Dr Sarah Jarvis is the Clinical Director of the Patient Platform, an active medical writer, broadcaster, and the resident doctor for BBC Radio 2.
For most of us, the fact that holidays are so different from the rest of our lives is part of the appeal – different weather, routine, time zones, and exotic locations. But while it's perfectly possible to holiday safely if you have epilepsy, some of these changes can increase the risk of more frequent seizures.
With a few simple precautions and a little planning, you can keep the risk of seizures to a minimum and maximise the chance of coming back with nothing but happy memories.
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Before You Fly
Check Your EHIC/GHIC
Since Brexit, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) has been phased out and replaced with the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). However, they’re both valid for 5 years and if you have an EHIC that hasn’t expired, you can still use it.
The countries covered by the two are similar but not identical, so do check if the scheme covers the country you're visiting. It’s also really important to know what is covered and what isn’t – the GHIC doesn’t cover all healthcare costs and certainly doesn’t cover the cost of medical repatriation if you need it.
READ MORE: GHIC, EHIC and Travel Insurance
Buy Travel Insurance
Even if you’re going to a country covered by the EHIC/GHIC, it’s still essential to take out specialist travel insurance which covers any pre-existing conditions. Even if you've been seizure-free for some time, you still need to declare epilepsy when applying for travel insurance. Failure to get the right cover could invalidate your insurance.
READ MORE: Which Medical Conditions Do I Need to Declare?
Get Stocked Up
It's essential to avoid running out of medication while you're away. Order your repeat prescription well in advance and make sure you have enough to last all the time you're away and ideally a couple of weeks more.
Check Medication Restrictions
Many epilepsy medications are controlled drugs, which means there may be special regulations covering when or whether you can take them with you. Taking some controlled drugs into certain countries is illegal, regardless of the reason. Before you book, you'll need to check the list on the website of the relevant foreign embassy in the UK to make sure you can travel with your medication. Our article on carrying medication abroad has all the details of what you need to do.
READ MORE: Travelling with Medications
Make sure you have the necessary paperwork. Even if you don't use controlled drugs, you will probably need a letter and/or a copy of your repeat prescription. Keep your medication in its original packaging with your name on the label.
Remember that drugs may have different names in different countries. If you take branded medication (e.g. Epilim) ask your pharmacist for the details of the generic drug name too (in this case, sodium valproate). This will help just in case you do need to access medical help or medication abroad.
Travel Vaccinations if You Have Epilepsy
If you’re travelling anywhere outside Western Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, you may need travel vaccinations or antimalarials. These are important for everyone, especially if you have epilepsy since fever and general illness can sometimes precipitate seizures. You’ll need to book vaccinations at least 8 weeks before you travel. Head to our blog for more information on what you might need and where.
READ MORE: What Vaccines Do I Need When Travelling Abroad?
Tell your healthcare professional about any medication you take before you get vaccinations or take antimalarials. Most vaccines will not affect anti-epilepsy medication or your risk of seizures.
Antimalarial Tablets and Epilepsy
Some antimalarials are not recommended if you have epilepsy. The UK Health Security Agency recommends:
- You can take doxycycline or atovaquone/proguanil, but they can make phenytoin, carbamazepine, and barbiturates less effective.
- You should not use chloroquine if you have epilepsy
- You should not use mefloquine if you have epilepsy
Epilepsy Identity
Consider an epilepsy ID card or identity jewellery. This will let people know you have epilepsy if you have a seizure while you're away. You can order an epilepsy ID card free of charge from Epilepsy Action.
While You’re Travelling
If You're Travelling By Air
Tell airport staff if you have a vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) device. While airport security scanners shouldn't affect your device, they may trigger them. Letting them know in advance could avoid an awkward conversation or any delay.
Time Tips
Check out travel times. Lack of sleep can increase your risk of having a seizure. This could be an issue if your travel involves early starts or late arrivals, or if you're travelling across time zones and could suffer jet lag.
READ MORE: How to Beat Jet Lag and Holiday Insomnia?
Let Your Air Team Know
Lack of sleep, excitement and anxiety can all trigger seizures. If there’s a chance you could have a seizure while flying, it’s worth letting the cabin crew know – especially if you’re flying alone.
READ MORE: Mastering Long-Haul Flights
Keep Your Medication With You
Carry your medication in your hand luggage in case your hold luggage is lost or delayed. If you can, split your medication between your hand luggage and that of a travelling companion. However, you will need to be with them when they go through airport security in case questions are asked.
Travelling with Epilepsy Checklist
Tommy has over 15 years experience within the insurance industry, and his primary focus is helping travellers find the right cover for their medical conditions.
Travelling with epilepsy requires some planning, so if you've found this guide useful, you might want to read our blog post which has a handy checklist of suggestions - helping you plan your holiday without too much stress.
At Your Destination
Think About Time Zones
Think about time zones. Missing or delaying your regular medication could increase the risk of a seizure. If you're travelling across time zones, work out how you need to adjust your medication timing gradually: your pharmacist can help if you're in doubt.
Think About Temperatures
Think about temperatures: some epilepsy medications need to be kept in a cool dry place, which could be a challenge if you're backpacking or travelling to remote areas. Speak to your pharmacist, who can advise on storing your medicines.
Medication Reminders
Set medication reminders. Given that your routine is likely to be very different on holiday, a phone reminder will help you ensure you take your medication regularly.
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Travelling with epilepsy requires careful planning and preparation, but with the right precautions in place, you can enjoy your journey with confidence and peace of mind. Ensuring that you have the correct travel insurance, medications, and paperwork will help prevent unnecessary complications.
By informing medical professionals and travel staff about your condition, you'll be prepared to handle situations that may arise. Remember, staying informed about your medication requirements and maintaining your routine while adapting to new environments are all part of ensuring a safe and enjoyable travel experience.
For more articles like this, make sure you explore our blog and guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
“Pre-existing” refers to any medical condition for which medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment was recommended or received before applying for a travel insurance policy. For some conditions, we'll need to know if they have ever been present, whilst, for others, we need to know if they occurred within a certain period
We'll ask you a series of questions about the medical history for you and any travellers on your quote. If you answer yes to any of these, you will need to tell us more about that condition. This could be a condition that a traveller has now or has had in the past. This makes it easy to know what you need to disclose.
If you are not sure what conditions you need to declare, we have online support available to help you 24/7!
No, we are unable to provide cover that excludes any of your pre-existing medical conditions.
Once you've declared all your relevant pre-existing medical conditions, we'll only show you quotes that cover the conditions you have told us about.