Mixing medication and driving can result in serious accidents

Drivers who need to take either over the counter or prescription medication need to be aware of the potential impact the drugs may have on their ability to safely drive a vehicle.  It is important for drivers to also keep in mind that mixing drugs could result in undesirable side effects, making driving hazardous.  Every year there are thousands of needless auto accidents because drivers either knowingly or unknowingly took a medication or combination of medications that impaired his or her driving ability.

If you need to take medication, please keep the following tips from the American Automobile Association (AAA) in mind before you get behind the wheel:

1. Check with your physician to determine what the side effects of a prescribed medication might be and what, if anything, you can do to counter them, particularly as they apply to driving.
2. If you have more than one physician prescribing medications, make sure all of them know about all the drugs you are taking, including both prescribed and over-the-counter medication, vitamins, minerals and herbals. Bring all your medicines with you when you go to the doctor.
3. Read all labels and instructions on prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs to determine side effects and their relationship to whether you should drive. Keep in mind that combinations of medicines can magnify their effects beyond the individual warnings. Ask your pharmacist to look for dangerous drug interactions.
4. Convince yourself that the only safe action is not to drink alcoholic beverages at all if you intend to drive, and to refuse to ride with anyone who has been drinking.

For more information about the impact of driving while under the influence of medication, please see our library article “Drugged Drivers Menacing Texas Roads”.