Epilepsy 

Regular exercise and a healthy diet are recommended for everyone, not just people with epilepsy. They can help prevent many conditions, including heart disease and many forms of cancer. Try to eat a balanced diet, containing all the food groups, to give your body the nutrition it needs. Exercising regularly can increase the strength of your bones, relieve stress and reduce fatigue.

Drinking

Heavy drinking can cause seizures, as well as interact with anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), making them less effective. AEDs can heighten the affects of alcohol, while alcohol can make the side effects of AEDs worse.

Heavy drinking is also associated with disrupted sleep patterns, and this can increase the risk of having a seizure. Drinking no more than the recommended daily limits will reduce any potential side effects.

The recommended daily limits for alcohol are three to four units for men and two to three units for women. A unit of alcohol is equal to about half a pint of normal strength lager, a small glass of wine or a pub measure (25ml) of spirits.

Want to know more?

• Epilepsy Action: Can I drink alcohol?

Contraception

Some anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) can reduce the effectiveness of some types of contraception, including:

• contraceptive injections
• contraceptive patches
• the combined oral contraceptive pill
• the progesterone-only pill (POP) or mini pill
• contraceptive implants

If you are sexually active and you want to avoid pregnancy, ask your GP or epilepsy specialist whether your AEDs could affect any of these methods of contraception.

You may need to use another form of contraception such as a condom or coil.

Some AEDs have also been known to make the emergency contraceptive pill less effective. If you require emergency contraception, you may need an IUD. Your GP, family planning clinic or pharmacist should be able to advise you.

Pregnancy

There is no reason why women with epilepsy cannot have a healthy pregnancy. However, it is always preferable if the pregnancy is planned. This is because there is a slightly higher risk of complications developing during pregnancy. However, with forward planning, these risks can be minimised.

The main risk is that some AEDs are known to increase the chances of a serious birth defect occurring, such as spina bifida, cleft lip or a hole in the heart. The risks depend on the type of AED and the dosage you are taking.

The UK Epilepsy and Pregnancy Register can provide more information and advice about the use of AEDs during pregnancy.

If you are planning a pregnancy, talk to your epilepsy specialist. It may be possible to change the AED you are taking to minimise any risks. Taking 5mg of a folic acid supplement a day can also help reduce risks of birth defects.

If you discover you are pregnant, do not stop taking your medicine. The risks to your baby from uncontrolled seizures are far higher than any risks associated with your medicines.

There are no risks associated with breastfeeding while taking an AED.

Want to know more?

• Live Well: Epilepsy and pregnancy. 
• The pregnancy care planner: Epilepsy.
• Epilepsy Action: Seizures during pregnancy.
• UK epilepsy and pregnancy register.

Many children with well-controlled epilepsy can learn and participate in their school’s activities completely unaffected by their condition. Others may need some extra support to get the most out of their time at school. Make sure your child’s teachers know about their condition and the medication they need to control it.

Epilepsy is more common among children with learning disabilities and special educational needs. These children are entitled to extra help to overcome their difficulties. Each school will have at least one member of staff with responsibility for children with special educational needs. The law says that all state schools must do their best to meet special educational needs, sometimes with the help of outside specialists.

If your child needs a lot of extra help, the local education authority may carry out an assessment. This will outline the help your child needs, set a number of long-term goals, and ensure that your child is regularly reviewed.

Want to know more?

• The National Society for Epilepsy: Children and education. 
• Epilepsy Action: Children.
• Directgov: Special education needs assessments.

If you have any questions, your GP or nurse may be able to reassure you. You may also find it helpful to talk to a trained counsellor or psychologist, or to someone at a specialist helpline. Your GP surgery will have information on these.

Some people find it helpful to talk to other people who have epilepsy, either at a local support group or in an internet chat room.

Want to know more?

• Epilepsy Action: Helpline.
• The National Society for Epilepsy.

If you have a seizure, you have a legal responsibility to inform the Driving and Vehicle Licence Authority (DVLA).

You will usually not be able to hold a group one driving licence, required for private cars and motorcycles, until:

• You have not had a seizure for a year.
• In the case of people who only have seizures during sleep, there has to be a sleep-only pattern of seizures for three or more years, with no seizures occurring during the day.

You will not usually be able to hold a group two driving licence, required for heavy goods vehicles and passenger carrier vehicles that are more than 7.5 tonnes, until:

• You have not had a seizure for the past 10 years and have not been taking AEDs during this period.
• Your epilepsy specialist confirms that there is no likelihood of seizures occurring.

You will need to apply to the DVLA for the return of your licence. They will only return your licence when they are satisfied that your epilepsy is under control. As part of this process, they may wish to contact your GP or epilepsy specialist.

You have the right to appeal against their decision at a magistrates' court.

If you ignore these regulations, you will be liable for prosecution. Your GP also has a legal responsibility to inform the DVLA if it is felt that your driving is putting both you and other people at risk.

Want to know more?

• Directgov: Medical rules for all drivers.
• The National Society for Epilepsy: Driving and transport.

If you have to stop work or work part time because of your epilepsy, you may be entitled to one or more of the following types of financial support:

• If you have a job but cannot work because of your epilepsy, you are entitled to Statutory Sick Pay from your employer.  
• If you do not have a job and cannot work because of your epilepsy, you may be entitled to Employment and Support Allowance.  
• If you are aged 64 or under and need help with personal care or have walking difficulties, you may be eligible for Disability Living Allowance. 
• If you are aged 65 or over, you may be able to get Attendance Allowance. 
• If you are caring for someone with epilepsy, you may be entitled to Carer’s Allowance.

Free prescriptions

If you take anti-epileptic drugs, you are entitled to get all your prescriptions (not just those for AEDs) free of charge. Ask your doctor how to get an exemption certificate.

Want to know more?

• Help with health costs.
• Epilepsy Action: Entitlements for people with epilepsy in England.
• The National Society for Epilepsy: What help is available?
• Carers Direct.

When somebody with epilepsy dies and no apparent cause can be found, it is known as sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP).

SUDEPs are rare, affecting only 0.5% of people with severe epilepsy. The causes of SUDEPs are unknown, but one theory is that seizures could affect the person's breathing and heartbeat.

The risk factors for SUDEP are:

• poorly controlled epilepsy
• having a history of seizures occurring during sleep

If you are worried that your epilepsy is poorly controlled, contact your epilepsy specialist. It may be possible to refer you to a specialist epilepsy centre for further treatment.

A charity called Epilepsy Bereaved can offer advice and support on SUDEP, as well as a helpline for people who have lost a loved one as a result of epilepsy.

Want to know more?

• Epilepsy Action: SUDEP
• Epilepsy Bereaved.