Healthy Driving
Medications
Acknowledgment: this section was developed using material from ADF brochure on Managing Medicines and Driving.
Although a particular medical condition may have little or no adverse effect on your ability to drive, the medication you take to treat that condition could cause problems. Some medicines can make you drowsy, dizzy, shaky, and aggressive or blur your vision. Even seemingly mild drugs without prescription can have an effect.
Extra care should be taken with medicines used to treat:
- Sleeping difficulties
- Anxiety, depression and stress
- Pain - such as strong painkillers containing narcotics like morphine, pethidine, codeine, dextropropoxyphene (in DiGesic)
- Allergies and hay fever
- Colds and flu
- Arthritis
- Blood pressure
- Epilepsy
- Heart conditions
- Fluid retention
- Nausea
- Stomach problems
- Diabetes
- Some types of infection.
Warning labels
Before driving check with your doctor or pharmacist if a medicine has one of the following labels:
This medicine may cause drowsiness and may increase the effects of alcohol. If affected do not drive a motor vehicle or operate machinery
This medicine may affect mental alertness and/or coordination.
If affected, do not drive a motor vehicle or operate machinery
Avoid driving if you are:
- Drowsy or tired
- Dizzy or light headed
- Unable to think clearly
- Angry or aggressive
- Nauseous or otherwise unwell.
Talk to your GP about how any medication you are taking may affect your driving ability.