54]
  1 study · 29 participants
  Low