Why epileptic seizures can happen

This information is aimed at prisoners with epilepsy. There is further information on what triggers seizures.

Sometimes there is no obvious cause. They just happen out of the blue. But sometimes there can be a reason, or ‘trigger’. If you know what triggers your seizures, you might be able to avoid that trigger.

• Here are some possible triggers. But not everyone has a trigger for their seizures.
• Not taking epilepsy medicine as prescribed
• Not eating regularly
• Not getting enough sleep
• Getting stressed or excited
• Being bored
• Some types of flashing or flickering light
• Alcohol
• Some street drugs

Drinking a lot of alcohol or taking street drugs can cause someone to have seizures (fits) for the first time. They might then go on to develop epilepsy.