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Epilepsy – DVLA Medication Change Concession — SCE Neurology MCQ

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HardEpilepsy & Seizure DisordersEpilepsy – DVLA Medication Change ConcessionSCE Neurology

A 34-year-old woman with known epilepsy controlled on lamotrigine 200 mg twice daily presents with a focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizure 3 weeks after her GP reduced her lamotrigine dose. She immediately resumes her previous effective dose and becomes seizure-free. She holds a Group 1 licence. Under which condition might she regain her licence before 12 months?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: B — If she goes back onto the previously effective dose, her prescriber confirms the change was responsible, and DVLA is satisfied she has resumed the effective regime for at least 6 months seizure-free

DVLA allows earlier relicensing (potentially at 6 months) following a seizure caused by a physician-directed medication change, provided the patient has resumed the previously effective medication, the prescriber confirms the change was the likely cause, and the patient has been seizure-free on the reinstated dose. This concession recognises that the seizure was provoked by the change rather than representing disease breakthrough. A: An independent medical exam alone is insufficient. C: 3 months is not a recognised interval. D: EEG normalisation is not a DVLA criterion. E: Switching medications does not fulfil the concession criteria.

Reference: DVLA – Assessing Fitness to Drive (2025)