Appendix 1. MEDLINE search strategy

This strategy (for PubMed) is based on the Cochrane Highly Sensitive Search Strategy for identifying randomized trials published in Lefebvre 2009.

#1 randomized controlled trial [pt]

#2 controlled clinical trial [pt]

#3 randomized [tiab]

#4 placebo [tiab]

#5 drug therapy [sh]

#6 randomly [tiab]

#7 trial [tiab]

#8 groups [tiab]

#9 # 1 OR # 2 OR # 3 OR # 4 OR 5 # OR # 6 OR # 7 OR # 8

#10 animals [mh] NOT humans [mh]

#11 #9 NOT #10

#12 epilepsy [mh]

#13 seizures [mh]

#14 epilep* [tw]

#15 seizu* [tw]

#16 convuls* [tw]

#17 # 12 OR # 13 OR # 14 OR 15 # OR # 16

#18 eslicarbazepine acetate [tw]

#19 eslicarbazepine [tw]

#20 BIA 2‐093

#21 #18 OR #19 OR #20

#22 #11 AND #17 AND 21

Appendix 2. CENTRAL search strategy

#1        MeSH descriptor Epilepsy explode all trees

#2        MeSH descriptor Seizures explode all trees

#3        epilep* or seizure* or convulsion*

#4        "eslicarbazepine acetate":ti,ab,kw or (eslicarbazepine):ti,ab,kw or (zebenix):ti,ab,kw

#5        (#1 OR #2 OR #3)

#6        (#4 AND #5)