SUDEP
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It's very rare for someone to die from epilepsy, however, it is not impossible. Some deaths come from accidents that happen as a result of the seizure, someone falling over and hitting their head for example, however, the vast majority are from what is called Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy, or SUDEP for short. It is estimated that around 600 people die each year from SUDEPs in the U.K, however the actual causes of SUDEPs are not yet understood. However, the risk of SUDEPs does depend on the type of epilepsy and how well it is managed. In many of the cases where it has unfortunately happened, it has often occurred during or after a seizure, sometimes during sleep. Currently, the most effective way to reduce the risk of SUDEP is to always take and prescribed medication exactly as it was intended, at the correct time and in the correct dosage.