Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Menu

Driving with these medicines? Better not!

Reading time 6 Min.

Driving with these medicines? Better not!

It is undisputed that people who have consumed alcohol should not drive. Yet many ignore the rule, putting themselves and others at risk. Many accidents illustrate the dramatic consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol. Even with small amounts of alcohol, caution is advised, because problems can arise even below 0,5 per mil. Even the effects of medication on driving are often overlooked, but again, extreme caution is required as some medications can affect driving ability.

Overview of medicines

sedative

sleeping pills

Painkiller

Anti-allergy remedies

cold medication

heart medication

Medicines for high blood pressure

Means against gastrointestinal diseases

Psychotropic drugs

Eye preparations

antiepileptics

Antidepressants

muscle relaxants

antipsychotics

antiemetics

medication for ADHD

Opioid pain relievers

Medicines for diabetes

Medicines for Parkinson's

First generation antihistamines

Endangering your driver's license: which medicines should you avoid before driving?

The ADAC estimates that about a fifth of all available drugs affect driving ability. This applies not only to prescription medicines, but also to some over-the-counter medicines. While there is no law specifically prohibiting driving after taking certain medications, that doesn't mean you should drive safely. If, for example, a sedative is detected in your blood in the event of an accident, this can have serious consequences, such as the refusal of comprehensive insurance and the loss of your driver's license. According to the German Road Safety Council (DVR), even a medical-psychological examination (MPU) to be ordered.

Driving and medication: Some medicines contain alcohol!

Some medicines contain alcohol, which also calls for caution. Of course, some people cannot do without certain medications. Therefore, it is important to discuss with a doctor or pharmacist whether a drug may affect driving safety. The package insert can also be helpful. Information about drug interactions, including over-the-counter drugs, should also be obtained. The German Road Safety Council has already called for the introduction of easy-to-understand information on medication packaging, for example in the form of a traffic light system, to make clear the impairment of driving safety.

Driving and medicines: Be careful with the following groups of medicines!

The negative effects of medication on driving can be manifold. They can cause tiredness, slow down reaction time or impair vision. The drugs listed earlier in the table are explained in more detail in the following text.

    • tranquilizers: Often referred to as anxiolytics, these drugs are used to treat anxiety and agitation. They work by depressing the central nervous system, resulting in relaxation and calming. Examples are benzodiazepines and buspirone. Back to top
    • sleeping pills: Sleeping medications are used to treat sleep disorders such as insomnia. They work by depressing the central nervous system, leading to drowsiness and falling asleep. Examples are zolpidem, zopiclone and benzodiazepines. Back to top
    • Painkiller: Pain relievers, also called analgesics, are medications used to relieve pain. They can be divided into different categories such as non-opioid analgesics (e.g. acetaminophen, ibuprofen) and opioid analgesics (e.g. morphine, oxycodone). Painkillers work in different ways, either by blocking pain signals or by affecting how the brain perceives pain. Back to top
    • Anti-allergy remedies: Allergy medications, also called antihistamines, are used to treat allergic reactions. They work by blocking the action of histamine, a substance released during allergic reactions. Examples are cetirizine, loratadine and fexofenadine. Back to top
    • Cold Medicines: Cold medicines are a combination of different active ingredients that are used to relieve cold symptoms such as cough, runny nose, sore throat and fever. They may contain antihistamines, pain relievers, decongestants, and cough suppressants. Back to top
    • Heart medications: Heart medications are used to treat cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure, angina, and cardiac arrhythmias. Examples are beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and ACE inhibitors. They work in a variety of ways to lower blood pressure, regulate heart rate, or reduce the workload on the heart. Back to top
    • Medicines for high blood pressure: These drugs are used to treat high blood pressure. They work in different ways to lower blood pressure, such as by relaxing blood vessels or reducing the amount of fluid in the body. Examples include diuretics, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). Back to top
    • Medication for gastrointestinal diseases: These drugs are used to treat gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, heartburn, constipation, and diarrhea. Examples include antacids, H2 blockers, proton pump inhibitors, antiemetics, and laxatives. They work in different ways, e.g. B. by neutralizing stomach acid, reducing acid production or regulating bowel movements. Back to top
    • psychotropic drugs: Psychiatric drugs are drugs used to treat mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Examples include antidepressants, anxiolytics, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers. They work in different ways by affecting the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain responsible for mood and behavior regulation. Back to top
    • eye preparations:  Eye preparations are medications used to treat eye conditions such as glaucoma, dry eyes, conjunctivitis, and allergic reactions. Examples are eye drops, ointments and gels that contain anti-inflammatory, decongestant, pain-relieving or pressure-reducing active ingredients. They work in different ways, e.g. B. by reducing intraocular pressure, protecting the surface of the eye or reducing inflammation and swelling. Back to top
    • antiepileptics: Drugs used to treat epilepsy and seizures can cause tiredness, dizziness, and trouble concentrating. Back to top
    • Antidepressants: Drugs used to treat depression can cause drowsiness, decreased reaction time, and dizziness. Back to top
    • Muscle relaxants: Drugs used to relax muscles can cause drowsiness, dizziness and impaired coordination. Back to top
    • Antipsychotics: Drugs used to treat mental disorders such as schizophrenia can cause drowsiness, decreased concentration, and slower reaction times. Back to top
    • Antiemetics: Medicines for nausea and vomiting can cause dizziness, drowsiness and reduced reaction time. Back to top
    • Medications for ADHD: Stimulants such as methylphenidate, used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), can cause side effects such as trouble sleeping, nervousness, and dizziness. Back to top
    • Opioid pain relievers: Strong painkillers such as morphine, oxycodone or fentanyl can cause drowsiness, dizziness and impaired reaction time. Back to top
    • Medicines for diabetes: Medicines for diabetes (such as insulin or sulphonylureas), particularly when not dosed correctly, can cause hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar), which can result in dizziness, tremors and confusion. Back to top
    • Medicines for Parkinson's: Medicines used to treat Parkinson's disease can cause dizziness, drowsiness and lack of coordination. Back to top
    • First-generation antihistamines: Unlike the newer antihistamines, which usually do not cause drowsiness, older antihistamines (eg, diphenhydramine) can cause severe drowsiness and reduced reaction time. Back to top

And finally ... It is essential to keep in mind that medication can affect your ability to drive. Before driving, you should therefore check carefully whether the medication you are taking has side effects that could impair your reaction speed, alertness or perception. If in doubt, it is advisable to speak to a doctor or pharmacist and to pay attention to the package insert. The safety of all road users should always come first, so it is imperative to act responsibly and refrain from driving when you are on medication.

Driving with these medicines? Better not!

Of course, that wasn't the end of it.

tuningblog.eu has a lot of other articles on the subject of auto & tuning in stock. Do you want to see them all? Just click HERE and look around. But also planned changes in the law, violations in road traffic, current regulations in the field of STVO or on the subject inspection we would like to inform you regularly. Everything you can find in the category "Test sites, laws, offenses, information". Click on one of the following posts!

other related posts

Forbidden license plates - these combinations cause trouble!

Driving with these medicines? Better not!

"i-Kfz" soon also for companies, dealers and insurance companies!

Driving with these medicines? Better not!

Headlight foiling: Information and legal aspects!

Driving with these medicines? Better not!

Attach license plate: Velcro is no problem!

Driving with these medicines? Better not!
"tuningblog.eu" - on the subject of autotuning and car styling, we keep you up to date with our tuning magazine and present you with the latest tuned vehicles from all over the world every day. It is best if you subscribe to our feed and will be informed automatically as soon as there is something new about this post from the test centers, laws, offenses, information & co. corner. And of course to all other contributions.

About Thomas Wachsmuth

Thomas Wachsmuth - He has been an integral part of tuningblog.eu since 2013. His passion for cars is so intense that he invests every available penny in them. While he dreams of a BMW E31 850CSI and a Hennessey 6x6 Ford F-150, he currently drives a rather inconspicuous BMW 540i (G31/LCI). His collection of books, magazines and brochures on the subject of car tuning has now reached such proportions that he himself has become a walking reference work for the tuning scene.  More about Thomas

Leave a Comment

Your e-mail address will not be published. Required fields are marked with * marked