Surrendered Driving License (Epilepsy)

92203

Hi Everyone,

Feeling pretty low at the moment. I developed Epilepsy at the end of 2011 while withdrawing from Citalopram. Surrendered my license immediately, as advised by the medical professionals who treated me at the time. I tried AEDs and felt very ill so stopped taking it. By late 2013 I'd managed to go for a year without any seizures and managed to get my license back.

Unfortunately in mid 2014, I overdid it on a works night out and drank myself into a stupour. I had a seizure the next morning and had to surrender my license again. I was put onto another AED, and found that the effects were very difficult to live with so didn't take it. I stopped drinking alcohol, as at this point it became apparrent that it could can trigger seizures. Due to some exceptionaly stressful circumstances, I had two further seizures in early 2015.

By mid 2016 I'd managed to go a year seizure free without medication and got my license back again. What a fantastic feeling!

Over the new year, I developed an chest infection. I felt extremely unwell for weeks on end, though kept pushing myself at work, when I really should have taken some time off sick. (I deliver complex IT projects to tight deadlines, and taking time off puts these in jeapordy and ultimately leaves my employer in a difficult situation)

After three weeks of feeling extremely unwell, but too busy to take time off work, I had a Grand Mall seizure, bringing 19 seizure/medication free months to an end The seizure occurred at work on Monday morning - I could barely get out of bed, though forced myself into the office (I did not drive that day, as I felt too ill). It was mid-morning that the seizure occurred. I have surrendered my license again and have been prescribed a new drug (I have not yet started taking this - waiting for my post-ictal symptoms to go first).

I have a few questions about my driving license ;

1) When I reach the 1 year seizure free mark,Will the DVLA refuse to reissue it because I've surrendered it so many times?

2)Assuming I manage to stay seizure free, am I unlikely to get my license back unless I take the medication?

I am would rather not commit to long-term AED usage, especially bearing in mind that my seizures are infrequent, and in general avoidable (I no longer drink and now know not to look after myself when unwell.).

However, if the only way to get my license back is to take the meds, then I will start on them immediately.

What are people's opinions on this?

Billy_Bullocks

Speak to someone medically qualified rather than take forum advice.

92203

Billy_Bullocks wrote: »

Speak to someone medically qualified rather than take forum advice.

Thanks.

I have a private neurology appointment next week, so will hopefully find out then. I was just wondering whether anyone who had been through similar experiences had any viewpoints.

lincroft1710

Were I in charge of reissuing driving licences I might have doubts about reissuing yours but I'm not and there may well be criteria as to the number of times a licence can be reissued and whether refusing prescribed medication would affect this.

da_rule

From the guidelines issued on the .gov website there doesn't appear to be any mention of the number of times you can surrender and then reapply for your licence. The question may be whether the doctor, given your history, is happy to declare you fit.

lincroft1710

da_rule wrote: »

From the guidelines issued on the .gov website there doesn't appear to be any mention of the number of times you can surrender and then reapply for your licence.

But that doesn't mean they don't apply an "unofficial" one. You can imagine the headlines if someone who suffers with epilepsy unfortunately had a seizure and a serious or fatal accident ensued and it was discovered that their licence had been surrendered and reissued several times.

92203

Thanks for the replies.

Interested to hear opinions. I expect that I will end up taking the meds this time around. Even though my seizures only occur very infrequently, the impact they have on my life is significant.

I will persevere with the medication this time around. From discussions I've read on various Epilepsy forums,finding a medication which works is very much a trial and error process.

da_rule

lincroft1710 wrote: »

But that doesn't mean they don't apply an "unofficial" one. You can imagine the headlines if someone who suffers with epilepsy unfortunately had a seizure and a serious or fatal accident ensued and it was discovered that their licence had been surrendered and reissued several times.

While I have no doubt that they'd like to do this. If they act outside of their powers in refusing to reissue the licence they are open to challenge.

When the licence is surrendered a letter gets issued saying what steps are needed for it to be reissued. As long as these are complied with they can't refuse to reissue.

lincroft1710

da_rule wrote: »

While I have no doubt that they'd like to do this. If they act outside of their powers in refusing to reissue the licence they are open to challenge.

When the licence is surrendered a letter gets issued saying what steps are needed for it to be reissued. As long as these are complied with they can't refuse to reissue.

Having worked for many years in a govt. dept. I know that rules and procedures weren't always adhered to. Although procedures have been ostensibly tightened up since my time there.

Billy_Bullocks

lincroft1710 wrote: »

Having worked for many years in a govt. dept. I know that rules and procedures weren't always adhered to. Although procedures have been ostensibly tightened up since my time there.

So on what grounds do you suggest they may refuse the reissue?

spiro

It wouldn't surprise me if insurance became more of an issue if they realise this keeps happening.