Seizures In A Plane | MyEpilepsyTeam

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Seizures In A Plane
A MyEpilepsyTeam Member asked a question 💭

In May 2021, my son who was 7 years old at the time and experienced a grand mal seizure on an airplane. I would like to fly him from Florida to Seattle but I am scared to death of putting him on another plane. Has anyone ever had a grand mal seizure on the plane and if so did you ever fly again? And if you fly it again did you have a seizure?

posted January 11, 2023
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A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

Thank you! All the 3 neurologist tells me it’s ok for him to fly. That airplanes and altitude are not known seizure triggers. I Google a lot and find many accounts where people have had seizures from airplanes. I think they should do more test like rent a private jet with epileptic people and see if altitude is in fact a trigger. She gave me emergency meds. Thank for the answer!

posted January 11, 2023 (edited)
A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

Many factors could have lead to him having the seizure on the plane from anxiety about the trip itself, to being dehydrated from the altitude, from being hungry, from being sleep deprived if the flight was early and from the pressure changes from the flight. Now adding in having the seizure in front of strangers, and having other strangers attempting to help out. I would ask his doctor about the safety of him flying again (if you have not already done so). Your doctor might have some tools that could help if you were every in a position to fly again (including rescue medications). I have not had seizures while on a trip, but had LOTS of them during my visit.

posted January 11, 2023

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