Charlie Card
Our policy work
Order or download your Charlie Card today
The Charlie Card is a self-advocacy tool if you find yourself without your regular anti-seizure medications. You can request a minimum emergency supply from any chemist, to tide you over until you receive your regular prescription. The Charlie Card highlights the legal framework allowing emergency supply under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.
Please use the link below to our charity shop to order a free Charlie Card for your wallet or purse.
Alternatively you can download a copy of the Charlie Card to save in a folder on your phone for whenever you need it.
Our policy work
Frequently asked questions
We understand that you may have questions around how your Charlie Card can help you.
Please see below to read some FAQs we have put together for people living with epilepsy and pharmacists.
If you’d like to donate or fundraise to help SUDEP Action continue providing the Charlie Card for free to people living with epilepsy, please click the button below:
Our policy work
Your right to emergency medications when you need them
Sometimes, people with epilepsy experience delays in getting their repeat prescriptions because of occasional shortages in medications supply.
Charlie Marriage was unable to obtain access to his medication when he needed it. He subsequently died of SUDEP in 2021. The tragedy of Charlie’s story is that no one recognised the seriousness of his situation because at the time he asked for help, he looked and sounded well. Epilepsy is a ‘cliff edge’ condition. A seizure can strike out of the blue.
Our policy work
Know your rights
• The Human Medicines Regulations 2012 allows pharmacists to provide an emergency supply of anti-seizure medication (except Phenobarbitone) on a patient’s request so long as conditions apply.
• Any patient can request an emergency supply of medication from any pharmacy / chemist without a prescription – and they have a duty to provide it.
• If it is not in stock, they must advise.
More information can be found at the links below:
Charlie Marriage: Prevention of Future Deaths Report – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
Any health professional can use the SUDEP and Seizure Safety Checklist
Anyone over 16 with epilepsy can use the EpSMon App to assess seizure risk
Also see
A digital tool for reducing risks
Supporting clinicians so important info is shared
A paediatric version of the SUDEP and Seizure Safety Checklist
For one-to-one support after an epilepsy death contact our support team today
We provide the only support line for people bereaved by an epilepsy death and offer access to qualified counselling. Our dedicated support team has a special interest in, and understanding of, sudden and traumatic death.
