Bad medicine? Don’t drive using impairing meds

A recent study from AAA found that nearly half of the drivers surveyed said they have used one or more potentially impairing medications (PIM) in the past 30 days. Drivers who take one or more of these medications may be unaware of the possible impacts on their driving ability.

Many potentially driver impairing (PDI) medications have potential effects that can be dangerous when mixed with driving, including dizziness, sleepiness, fainting, blurred vision, slowed movement, and attention problems.

According to research done by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, the proportion of those choosing to drive is higher among those taking multiple medications.

More concerning, many who took these medications to combat depression, pain, or sleep issues were not warned by their healthcare provider regarding the possible dangerous impact on driving.

AAA recommends that the advice given by medical and pharmacy professionals about the dangers of mixing over-the-counter and prescribed medications with driving must be vastly improved and more consistently emphasized to maximize safety.

The study focused on the prevalence of recent use by drivers of commonly used prescriptions and over-thecounter medications such as antihistamines, cough medicines, antidepressants, prescription pain medicines, muscle relaxants, sleep aids, and amphetamines.

These are PDI medications, but not all drivers who reported taking them were impaired. As the term implies, PDI medications can potentially impair driving, but effects in individuals may vary.

Antihistamines and cough medicines—many available without a prescription— were most commonly used.

However, the proportion of drivers that reported driving after use was highest for those who reported amphetamine use, such as Adderall and Dexedrine.

Anyone taking PDI medications should discuss with their doctor or pharmacist ways to preserve safe driving, such as adjusting medication doses, the timing of those doses, or alternative medications to treat medical conditions without causing driver impairment.

For drivers, AAA recommends these safety tips to keep in mind:

■ Don’t underestimate the risks of driving after using medications: During the past three decades, society has realized the dangers associated with drunk driving. According to the latest AAA Foundation Traffic Safety Culture Index, most drivers (94.5%) consider driving after drinking alcohol very or extremely dangerous. But, only 87% feel the same about driving after using potentially impairing medications.

■ Be aware of your options: With advice from your doctor or pharmacist, you can successfully treat your medical condition and maintain your ability to drive safely. Options include, but aren’t limited to, timing your doses to avoid times when you need to drive, adjusting how much medication you take, or even exploring alternative medications that treat your symptoms without causing impairment.

■ Advocate for yourself: Become a better advocate for yourself during visits to the doctor, when filling a prescription at the pharmacy, or purchasing over-the-counter medications. AAA recommends that consumers be proactive by asking the doctor or pharmacist how the medications could affect driving ability and how to avoid those risks while treating their medical condition. If the medicine is available over-the-counter, read the warnings, heed them, or consult a pharmacist for advice.

Law enforcement officials will tell you that any impairment can bring about citation or arrest. Keep yourself and other safe and don’t drive impaired.