2010 BC Guide in Determining Fitness to Drive

23.16 Private drivers with epilepsy who change medicationApplicationAssessment guidelinesFitness guidelinesOSMV determinationguidelinesConditionsRestrictionsRe-assessmentguidelinesThese guidelines apply to driver fitness determinations for privatedrivers with epilepsy who undergo a prescribed change to orwithdrawal of an effective antiepileptic medication. These guidelinesonly apply where the individual’s treatment was effective (i.e., theirepilepsy was controlled) prior to the change to or withdrawal frommedication. This means they should not have had a seizure for at leastsix months prior to the change or withdrawal of medication. If theirtreatment prior to the change was not effective, then the guidelines forprivate drivers with epilepsy outlined in 23.12 apply.If further information is required, OSMV will request: a Driver’s Medical Examination Report additional information from the treating physician, or an assessment from a neurologist.Individuals may drive if it has been 3 months since the change orwithdrawal and they have not had a seizure during that time.Individuals who have a seizure after a change to, or withdrawal from,epileptic medication may be found fit to drive if: they re-establish a previously effective treatment regime, and the treating physician indicates that further seizures are unlikely.OSMV may find individuals fit to drive if: it has been 3 months since the change or withdrawal and they havenot had a seizure during that time.Individuals who have a seizure after a change to, or withdrawal from,epileptic medication may be found fit to drive if: they re-establish a previously effective treatment regime, and the treating physician indicates that further seizures are unlikelyOSMV will impose the following conditions on an individual who isfound fit to drive: you must routinely follow your treatment regime and physician’sadvice regarding prevention of seizures, and you must cease driving and report to OSMV and your physician ifyou have a seizure.No restrictions are required.If a seizure occurred within the past 12 months, OSMV will re-assessin one year. If no further seizures are reported at that time, or if aseizure did not occur within the past 12 months, OSMV will re-assessin five years. If no further seizures are reported at that time, no furtherre-assessment, other than routine age-related re-assessment, isrequired.313