Before You Board: A Calm Epilepsy Travel Checklist for UK Holidays in 2026

Travel is not a test of how well someone manages epilepsy. It is a series of practical arrangements, most of which can be made in advance. The aim of this checklist is not to frighten anyone out of a holiday, but to reduce the number of avoidable surprises. Rules can change, so confirm details with your prescriber, pharmacist, insurer and transport provider before you go.

Before booking: insurance and declarations

Declare epilepsy when you buy travel insurance. An undeclared condition can undermine a claim, even if the seizure is unrelated to the reason for claiming. Compare policies that explicitly cover pre-existing neurological conditions, and check the excess, emergency treatment cover and repatriation terms. A UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) can help with some state-provided care abroad, but it is not a substitute for travel insurance.

Check whether your destination or planned activities are excluded. Adventure sports, scuba diving and some driving requirements may need separate cover. Save the insurer's emergency number and policy number somewhere accessible, including offline on your phone.

Medication supply: start early

Begin planning your prescription six to eight weeks before travel where possible. NHS prescriptions are usually intended for routine UK supply, and a GP may not be able to issue a longer supply simply because you are going away. Ask your prescriber or pharmacist what is possible for your medicines and destination. You may need a private prescription or an early repeat, and some medicines have extra restrictions.

Carry enough anti-seizure medicine for the whole trip, plus a few extra days in case of delay. Keep medicines in their original labelled packaging, with the pharmacy label showing your name and dose. Carry them in hand luggage rather than checked baggage. Split the supply between two bags if you can, so that one lost bag does not remove all your treatment.

If you take a controlled medicine, ask your prescriber about a letter and check the destination country's rules well in advance. Even medicines that are ordinary in the UK can be restricted elsewhere.

Airport security: practical, not dramatic

Keep medicines accessible for screening. Liquid medicines may be subject to the 100ml hand-luggage rule, but essential prescription medicines can sometimes be carried in larger quantities if you have supporting documentation. Check the specific airport's current guidance before travel, because security arrangements vary. A printed copy of your prescription, a clinician's letter and the original packaging will usually make the process smoother.

You do not need to apologise for carrying medicines. Tell the security officer if you need a private screening area, and allow extra time. Do not put anti-seizure medicines in hold luggage simply to avoid questions.

Time zones and dosing

Ask your prescriber or epilepsy specialist nurse how to manage dosing across time zones before you book unusual flight times. For short trips, some people are advised to keep to UK timing; for longer stays, a gradual shift may be planned. Do not double up or skip doses to force a new routine. Write the plan down, set phone alarms and keep a small supply with you during the journey.

If a seizure happens abroad

Make sure a travelling companion knows basic seizure first aid and when to call emergency services. The emergency number is 112 in many European countries and 999 in the UK; check the local number for your destination. Carry a brief medical summary, a list of medicines and your insurance details. If you need hospital care, contact your insurer's emergency line as soon as practical.

A printable checklist

• Travel insurance bought, epilepsy declared, policy and emergency numbers saved offline.
• GHIC checked if relevant, but not relied on instead of insurance.
• Prescription plan agreed with GP, pharmacist or specialist nurse.
• Medicines in original packaging, in hand luggage, with extra days' supply.
• Clinician's letter and prescription copy for security and border checks.
• Time-zone dosing plan written down, with alarms set.
• Companion briefed on seizure first aid and emergency numbers.
• Medical summary, medicine list and insurer details carried.

After the holiday

Review what worked. Replenish supplies, update your diary if you keep one, and tell your clinician about any seizures or medicine problems abroad. Most trips pass without incident, and the preparations quickly fade into the background. That is the point: good planning should make epilepsy quieter, not louder.