I side with Bernard 100%. And no Medical
Doctor is going to risk their own profession
and liabilities "just because a patient wants..."
It just does not work that way.
While every State / Country has their own
laws, rules, regulations which varies in which
Doctors must comply. Some areas are more
rigid than others; but the main issue here is
"common sense".
First of all - being seizure free is the first priority,
not being med-free.
While I am NOT A MEDICAL DOCTOR - I am
implying that if you feel that you have been
E-free for xxx number of years/months, and
having been on this xxx medication(s) and have
had absolutely NO SEIZURES and you are being
completely honest.
The next step would be to gradually reduce you
off of your medication(s) under the Neurologist
or Epileptologist's supervision, ONLY IF HE/SHE
deems that it can be done. He/She will NOT do it
if they know that it cannot be accomplished, even
if you feel otherwise. You may go for a 2nd opinion
for a further evaluation and review, but it does not
guarantee that you will be off of the medication(s)!
The titration of the medication(s) being gradually
reduced is a slow process and must be carefully
monitored, because if at any point if a seizure does
occur, it will blow your chances of obtaining a driver's
license and not only that, it may very well "rock the
boat" of the medication(s) that was working for you.
There have been cases of individuals where what
was working for them, when they were gradually
titrated off of it, just could not be titrated back to
where they were before! So there is a risk factor
involved there. And sometimes is not wise to toy
with something that is working.
But if the evaluation is revealing that it is possible
for you to be taken off of the medication(s) or be
lowered (but not removed entirely) or removed off,
you can expect a year or two or three of this process
(it varies depending on the individual and the reaction
and the response).
Then "if only" after the medication had been removed,
there is a time frame/period - depending on the laws,
regulations, etc - of some States / Countries; in regarding
how long you have to be E-free while being off of the
medication before you can even be considered eligible
for a learner's permit (if you never driven before) or
a driver's license or a restricted driver's license for
a time being.
It is a lengthy process - but it will be worth it all at the
end, but whatever you do, never do anything without
your Doctor's supervision and do not take yourself off
of anything on your own!