25th June 2023

A 21-year-old man was admitted to the Acute Medical Unit following a first tonic-clonic seizure at a house party

A 21-year-old man was admitted to the Acute Medical Unit following a first tonic-clonic seizure at a house party. The seizure was witnessed by a friend who gave a good eye-witness account of a tonic-clonic seizure. He had no past medical history of note. He is not taking any medication.

He had had a beer and two shots (5 units) over 3 hours at the party before the seizure. He drinks 8-10 units a week, usually in one or two sessions socially. He has never had any withdrawal symptoms after stopping drinking. He has never had previous seizures. He denied taking any illicit drugs. There is no family history of seizures or epilepsy.

He held a normal (Group 1) driving licence.

On examination, he had a normal cardiovascular and neurological examination. All investigations were normal. He was discharged home with written advice about a first tonic-clonic seizure. An urgent outpatient MRI scan of the brain and a standard EEG were normal.

According to the DVLA, how long must he not drive for by Law in the UK?