Do all epileptics need medication?

For 70\% of patients with epilepsy, drugs can control seizures. However, they can’t cure epilepsy, and most people will need to continue taking medications.

How long after being diagnosed with epilepsy can you drive?

In most states, you must be seizure-free for anywhere from 6 months to a year before you’ll be allowed to drive. To reach that milestone, honestly discuss your seizures with your doctor and work with them to find the right treatment.

What happens if you don’t take epilepsy medication?

Missed medicines can trigger seizures in people with both well-controlled and poorly controlled epilepsy. Seizures can happen more often than normal, be more intense or develop into long seizures called status epilepticus. Status epilepticus is a medical emergency and can lead to death if the seizures aren’t stopped.

Can I learn to drive with epilepsy?

If you have a seizure in your sleep If you have a seizure which starts when you’re asleep (an ‘asleep’ seizure) you must stop driving, as above. But, if in the next year, you only have seizures while you’re asleep, then you can apply for a new licence, even though you are still having seizures while asleep.

What happens if you drive after a seizure?

my driving? Having a seizure can cause you to lose control of your body, change the way you act and sense things, or make you pass out suddenly. If you have a seizure while you are driving, you could lose control of your car and cause a crash. You could hurt yourself and others.

Can a person with epilepsy drive with a seizure medication?

In addition, some seizure medications cause drowsiness and other side effects. So it is also important to ensure medications don’t present any hazards to the driver. To reduce the risk of accidents, each state has rules as to when someone with epilepsy may have an active driver’s license.

Can epilepsy be cured with medication?

Epilepsy cannot be cured with medication. However, with the right type and strength of medication, the majority of people with epilepsy do not have seizures. The medicines work by stabilising the electrical activity of the brain. You need to take medication every day to prevent seizures.

How old do you have to be to drive with epilepsy?

Living with Epilepsy. Applicants in all states must be older than a minimum age (usually 16 or 17 years), must not have a medical disorder that would make driving dangerous, and must pass a written test, a vision test, and a driving test.

How often do people with epilepsy have no seizures at all?

About 5 in 10 people with epilepsy will have no seizures at all over a five-year period. Many of these people will be taking medication to control seizures. Some will have stopped treatment having had two or more years without a seizure whilst taking medication.