Receiving a diagnosis of epilepsy can feel overwhelming. You may have questions about what it means for your daily life, your work, and your future. This leaflet aims to answer some of those questions clearly and honestly. It is not a substitute for conversations with your doctor — but it is a starting point.

What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a neurological condition — a condition affecting the brain — in which a person has a tendency to have recurring seizures. A seizure happens when a sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain disrupts how it normally works.

Epilepsy is more common than many people realise. Around 600,000 people in the UK are living with it — roughly 1 in 100. It can develop at any age, though it is most commonly diagnosed in childhood and in people over 60. For most people, epilepsy is a long-term condition, but many people go on to live full, active lives.

What causes it?

In about half of all cases, no single cause is found. In others, epilepsy can be linked to a brain injury or infection, a stroke, a brain tumour, or changes in brain structure present from birth. Genetics also plays a role — some types of epilepsy run in families, though having a relative with epilepsy does not mean you will definitely develop it yourself.

Certain things can make seizures more likely in people who already have epilepsy. These are sometimes called seizure triggers. Common triggers include tiredness and sleep deprivation, stress, alcohol, missed medication, and illness with a high temperature. Triggers are very individual — what affects one person may not affect another.

What are the symptoms?

The most recognised symptom of epilepsy is a convulsive seizure — sometimes called a tonic-clonic seizure — in which a person loses consciousness, falls, and their muscles stiffen and jerk. But epilepsy can cause many other types of seizure, and not all of them look like this.

Other types of seizure include:

• Focal seizures — these start in one part of the brain. You may remain conscious but experience unusual sensations, emotions, or movements. Some people describe a strange smell, a feeling of déjà vu, or tingling in one part of the body.
• Absence seizures — brief episodes in which a person appears to stare blankly and is unresponsive for a few seconds. These are often mistaken for daydreaming.
• Myoclonic seizures — sudden, brief jerks of the arms or legs, often in the morning.

Seizures usually last between a few seconds and a few minutes. Afterwards, many people feel tired, confused, or upset — a period sometimes called the post-ictal phase, which can last from minutes to hours.

How is it diagnosed?

Epilepsy is diagnosed by a specialist — usually a neurologist — based on a detailed account of your seizures, ideally from both you and someone who witnessed them. There is no single test that confirms epilepsy.

Your doctor may arrange the following investigations:

• Electroencephalogram (EEG) — a test that records the electrical activity of your brain using small sensors placed on your scalp. It can help identify patterns that suggest epilepsy, though a normal EEG does not rule it out.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) — a brain scan that can detect structural changes in the brain that may be causing seizures.
• Blood tests — to rule out other causes of seizures, such as low blood sugar or an infection.

Reaching a diagnosis can sometimes take time. It is important that the diagnosis is accurate before treatment begins, as different types of epilepsy are treated differently.

How is it treated?

For most people, the first treatment for epilepsy is an antiseizure medicine (ASM). These medicines do not cure epilepsy, but they work by stabilising the electrical activity in the brain to reduce the frequency or severity of seizures. Around 7 in 10 people (70%) find that the right medication brings their seizures under good control.

There are many different antiseizure medicines. The one recommended for you will depend on the type of seizures you have, your age, other health conditions, and — importantly — whether you are pregnant or could become pregnant. Common medicines include lamotrigine, levetiracetam, sodium valproate, and carbamazepine, among others. Your neurologist will explain which is most suitable for you.

It can sometimes take time to find the right medicine at the right dose. Some people need to try more than one before finding the best fit. Side effects vary between medicines and between people — your doctor will discuss what to look out for.

If medication does not control seizures well enough, other options may be considered. These include a ketogenic diet (a high-fat, very low-carbohydrate diet that can reduce seizures in some people), vagus nerve stimulation (a small device implanted under the skin that sends regular signals to the brain), or, for some people, epilepsy surgery. Your doctor will discuss which options may be appropriate for you.

Never stop taking your antiseizure medicine without speaking to your doctor first. Stopping suddenly can trigger a dangerous increase in seizures.

Living with epilepsy

Many people with epilepsy live full and independent lives. That said, a diagnosis does bring some practical considerations.

Driving: If you have a seizure, you must stop driving and tell the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). For most people, this means being seizure-free for at least 12 months before you can drive again. The rules vary depending on the type of seizures you have. The Epilepsy Society and Epilepsy Action (details below) can help you understand how the rules apply to your situation.

Safety at home: Some activities carry additional risk if a seizure were to occur. It is worth thinking about practical adjustments, such as taking showers rather than baths where possible, not cooking alone over open flames during a period of poor seizure control, and swimming only with someone who knows about your epilepsy and what to do if you have a seizure.

Sleep and stress: Because sleep deprivation and stress are common seizure triggers, prioritising sleep and finding ways to manage stress are genuinely useful — not just general wellness advice. Many people find keeping a seizure diary helpful for identifying their personal triggers.

Work and daily life: Most people with epilepsy continue to work. Your employer has a duty to make reasonable adjustments to support you. If you are unsure of your rights, organisations such as Epilepsy Action can provide guidance.

Talking about it: You do not have to tell everyone about your diagnosis, but it can be helpful for people around you — colleagues, friends, family — to know what a seizure looks like and what to do if you have one. First aid for a tonic-clonic seizure involves cushioning the head, staying with the person, and timing the seizure, but never restraining the person or putting anything in their mouth.

When to seek help

Contact your GP or epilepsy nurse if:

• Your seizures change in type, frequency, or length
• You are experiencing side effects from your medication
• You think you may be pregnant, or are planning a pregnancy (some antiseizure medicines require careful management in pregnancy)
• You feel that your current treatment is not working well enough

Call 999 immediately if:

• A seizure lasts longer than five minutes
• A person does not regain consciousness or return to normal within a reasonable time after a seizure
• A person has one seizure immediately followed by another
• A person is injured during a seizure
• It is someone's first seizure and you do not know their history

A seizure lasting longer than five minutes is a medical emergency called status epilepticus and requires urgent treatment.

Where to find support

Epilepsy Action (www.epilepsy.org.uk) — the UK's leading epilepsy charity. Offers a helpline, online information, and a community forum. Helpline: 0808 800 5050 (freephone).

Epilepsy Society (www.epilepsysociety.org.uk) — provides specialist information, research updates, and a helpline. Helpline: 01494 601 400.

Brain & Spine Foundation (www.brainandspine.org.uk) — offers a helpline and resources for people with neurological conditions, including epilepsy.

YoungEpilepsy (www.youngepilepsy.org.uk) — specialist support for children and young people with epilepsy, and their families.

Glossary

Antiseizure medicine (ASM): A medication used to reduce the frequency or severity of seizures by stabilising electrical activity in the brain.

EEG (electroencephalogram): A test that measures and records the electrical activity in your brain using sensors placed on the scalp.

Focal seizure: A seizure that starts in one specific area of the brain. You may or may not lose consciousness during a focal seizure.

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): A type of brain scan that uses magnetic fields to produce detailed images of the brain's structure.

Neurologist: A doctor who specialises in conditions affecting the brain and nervous system.

Post-ictal phase: The period of tiredness, confusion, or disorientation that many people experience after a seizure. It can last from a few minutes to several hours.

Status epilepticus: A prolonged seizure lasting longer than five minutes, or a series of seizures without recovery in between. This is a medical emergency.

Tonic-clonic seizure: A type of seizure involving loss of consciousness, muscle stiffening (tonic phase), and rhythmic jerking movements (clonic phase). This is sometimes called a convulsive seizure.

This leaflet is for information purposes only and does not replace advice from your healthcare team. If you have questions about your condition or treatment, please speak to your doctor or specialist nurse.

Written by Anna Opala, MSc Clinical Neuroscience (UCL). Based on NICE Guideline NG217: Epilepsies in children, young people and adults (updated 2025). Last reviewed: May 2026.

The Lay Neuron — thelayneuron.com