Understanding How Prescription Drugs Effect Driving

Not knowing how prescription medications can affect you can have a negative impact on your driving skills. In most cases driving while under the influence of anything if caught is enough to warrant a charge of DUI (Driving under the Influence) or DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) in any state.

This does not only apply to alcohol, it could be any substance that creates an altered state of consciousness, to include prescription medicine and even some over the counter medications. Of course alcohol is what it is and is probably the most common way to create an intoxicated effect, but the most common alternatives to alcohol are prescription medications, sometimes not even obtained legally by the user.

Some of the more popular medications are vicodin and percocet; both contain low doses of narcotics that are very potent. However, the pharmacy typically mixes these medications with enough alternative chemicals that make the abuser potentially sick via nausea in order to reduce the unintended illegal use of such medications. But the fact of the matter is, even in low doses, these medications can illicit an intoxicated euphoric effect for the user, in which heavy equipment or vehicle operation should be avoided all together.

There are plenty of cases and examples presented by the DOT ® (Department Of Transportation) that should discourage any one from operating a motor vehicle ever while in an altered state. Reaction time is down and perception of reality is skewed. And in the event of being caught by a highway patrol or other peace officer, you’re driving record could suffer significantly. If this is not the first time you were caught you could be facing charges and fines, not to mention increased insurance rates, even first time offenders can be charged in the same manner if they are thought to be endangering others and excessively intoxicated. Usually the latter case comes into play when substances are mixed increasing the intoxication effect and effecting memory.

A couple of common prescription drugs were mentioned above, but what about non-prescription medication? Well, the most popular non-prescription medicine that can intoxicate someone is the over the counter cough syrups or other cough remedies that contain dextromethorphan (DM or DXM). This substance is most commonly found in products that include the initials DM, i.e., robutussin DM (a product that has triggered the term “robo-tripping” for many youths today). Don’t be overly alarmed by your kid unless you see several empty bottles of cough syrup or empty boxes of tablets containing this substance, because it does take a large quantity to achieve intoxication.

However, be aware that this abuse does exist and it can effect driving just as much as any other intoxicating alcohol or medicine. Besides DM, only a couple of more over the counter drugs should be considered as effecting performance in driving as they tend to make you very drowsy, those are diphenhydramine for allergies (Benadryl®), dimenhydrinate for nausea (Dramamine®), and Doxylamine as a sleep aid (Unisom®). All of these bring on different levels of drowsiness; some are mixed into night time cold medicines or pain medications to aid in sleep while sick or in pain, so take caution before you get behind the wheel if you are taking any of the aforementioned medications.