Joseph Drazkowski, MD, FAAN, Responds

It depends on whether your seizures are under control and what the laws are in your state. Seizures are said to be under control for driving purposes if you haven't had one for six months, but each state sets its own timetable, which may have longer or shorter wait times.

Understand Your Seizure Risk

Having a seizure can make you lose control of your body, change the way you act and perceive things, or cause you to lose consciousness. If you have a seizure while driving, you could lose control and harm yourself and others.

Research Your State Laws

Every state sets its own rules about driving for people who have had even a single seizure. To find out the laws in your state, call your state's department of motor vehicles (DMV) or visit its website. You can also check the Epilepsy Foundation's state driving laws database.

Once the time limit is up, you will need a letter from your doctor clearing you to drive. If you've been diagnosed with a seizure disorder, states often require confirmation from your doctor that you're on appropriate medication and that your seizures are under control.

Recognize Special Circumstances

Some states may allow people with epilepsy to drive if they have certain kinds of seizure disorders, including nocturnal epilepsy (seizures only during sleep), focal aware seizures (during which they remain aware and can drive safely), or have a long aura (warning) before a seizure. Applications for a license typically require either that your doctor fill out a portion of the application describing your seizures and noting the medications you've been prescribed, or that your doctor write a letter regarding your condition.

Keep in mind, though, that state laws may vary, and even if one state grants a driver's license to someone who has a certain type of seizure, another state may not. In some states the DMV may appoint an independent expert to review your case, including your doctor's recommendations, and decide whether you may drive and whether to impose restrictions on your license, such as only driving close to home or only during the day.

Discuss Your Medications

Talk to your doctor about how your medication might affect your ability to drive a car safely. Will it fully control your seizures? Will side effects such as drowsiness impair driving? Depending on the answers, you and your doctor may decide against driving.

If you've had no seizures for a while and your doctor decides to taper you off medication, you may be advised not to drive for a month or more; during the tapering-off process, your risk of experiencing a seizure increases.

If you change medications, your doctor may suggest taking a break from driving to see how you respond to the new medication. Some states may ask you to report any changes, such as a new medication or a recurrence of seizures, that might impair your driving.