Keeping your medication safe
Your medication needs to be kept out of the reach of children and in a safe place where you will be able to find it easily. Avoid carrying tablets in glass containers as these may break during a seizure. Most pharmacists can supply plastic pill boxes or handy blister packs which have the tablets divided into days and doses. Always keep some spare doses with you in case you are delayed or away unexpectedly.
Travelling with medication
When travelling you will need to take enough medication to cover the time you will be away, plus some extra doses to cover any delays. Anti-Seizure Medications (ASMs) are sold under different brand names in other countries and are not always easily identifiable. However, the generic compound name is the same. If you are travelling by air, carry your medication in its original packaging in your hand luggage. If you are going on a long haul flight to a country where there is a big time difference, your medical team can advise if you need to change your dose schedules before travelling. Carry a copy of your prescription also. If your medication gets lost you may need to have it prescribed again by a local doctor. EU countries can dispense on each other’s prescriptions but countries outside the EU will not.
Our colleagues in the International Bureau for Epilepsy have a very useful document on travelling with epilepsy. This can be read and downloaded by visiting the 'International Bureau for Epilepsy' website.
When travelling within Europe, it is very beneficial to apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This entitles EU citizens to public care in other member states. While it is important to have a EHIC, it is equally important to note that public health services may vary between EU members states. Therefore, it is important to look into obtaining Travel Insurance to potentially cover any shortfall from the EHIC. You can find further information on how to apply for a EHIC by visiting the HSE website.