“Just a spoonful of sugar and the medicine goes down,” the old song says. Just a spoonful of medicine at the wrong time, and your car could go down too—down an embankment! Such was the unfortunate reality of Doug, a 56-year-old accountant who had taken an over-the-counter cold medication before driving to visit a client. He didn’t know that the medicine would make him drowsy, until he woke up in his car in a deep ditch by the side of the road.
Most consumers are aware of the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs, but many don’t realize that certain prescription and over-the-counter medications can also impair driving. According to the New Mexico Department of Health, certain drugs can interfere with factors that are essential for safe driving, such as:
The effects of medications can vary among people. They are often influenced by length of use, tolerance, overall health, individual sensitivity to the drug, metabolism, age, interactions with other medications and other factors. For instance, elderly persons process some medications differently than younger adults, which could cause these drugs to affect them more profoundly.
Many medications—particularly those that affect the central nervous system—can impair your ability to drive. They may have side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, or diminished motor or judgment skills. Such medications may include:
Antihistamines
One study in the Annals of Internal Medicine suggested that a standard dose of the antihistamine had a greater negative effect on driving “coherence” than alcohol. Driving coherence is the ability to match the speed of the vehicle ahead to avoid accidents. This study also suggested that antihistamines and alcohol had similar effects on steering ability and the likelihood of crossing into another lane.
Benzodiazepines
Researchers at McGill University in Montreal studied records of nearly 225,000 people age 67-84, and found a 45% increase in injury-causing car accidents in people who had been taking a long-acting group of benzodiazepines. These medications are often prescribed to treat anxiety or insomnia . Long-lasting benzodiazepines stay in the bloodstream for more than 24 hours. They include:
Other benzodiazepines are not as long lasting, though shorter-acting benzodiazepines have a strong effect for the first few hours, which can impair driving skills during that time.
Drugs in this group include the following:
In many states, it is illegal to drive while under the influence of sedating medications. But it’s important to take precautions when taking any medication. Here are some tips:
RESOURCES:
The National Library of Medicine
http://www.nlm.nih.gov
United States Food and Drug Administration
Consumer Drug Information
http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Family Physician
http://www.cfpc.ca/cfp/
Canadian Pharmacists Association
www.pharmacists.ca/
References:
New Mexico Department of Health website. Available at: http://www.health.state.nm.us/.
The Pennsylvania State University website. Available at: http://www.psu.edu/.
Stephen F. Austin State University website. Available at: http://www.sfasu.edu/.
Last reviewed June 2010 by Brian Randall, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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