Hi, my friend had a nocturnal seizure (while asleep) last september 2023, wasnt allowed to drive for 6 months from the date of the seizure and after mri’s on heart and brain all come back clear so got licence back in the march (6months later). Roll forward this week she has had another nocturnal seizure 14months after the first one. Does anybody know how long she would have to wait to drive again once she has informed the dvla etc?
Thanks
In my case as all my seizures have been nocturnal the ones I have had since regaining my license have not affected me continuing to have a licence.I believe the DVLA call seizures that you experience in your sleep as nocturnal, whatever time of day you experience them.
Incidentally I have fitted a dash cam so I can review my own driving. So far its been fine.
I avoid night driving if possible eg when attending away football matches that end after dusk I book a cheap room for the night .
My belief system tells me that there's a difference between me being legally entitled to drive and it being fair to others to do so.
Good morning. I used to only have nocturnal seizures, but because I couldn't go 3 years without having any partial ones as well my neurologist said I will be banned for life. Now they have changed and I have the tonic clonic ones during the day. Having said that my mri's wasn't good. Hope this helps x
I had my first tonic clonic nocturnal seizure in September 2020. Like your friend I was told lots of people only ever have one seizure, it might never happen again, but just to be on the safe side I wasn't to drive for six months. At that time I was in hospital for 5 days during which time they did all the usual tests and, thankfully, the CT and MRI scans revealed nothing sinister. (In fact the neurologist whom I eventually saw in October 2022 said my MRI images were "beautiful" and so clear that if there was anything sinister to see he'd be able to see it. He said he'd be very happy if they were images of his own brain - so that was a plus.) They referred me to have an EEG - a test where they stick electrodes to your scalp and try to induce seizure activity to see if any is happening. They also referred me to have an outpatient neurology appointment.
The date of the EEG was a decidedly unromantic 14th February 2021, 5 months after the seizure. I was told that the EEG revealed "slight seizure activity" and so counted as a second seizure. As a result I was then considered to have epilepsy and told I must not drive until I was a year seizure free. They also asked me to start a low dose of Keppra, which I did.
I should've said that in those 5 months after the first nocturnal tonic clonic and the EEG my husband noticed me having what we think are called absence seizures - where for half a minute up to 2 or 3 minutes I'd be unaware of my surroundings. He'd speak to me, my eyes would be open but seemed to be "unseeing." After I started the low dose of Keppra he said he has never noticed me having any more absences.
Anyway, sadly I had a second nocturnal tonic clonic seizure in June 2021, which restarted the "you must be one year seizure free before you can drive" clock. They increased the Keppra dosage slightly and thankfully I haven't had any further seizures.
In the UK it's standard practice not to drive for 6 months after a first seizure and not to drive for one year after any further seizures. I've been back driving again since June 2022. In total it was 1 year and 9 months (from Sept 2020 until June 2022) before I was one year seizure free and allowed to drive again.
I also voluntarily surrendered my licence to the DVA (I'm in Northern Ireland so your DVLA is our DVA) which apparently makes it easier to get it back once you're a year seizure-free. Mind you, I would advise anyone surrendering their licence to make sure to take a note of your Driver's Licence number before you post it back as you'll need to know it when reapplying.
I hope this helps and I wish your friend all the best with getting the necessary treatment to prevent any further seizures. The fewer we have the better as in my experience any seizure messes with your memories. I can remember clearly things we've done since the last seizure but some memories of events prior to the seizures have been completely wiped from my brain.
Hi Natalie, I’m sorry to hear that your friend is having such a difficult time. Having a second seizure means it is very likely she has epilepsy. She should ask her GP for a referral to a neurologist if she doesn’t have one already. They will want her to have tests and will work through medication options with her. Unfortunately waiting lists can be very long. FWIW I know it’s a big decision to start medication, but for many of us they really make a difference - for me at one time 7 years seizure free, although they did return again. Back under control now I think.
As far as driving is concerned, epilepsy action has a summary of the U.K. rules on their website, but the DVLA’s site has more details. Generally the rules for nighttime only are much less onerous than for daytime. It is better to surrender your license voluntarily, if needed as its then quicker and easier to get it back if the situation allows.
Hi Natalie
Please do guide your friend to our information on on epilepsy and the driving regulations.
There are specific regulations for someone with epilepsy who only has seizures in their sleep.
We also explain how you friend needs to surrender their driving licence.
epilepsy.org.uk/living/driving
epilepsy.org.uk/living/driv...
epilepsy.org.uk/living/driv...
If you or your friend would like to discuss this further, please do phone our helpline team on the Epilepsy Action Helpline freephone 0808 800 5050. Our helpline is open Monday to Friday 8.30am until 5.00pm and Saturday 10.00am until 4.00pm
Regards
Diane
Helpline Team
My husband took nocturnal epilepsy for many years from 1996 to 2006 and after having 6 in a row due to the sudden death of his dad got seen properly by a neurologist for tests and monitoring by a specialist nurse for new add on medication from existing ones still taking. Had to go a year from not driving but then he wasn't anyway as 10yrs previous epilepsy kept happening anyway.
Started having seizures in Jan 2021,completely out of the blue, doctors wrongly diagnosed epilepsy and put me on keppra and lacosamide. Which made things way worse, was eventually taken off those drugs and diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).slowly getting better with treatment.
was they night time seizures?
Starting my third year of seizures
Absence Seizures
Complex Partial Seizures
Seizures In My Sleep
Diagnosed 1 year ago with epilepsy after 2 seizures. Recently had a third seizure.
