Epilepsy bracelet | Epilepsy

Epilepsy bracelet

Many patients suffering from epilepsy wear a so-called epilepsy bracelet. On this wristband, apart from the fact that they are epileptics, they are usually also told what drugs they need to be treated with during a seizure and other data that can be important for the treatment of a seizure, such as allergies. It is a kind of emergency card, because you can always carry it with you and it can be seen quickly by paramedics or emergency doctors.

Are you allowed to drive a car if you suffer from epilepsy?

Basically, the law states that people suffering from seizures are not entitled to drive motor vehicles as long as there is an increased risk of seizures with disturbances of consciousness or motor skills. Epileptics, for example, have to fulfill certain conditions in order to be re-certified as fit to drive. First, a patient must be seizure-free for at least one year after a seizure.In addition, it must be assumed that there will be no more seizures in the future, which is usually only possible with adequate drug therapy in the form of prophylaxis.

In principle, people who have suffered from a seizure are initially deprived of their driver’s license for three to six months. This period depends on whether a clear avoidable trigger, such as drug intoxication, can be identified or not. If several seizures occur within a few years, it is possible that the driver’s license will be permanently revoked, which for most people represents a major break in everyday and career planning.

Epilepsy and alcohol – is it compatible?

The extent to which abstaining from alcohol as part of epilepsy prophylaxis is necessary and sensible is still a matter of debate among many neurologists today. Firstly, there is evidence that increased consumption can act as a trigger for an epileptic seizure. On the other hand, there is suspicion that alcohol withdrawal may also be a trigger in people who are used to small amounts.

For years, it has been difficult to find a uniform guideline on how to deal with alcohol in epileptics. Many medical specialists try to find a compromise between these two sides and advise that epileptics should be able to drink small amounts of alcohol if they are already used to it in their everyday life. However, it is clear that excessive alcohol consumption should be avoided in any case, as the risk of a seizure is clearly increased.