Knowing about risks means you can take action to reduce them.
In summary, some steps you can take to reduce seizure related risks, injury or death are:
Get the best seizure control possible.
- Take your medication as prescribed
- Speak to your doctor if you are not happy with your current medication or side effects
- Regular reviews with your doctor
Be involved in managing your seizures
- Avoid any known seizure triggers for you
- Avoid drinking too much alcohol, avoid illicit drugs
- Know when your seizures are most likely to occur
- Get enough sleep
- Be healthy
- Manage stress
Make sure those close to you know what to do in case of a seizure
Go through the SUDEP and Safety Checklist with your doctor or one of our epilepsy nurses to help determine your risk.
The resources below may also help you understand risks, and live well with your epilepsy:
Brochures and Books – information for families and health professionals
Safety Devices – information about devices and tools available to support people with epilepsy
Clinical Information and Guidelines for Epilepsy – information for clinicians about how to diagnose, treat and manage epilepsy
- SUDEP and Seizure Safety Checklist for doctors (Australia)
- NICE (UK)
- ILAE Seizure Classification Summary
Other Supports – should you have specific questions in between visits to your clinician
- Epilepsy Action Australia – Book a telehealth consult with an epilepsy nurse
- Epilepsy: In Memoriam Facebook community
- The Epilepsy Death Register – a single international point for families and clinicians to record epilepsy-related deaths