Free family and friends training courses
Living with epilepsy can be challenging, not just for those diagnosed but also for their family and friends. Understand more about epilepsy and how to offer effective support.
We are Epilepsy Society. The UK’s only charity transforming the lives of people with epilepsy through world-leading research, advocacy and care.
What we do
Cutting edge research
Epilepsy Society is unique in bringing together experts from around the world to form a powerhouse multidisciplinary team who contribute to a wide ranging spectrum of research.
Advocacy
We are a voice for people with epilepsy, striving to push epilepsy up the political agenda and bring about change at government level.
Leading care provider
Our range of care is tailored to the needs of each individual, and our professional staff are committed to maximising the life potential of everyone within our care homes.
Epilepsy support
Our confidential epilepsy helpline and online information provide support to people who are affected by epilepsy.
Our research
Genomics
Read how we are working to understand the genetic architecture of each individual person's epilepsy through our world leading genomics research programme.
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM)
Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is an area of clinical chemistry that specialises in measuring medication levels (concentrations) in patients, usually through blood samples but also through saliva samples.
Research
The ultimate goals of our current research are to spearhead personalised treatment and to incorporate genomic diagnosis into the NHS for people with epilepsy.
Sodium valproate
Sodium valproate is an epilepsy medication prescribed for all seizure types including absence, myoclonus and tonic clonic seizures. New regulations have been introduced by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) around the way in which the drug, sodium valproate is prescribed. Find out about the changes and how they might affect you.
Latest news
New research suggests similar brain patterns in seizure-linked psychosis and schizophrenia
Latest research at the Epilepsy Society using pioneering research equipment has shown parallels between people with seizure-linked psychosis and schizophrenia.
Treatment for ultra-rare form of epilepsy shows promising results
A late-stage study has shown promising results for the effectiveness of fenfluramine in people with an ultra-rare form of epilepsy - CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD).
CDD affects approximately one in 40,000 to 60,000 live births. The disorder causes uncontrolled seizures and symptoms usually appear at six weeks of age, alongside learning and developmental issues.
Boosting clinical trials in the UK
Epilepsy Society has welcomed new plans to boost clinical trials in the UK as part of the NHS 10-year health plan.
Australian Epilepsy Project using AI to improve outcomes for people with epilepsy
A new project in Australia is using AI to fast-track the time between diagnosis and seizure control, with the aim of improving outcomes for people with epilepsy. Advancements in technology are enabling the Australian Epilepsy Project to crunch decades of data and compare it with a patient's medical imaging, family history, cognitive and genomic markers.
Keep your cool – staying safe in the heat
A survey* carried out by the Epilepsy Society showed that 62 per cent of people with uncontrolled seizures experience an increase in their seizure activity during unusually hot weather.
It is important to make sure that you take sensible precautions to ensure that you stay cool, particularly if you know your epilepsy is sensitive to the heat. Here are a few tips that may help:
Valproate safety material and warning about risk to babies’ birth weight
Updated safety and educational materials have been published for the anti-seizure medication valproate*.
1,200 die every year in the UK from epilepsy related deaths
Personal stories
Becca's story
Sweet Success! How Becca and the amazing team at Gemini Chocolate raised an incredible £1,000 for the Epilepsy Society.
Eamonn's story
Eamonn is a restaurant and bar manager and he was diagnosed with epilepsy aged 18.
Ben's story
Five race journey: raising awareness of epilepsy one step at a time.
" They couldn't understand why going out into the sunlight would bring on seizures - until our genetic testing revealed the cause of Daniel's epilepsy. "
Genetic testing could mean a new world of personalised treatment that transforms lives. By understanding more about each person’s genes, we will understand more about their epilepsy and how to treat it.
