Have Your Team Avoid Driving While Impaired with These Tips from the FDA
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Posted on the homepage of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on July 18, the article "Some Medicines and Driving Don’t Mix" raised an alert for individuals who might drive while impaired and not even know it.
The article advises: "The FDA advises you to make sure before operating any type of vehicle, whether a car, bus, train, plane, or boat.
"Although most medications won’t affect your ability to drive, some prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs (also called nonprescription medicines) can have side effects and cause reactions that may make it unsafe to drive, including:
- sleepiness/drowsiness
- blurred vision
- dizziness
- slowed movement
- fainting
- inability to focus or pay attention
- nausea
- excitability
"Some medicines can affect your driving for a short time after you take them. For others, the effects can last for several hours, and even the next day. And some medicines have a warning to not operate heavy machinery — this includes driving a car."
The article lists some drugs that could make it dangerous to drive, including:
- opioid pain relievers
- prescription drugs for anxiety (for example, benzodiazepines)
- anti-seizure drugs (antiepileptic drugs)
- antipsychotic drugs
- some antidepressants
- products containing codeine
- some cold remedies and allergy products, such as antihistamines (both prescription and OTC)
- sleeping pills
- muscle relaxants
- medicines that treat or control symptoms of diarrhea
- medicines that treat or prevent symptoms of motion sickness
- diet pills, “stay awake” drugs, and other medications with stimulants (e.g., caffeine, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine)
"Many take medicines to help sleep. Come morning, though, some sleep medicines could make you less able to perform activities for which you must be fully alert, including driving."
Specific sleep aids that have been cited are marketed as generic drugs under these brand names:
- Ambien and Ambien CR (oral tablet)
- Edluar (tablet placed under the tongue)
- Intermezzo (tablet placed under the tongue)
- Zolpimist (oral spray)
The full article is available here.
