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LIVING WELL WITH EPILEPSY

Travel

All holidays require planning whether you intend to travel overseas, interstate or take a short break just a couple of hours from home. Having a regular supply of medication is most important for anyone travelling away from home for any period of time. It is prudent to carry a copy of your prescription with you. If something unforeseen happens to your medication you can have it replaced immediately.

Travelling overseas requires some extra planning. Arrange to take enough of your medication in its original packaging to last your holiday. If you are going for less than six months, you should take enough medication to last the whole time. Pharmacists are able to dispense the full amount of the script, including all the repeats at once, if the doctor endorses the script with the words ‘Regulation 24’.

You should ask your doctor for a letter listing your medications, including their generic (chemical) names, since brand names may vary between countries. This is useful for customs and in case you need to get tablets while you are away. If your seizures are not fully controlled and especially if you are travelling alone, it may be helpful to ask your doctor for a brief letter about your condition, in case you need to see a doctor while you are away. Always carry extra medication in your hand luggage in case your main luggage is lost or delayed.

Find out if vaccinations are recommended for the country or countries you intend to visit. Most vaccines are safe for people with epilepsy with the exception of malaria. Your doctor will be able to discuss your options with you.

Long distance travel can disrupt your sleep pattern and your medication routine. What to do when changing time zones depends on how many hours the change will be. Former President of the Epilepsy Society of Australia Dr Ernie Somerville offers the following advice based on medications taken twice a day:

If the time at your destination is less than four hours ahead of or behind your home time, you probably don’t need to worry – just take your medication in the normal way. While you are on the plane, take them about 12 hours apart. The same applies if your destination is between 8 and 16 hours ahead or behind your home time. The easiest way to figure this out is to compare the time at home and the time at your destination, ignoring whether it is am or pm. If the difference in these two times is four hours or less, just carry on as usual. (Don’t worry about the International Dateline!) If it is not, then you should talk to your neurologist about what to do. It is also advisable to avoid excessive alcohol during the flight.

It is highly recommended that you take out travel insurance for the duration of your trip. As epilepsy is considered a pre-existing condition, a higher premium will be charged but you will rest assured knowing that you are covered in the event of an emergency. Medical costs incurred outside Australia have the potential to cause financial ruin.

There are epilepsy organisations in many countries if you need advice or referral. The Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria can give you the relevant contact details.

 

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