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Each row is one question a systematic review asked: who, what, compared with what, and which outcome, with the effect it found and how certain that is. Words match anywhere in the field.
970 questions in 77 reviews · Epilepsy
current versionsNo studies 190 · 19.6%Ungraded 42 · 4.3%Very low 135 · 13.9%Low 289 · 29.8%Moderate 242 · 24.9%High 72 · 7.4%
Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.
| Question | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Intervention NR Proportion free from all seizures (including auras) at 1 year · adults and children with drug‐resistant epilepsy suitable for surgical intervention Surgery for epilepsy (2019) · Cochrane | RR 1.82 [1.12, 2.93] | 1 study · 70 participants | Low |
Topiramate vs carbamazepine Time to treatment failure (any reason related to treatment) All participants ‐ adjusted by seizure type Range of · adults and children with newly onset focal or generalised epilepsy Topiramate versus carbamazepine monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2019) · Cochrane | HR 1.16 [0.97, 1.38] | 2 studies · 1129 participants | Moderate |
Topiramate vs carbamazepine Time to treatment failure (any reason related to treatment)Subgroup: focal onset seizures Range of · adults and children with newly onset focal or generalised epilepsy Topiramate versus carbamazepine monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2019) · Cochrane | HR 1.21 [1.01, 1.46] | 2 studies · 937 participants | Moderate |
Topiramate vs carbamazepine Time to treatment failure (any reason related to treatment) Subgroup: generalised onset tonic‐clonic seizures or unclassified epilepsy Range of · adults and children with newly onset focal or generalised epilepsy Topiramate versus carbamazepine monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2019) · Cochrane | HR 0.88 [0.56, 1.39] | 2 studies · 192 participants | Low |
Topiramate vs carbamazepine Time to first seizure after randomisation All participants Range of · adults and children with newly onset focal or generalised epilepsy Topiramate versus carbamazepine monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2019) · Cochrane | HR 1.11 [0.96, 1.29] | 2 studies · 1115 participants | High |
Topiramate vs carbamazepine Time to first seizure after randomisation Subgroup: focal onset seizures Range of · adults and children with newly onset focal or generalised epilepsy Topiramate versus carbamazepine monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2019) · Cochrane | HR 1.12 [0.95, 1.31] | 2 studies · 925 participants | High |
Topiramate vs carbamazepine Time to first seizure after randomisation Subgroup: generalised onset tonic‐clonic seizures or unclassified epilepsy Range of · adults and children with newly onset focal or generalised epilepsy Topiramate versus carbamazepine monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2019) · Cochrane | HR 1.08 [0.7, 1.66] | 2 studies · 190 participants | Moderate |
Topiramate vs carbamazepine Time to 12‐month remission of seizures All participants Range of · adults and children with newly onset focal or generalised epilepsy Topiramate versus carbamazepine monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2019) · Cochrane | HR 0.84 [0.71, 0.99] | 2 studies · 1115 participants | High |
Topiramate vs carbamazepine Time to 12‐month remission of seizures Subgroup: focal onset seizures Range of · adults and children with newly onset focal or generalised epilepsy Topiramate versus carbamazepine monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2019) · Cochrane | HR 0.82 [0.69, 0.99] | 2 studies · 925 participants | High |
Topiramate vs carbamazepine Time to 12‐month remission of seizures Subgroup: generalised onset tonic‐clonic seizures or unclassified epilepsy Range of · adults and children with newly onset focal or generalised epilepsy Topiramate versus carbamazepine monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2019) · Cochrane | HR 0.92 [0.61, 1.41] | 2 studies · 190 participants | Moderate |
Summary of findings: lamotrigine vs carbamazepine Time to treatment failure (any reason related to treatment) All participants Range of · adults and children with focal onset or generalised onset seizures (generalised tonic‐clonic with or without other… Lamotrigine versus carbamazepine monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2018) · Cochrane | HR 0.71 [0.62, 0.82] | 9 studies · 2481 participants | Moderate |
Summary of findings: lamotrigine vs carbamazepine Time to treatment failure (any reason related to treatment) Subgroup: focal onset seizures Range of · adults and children with focal onset or generalised onset seizures (generalised tonic‐clonic with or without other… Lamotrigine versus carbamazepine monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2018) · Cochrane | HR 0.74 [0.64, 0.86] | 9 studies · 2182 participants | Moderate |
Summary of findings: lamotrigine vs carbamazepine Time to treatment failure (any reason related to treatment) Subgroup: generalised onset seizures Range of · adults and children with focal onset or generalised onset seizures (generalised tonic‐clonic with or without other… Lamotrigine versus carbamazepine monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2018) · Cochrane | HR 0.51 [0.33, 0.78] | 6 studies · 299 participants | Low |
Summary of findings: lamotrigine vs carbamazepine Time to first seizure All participants Range of · adults and children with focal onset or generalised onset seizures (generalised tonic‐clonic with or without other… Lamotrigine versus carbamazepine monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2018) · Cochrane | HR 1.26 [1.12, 1.41] | 9 studies · 2476 participants | High |
Summary of findings: lamotrigine vs carbamazepine Time to first seizure Subgroup: focal onset seizures Range of · adults and children with focal onset or generalised onset seizures (generalised tonic‐clonic with or without other… Lamotrigine versus carbamazepine monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2018) · Cochrane | HR 1.29 [1.14, 1.45] | 9 studies · 2177 participants | High |
Summary of findings: lamotrigine vs carbamazepine Time to first seizure Subgroup: generalised onset seizures Range of · adults and children with focal onset or generalised onset seizures (generalised tonic‐clonic with or without other… Lamotrigine versus carbamazepine monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2018) · Cochrane | HR 0.98 [0.65, 1.48] | 6 studies · 277 participants | Low |
Summary of findings: lamotrigine vs carbamazepine Time to 12‐month remission All participants Range of · adults and children with focal onset or generalised onset seizures (generalised tonic‐clonic with or without other… Lamotrigine versus carbamazepine monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2018) · Cochrane | HR 0.91 [0.77, 1.07] | 2 studies · 988 participants | High |
Sodium valproate vs phenytoin monotherapy Time to treatment failure (any reason related to treatment) All participants Range of · adults and children with newly‐onset focal onset or generalised tonic‐clonic seizures Sodium valproate versus phenytoin monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2018) · Cochrane | HR 0.88 [0.61, 1.27] | 5 studies · 528 participants | Moderate |
Sodium valproate vs phenytoin monotherapy Time to treatment failure (any reason related to treatment) Subgroup: focal onset seizures Range of · adults and children with newly‐onset focal onset or generalised tonic‐clonic seizures Sodium valproate versus phenytoin monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2018) · Cochrane | HR 0.83 [0.5, 1.38] | 4 studies · 187 participants | Moderate |
Sodium valproate vs phenytoin monotherapy Time to treatment failure (any reason related to treatment) Subgroup: generalised onset seizures (tonic‐clonic only) Range of · adults and children with newly‐onset focal onset or generalised tonic‐clonic seizures Sodium valproate versus phenytoin monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2018) · Cochrane | HR 0.94 [0.55, 1.61] | 5 studies · 341 participants | Low |
Sodium valproate vs phenytoin monotherapy Time to first seizure (post‐randomisation) All participants Range of · adults and children with newly‐onset focal onset or generalised tonic‐clonic seizures Sodium valproate versus phenytoin monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2018) · Cochrane | HR 1.08 [0.88, 1.33] | 5 studies · 639 participants | Low |
Sodium valproate vs phenytoin monotherapy Time to first seizure (post‐randomisation) Subgroup: focal onset seizures Range of · adults and children with newly‐onset focal onset or generalised tonic‐clonic seizures Sodium valproate versus phenytoin monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2018) · Cochrane | HR 1.2 [0.9, 1.6] | 4 studies · 244 participants | Low |
Sodium valproate vs phenytoin monotherapy Time to first seizure (post‐randomisation) Subgroup: generalised onset seizures (tonic‐clonic only) Range of · adults and children with newly‐onset focal onset or generalised tonic‐clonic seizures Sodium valproate versus phenytoin monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2018) · Cochrane | HR 0.97 [0.72, 1.3] | 5 studies · 395 participants | Low |
Sodium valproate vs phenytoin monotherapy Time to achieve 12‐month remission (seizure‐free period) All participants Range of · adults and children with newly‐onset focal onset or generalised tonic‐clonic seizures Sodium valproate versus phenytoin monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2018) · Cochrane | HR 1.02 [0.81, 1.28] | 4 studies · 514 participants | Moderate |
Sodium valproate vs phenytoin monotherapy Time to achieve 12‐month remission (seizure‐free period) Subgroup: focal onset seizures Range of · adults and children with newly‐onset focal onset or generalised tonic‐clonic seizures Sodium valproate versus phenytoin monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2018) · Cochrane | HR 1.11 [0.78, 1.6] | 4 studies · 244 participants | Moderate |
Sodium valproate vs phenytoin monotherapy Time to achieve 12‐month remission (seizure‐free period) Subgroup: generalised onset seizures (tonic‐clonic only) Range of · adults and children with newly‐onset focal onset or generalised tonic‐clonic seizures Sodium valproate versus phenytoin monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2018) · Cochrane | HR 0.96 [0.71, 1.29] | 4 studies · 270 participants | Moderate |
Carbamazepine vs phenobarbitone Time to treatment failure (any reason related to treatment) All participants Range of · adults and children with newly onset focal or generalised epilepsy Carbamazepine versus phenobarbitone monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2018) · Cochrane | HR 0.66 [0.5, 0.86] | 4 studies · 676 participants | Moderate |
Carbamazepine vs phenobarbitone Time to treatment failure (any reason related to treatment) Subgroup: focal onset seizures Range of · adults and children with newly onset focal or generalised epilepsy Carbamazepine versus phenobarbitone monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2018) · Cochrane | HR 0.66 [0.49, 0.88] | 4 studies · 520 participants | Low |
Carbamazepine vs phenobarbitone Time to treatment failure (any reason related to treatment) Subgroup: generalised onset tonic‐clonic seizures Range of · adults and children with newly onset focal or generalised epilepsy Carbamazepine versus phenobarbitone monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2018) · Cochrane | HR 0.65 [0.35, 1.23] | 3 studies · 156 participants | Low |
Carbamazepine vs phenobarbitone Time to first seizure (post‐randomisation) All participants Range of · adults and children with newly onset focal or generalised epilepsy Carbamazepine versus phenobarbitone monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2018) · Cochrane | HR 1.13 [0.93, 1.38] | 6 studies · 822 participants | Moderate |
Carbamazepine vs phenobarbitone Time to first seizure (post‐randomisation) Subgroup: focal onset seizures Range of · adults and children with newly onset focal or generalised epilepsy Carbamazepine versus phenobarbitone monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2018) · Cochrane | HR 1.31 [1.04, 1.66] | 6 studies · 584 participants | Moderate |
Carbamazepine vs phenobarbitone Time to first seizure (post‐randomisation) Subgroup: generalised onset tonic‐clonic seizures Range of · adults and children with newly onset focal or generalised epilepsy Carbamazepine versus phenobarbitone monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2018) · Cochrane | HR 0.8 [0.55, 1.15] | 5 studies · 238 participants | Low |
Carbamazepine vs phenobarbitone Time to achieve 12‐month remission (seizure‐free period) All participants Range of · adults and children with newly onset focal or generalised epilepsy Carbamazepine versus phenobarbitone monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2018) · Cochrane | HR 1.09 [0.84, 1.4] | 4 studies · 683 participants | Low |
Carbamazepine vs phenobarbitone Time to achieve 12‐month remission (seizure‐free period) Subgroup: focal onset seizures Range of · adults and children with newly onset focal or generalised epilepsy Carbamazepine versus phenobarbitone monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2018) · Cochrane | HR 0.92 [0.67, 1.25] | 4 studies · 525 participants | Low |
Carbamazepine vs phenobarbitone Time to achieve 12‐month remission (seizure‐free period) Subgroup: generalised onset tonic‐clonic seizures Range of · adults and children with newly onset focal or generalised epilepsy Carbamazepine versus phenobarbitone monotherapy for epilepsy: an individual participant data review (2018) · Cochrane | HR 1.56 [0.99, 2.44] | 3 studies · 158 participants | Low |
Summary of findings ‐ Lorazepam vs diazepam Seizure cessation · Children with acute tonic‐clonic seizures Drug management for acute tonic‐clonic convulsions including convulsive status epilepticus in children (2018) · Cochrane | RR 1.08 [0.98, 1.2] | 3 studies · 439 participants | Low |
Summary of findings ‐ Intranasal lorazepam vs intramuscular paraldehyde Additional drugs required to terminate the seizure: 2 or more additional anticonvulsants required · Children with acute tonic‐clonic seizures Drug management for acute tonic‐clonic convulsions including convulsive status epilepticus in children (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.38 [0.18, 0.81] | 1 study · 160 participants | Low |
Summary of findings ‐ Intranasal lorazepam vs intramuscular paraldehyde Seizure recurrence within 24 hours · Children with acute tonic‐clonic seizures Drug management for acute tonic‐clonic convulsions including convulsive status epilepticus in children (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.73 [0.31, 1.71] | 1 study · 160 participants | Low |
Summary of findings ‐ Intranasal lorazepam vs intramuscular paraldehyde Incidence of admissions to the ICU · Children with acute tonic‐clonic seizures Drug management for acute tonic‐clonic convulsions including convulsive status epilepticus in children (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Summary of findings ‐ Intravenous lorazepam vs intravenous diazepam/intravenous phenytoin combination Seizure cessation: within 10 minutes · Children with acute tonic‐clonic seizures Drug management for acute tonic‐clonic convulsions including convulsive status epilepticus in children (2018) · Cochrane | RR 1 [0.98, 1.02] | 1 study · 178 participants | Moderate |
Summary of findings ‐ Intravenous lorazepam vs intravenous diazepam/intravenous phenytoin combination Time from drug administration to stopping of seizures · Children with acute tonic‐clonic seizures Drug management for acute tonic‐clonic convulsions including convulsive status epilepticus in children (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 178 participants | Moderate |
Summary of findings ‐ Intravenous lorazepam vs intravenous diazepam/intravenous phenytoin combination Incidence of respiratory depression · Children with acute tonic‐clonic seizures Drug management for acute tonic‐clonic convulsions including convulsive status epilepticus in children (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.78 [0.22, 2.82] | 1 study · 178 participants | Moderate |
Summary of findings ‐ Intravenous lorazepam vs intravenous diazepam/intravenous phenytoin combination Additional drugs required to stop the seizure · Children with acute tonic‐clonic seizures Drug management for acute tonic‐clonic convulsions including convulsive status epilepticus in children (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.42 [0.17, 1.04] | 1 study · 178 participants | Moderate |
Summary of findings ‐ Intravenous lorazepam vs intravenous diazepam/intravenous phenytoin combination Seizure recurrence within 24 hours · Children with acute tonic‐clonic seizures Drug management for acute tonic‐clonic convulsions including convulsive status epilepticus in children (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 178 participants | Moderate |
Summary of findings ‐ Intravenous lorazepam vs intravenous diazepam/intravenous phenytoin combination Incidence of admissions to the ICU · Children with acute tonic‐clonic seizures Drug management for acute tonic‐clonic convulsions including convulsive status epilepticus in children (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Summary of findings ‐ Intravenous lorazepam vs intranasal lorazepam Seizure cessation: within 10 minutes · Children with acute tonic‐clonic seizures Drug management for acute tonic‐clonic convulsions including convulsive status epilepticus in children (2018) · Cochrane | RR 1.07 [0.77, 1.49] | 1 study · 58 participants | Moderate |
Summary of findings ‐ Lorazepam vs diazepam Time from drug administration to termination of seizures · Children with acute tonic‐clonic seizures Drug management for acute tonic‐clonic convulsions including convulsive status epilepticus in children (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 80 participants | Moderate |
Summary of findings ‐ Intravenous lorazepam vs intranasal lorazepam Time from drug administration to stopping of seizures · Children with acute tonic‐clonic seizures Drug management for acute tonic‐clonic convulsions including convulsive status epilepticus in children (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 58 participants | Moderate |
Summary of findings ‐ Intravenous lorazepam vs intranasal lorazepam Incidence of respiratory depression · Children with acute tonic‐clonic seizures Drug management for acute tonic‐clonic convulsions including convulsive status epilepticus in children (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 141 participants | Moderate |
Summary of findings ‐ Intravenous lorazepam vs intranasal lorazepam Additional drugs required to stop the seizure · Children with acute tonic‐clonic seizures Drug management for acute tonic‐clonic convulsions including convulsive status epilepticus in children (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |