Your doctor prescribed you a new medication recently, but do you know the full impact of the prescription’s side effects? Specific medications can hamper your driving ability, which can result in an auto accident and potential charges.
The FDA examines medications that can make a person drowsy or otherwise hinder driving ability. Read your medication’s OTC medicine label to determine how to keep yourself safe behind the wheel while taking proper care of your health.
Unsafe driving side effects and reactions
Keep an eye out for specific medication side effects and reactions that may make it unsafe to drive:
- Excitability
- Drowsiness/sleepiness
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Slow reaction time
- Poor focus
If you notice these side effects, ask your pharmacist or doctor how long they last. That way, you can plan your drives around the medication’s impact.
Prescriptions known to affect driving
Some medication types and classes are more likely to make it hazardous to drive than others:
- Muscle relaxers
- Opioids
- Sleeping medication
- Diet pills
- Antipsychotics
If you take a combination of prescriptions, ask whether taking them together can turn you into an unsafe motorist.
Side effects may linger
Those who take sleeping medication must look out for lingering effects the morning after taking their dosage. A specific prescription ingredient that can impair driving ability is zolpidem. Even over-the-counter sleep aids may impede a person’s driving skills. With either sleeping medication type, taking the lowest effective dose may help prevent accidents.
Were you involved in a recent car accident that resulted in drug charges? Work with an attorney to protect your rights and build your defense.
