Travel and holidays for people with epilepsy

Check the current guidance

Laws and guidance about travelling in and out of the UK can change. Check the government website for up-to-date advice on travelling abroad, including the latest information on coronavirus, safety and security, entry requirements and travel warnings for your chosen destination.

Plan ahead

Planning ahead and making sure you have everything you need for your trip can help to make travel more enjoyable and relaxing. Speak to your GP or epilepsy nurse about your travel plans at least 8 weeks before your trip. They can tell you what arrangements you need to make.

Medication

Different countries have their own rules and regulations about travelling with medication (including over-the- counter medicines, which may be controlled in other countries). Rules vary about:

•     the types of medication you can take into the country.
      Some countries do not allow some medicines in at all;
•     how much you can take in and bring back;
•     what paperwork or information you will need; and
•     how you should carry your medication.

It is a good idea to check with the embassy in the UK for the country you’re visiting.

Some prescribed medicines have extra legal controls in the UK and you may need a personal licence to take them abroad and to bring them back into the UK. Check the current situation on the government website and with the embassy of the country you are travelling to (see above).

Think about how you will carry your medication on the journey. Take the medication in its original packaging with a copy of the prescription. The NHS website has useful information about travelling with medicines.

It is a good idea to take more medication than you think you will need just in case your trip is delayed. However, if you are going away for a long time, your doctor may not be able to prescribe enough for the whole trip. 

Some medicines may not be available in other countries or may have a different name. Your GP, pharmacist, or the drug manufacturer may be able to tell you more about this.

If your medication is available in the country you are visiting, you may be able to get a prescription from a doctor in that country. You may have to pay for this. Usually you need a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor. You may have to get these translated.

If your medication is not available in the country you are travelling to, you may be able to pay to have the medicine sent out to you. Check with the embassy of the country you are visiting. 

Vaccinations

Travel vaccinations can protect against infectious diseases when visiting some countries. Most vaccines will not affect a person’s epilepsy, anti-seizure medication (ASM), or seizure control.

However, if you are aware that you may have a feverish reaction to a vaccination, which could be a seizure ‘trigger’ for you, it may help to seek advice from your GP or specialist.

Check what vaccinations are required for the country you are visiting and what paperwork may be needed. It is a good idea to do this well in advance as some vaccinations have to be given a number of weeks
ahead of travel.

Most countries have lifted requirements for proof of vaccination against, or testing for, COVID-19. However there are still a few countries that ask for this. Check the government website above for entry requirements for the country you are visiting.

Anti-malarial medication

Some anti-malarial medications can trigger seizures and are not suitable for people with epilepsy. If you need to use anti-malarial medication, your GP can advise you which medication will suit you best. The NHS website has information on malaria.

Applying for healthcare cover abroad - the GHIC and EHIC

Most UK residents are entitled to free, or reduced cost, emergency medical treatment during short visits to European Union countries.

You will need a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). This replaces the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). If you have an EHIC it will be valid until it expires but then you will need to apply for a GHIC to
replace it. Both the GHIC and EHIC are free.

Most UK nationals can also use the GHIC or EHIC in Switzerland, but not in Iceland, Lichtenstein, or Norway, where special rules apply.

If the country you are visiting charges for GP consultations, prescriptions, or stays in hospital, you will need to pay for these.

The NHS website has further information on the cards and how to apply. Call the GHIC enquiry line on 0300 330 1350 or Visit nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-uk-global-health-insurance-card-ghic

A GHIC or EHIC does not replace the need for travel insurance. It may not cover all health costs and never covers the cost of getting you home if you are taken ill or are injured abroad. The cards do not cover the cost of having to quarantine in a hotel due to coronavirus.

Travel insurance

Travel insurance companies look at each individual’s circumstances before giving a quote. Having epilepsy may mean that there is an increase in the premium you pay but this will depend on the type, frequency, and severity of your seizures.

Giving as much information as possible about your epilepsy may help the insurance company to give you an accurate and fair quote.

As with taking out any insurance policy, it is worth contacting a number of companies to get the best quote for your situation.

Flying

Having epilepsy does not usually prevent people from being able to travel by air. However, some people’s seizures are triggered by being very tired (which could happen because of long journeys or ‘jet lag’). Some people’s seizures can also be triggered by anxiety or excitement, which can affect some people when they are flying.

If there is a chance that you might have a seizure on the plane, it is useful for someone travelling with you to know about your epilepsy and how to help if you have a seizure. Also, telling the airline about your
epilepsy when you book means that they can let the cabin crew know about your seizures.

Take your medication in your hand luggage, in its original packaging, with a copy of your prescription, and a letter from your doctor if you have one. You could also pack some medication in your hold luggage with a copy of the prescription, just in case you lose your hand luggage.

Current airport security regulations allow you to carry tablets and capsules, or liquids up to 100ml, in your hand luggage, although some airports have removed the liquid limit. If your medicine is a liquid in a container larger than 100ml, check with the airport before you fly.

You may need to have a letter from your GP or specialist explaining about your epilepsy and the medication you take.

If you have a vagus nerve stimulator (VNS), it may be a good idea to let airport staff know, as the VNS may set-off the airport security scanner. The scanner will not affect the VNS.

If you are travelling to a different time zone, you may want to gradually adjust when you take your medication, so that you can take it at a manageable time of the day.

Organised holidays

The charity Phab runs holiday schemes around the UK, for people with and without disabilities.

General travel information

You may also find the following websites helpful (all links opens new window)

• Disabled Travel Advice - Information and travel advice for people with disabilities.
• Equality and Human Rights Commission - Information about air travel for disabled passengers.
• Fit For Travel - Information on how to avoid illness and stay healthy when traveling abroad.
• Foreign and Commonwealth Office - Travel advice and information by country, including safety and security warnings.
• The Hospital for Tropical Diseases - General health advice for travellers.

Taken from our Travel and holidays factsheet. Download the pdf using the link below.

Information updated : May 2024