First Seizure
Date issued: February 2025
For review: February 2027
Ref: A-525/NB/ED/First Seizure v2
PDF: First Seizure.pdf [pdf] 163KB
You have been given this information sheet because the Emergency Department (ED) team have said that you have had a first seizure and are well enough to be discharged from ED.
About 8-10% of people will have a seizure at some point in their lives. Sometimes there is a clear cause such as a significant head injury, drug or alcohol withdrawal, but there may not be an obvious cause and the seizure is “unprovoked”. Overall, about 50% of people will go on to have more seizures. Further review and investigations may be needed to decide if you are more or less likely to have further seizures, and you will have been referred to the Ambulatory Care Unit (ACU) first seizure clinic, where this review and the organisation of any specialised investigation can take place.
The ACU clinic appointment should be within a few days at most. When you attend, please bring with you a witness to your attack if possible, or at least have a description of what happened.
Before you leave ED please check:
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That you have been given a copy of the Epilepsy Action leaflet “Information from ED after a first tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizure”
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That you have an appointment / letter for the AAU first fit clinic
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That someone has given you (and any family/friends as appropriate) some basic safety advice, this is further outlined in the Epilepsy Action leaflet.
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That someone has told you the DVLA rules if you are a driving licence holder, you cannot drive and will need to inform the DVLA. More information on this will be given at the first fit clinic and you can look it up on the DVLA website.
In the unlikely event that you have a further seizure before the first fit clinic and have not been readmitted to the hospital, please attend the clinic appointment and inform the doctor who sees you that you have had a further attack.
A single seizure is not the same as epilepsy. Epilepsy is a tendency to have further unprovoked seizures and that diagnosis is usually made after 2 or more seizures (or after a single seizure if a risk factor for further attacks is found following investigation).
Further information
If you have questions or need further advice before then you should contact your GP. You may also find more useful information on the following websites:
Epilepsy Action 0808 800 5050
Epilepsy Society 01494 601400
DVLA 0300 790 6806
