Numerous drugs can impair judgment, coordination and reaction time of individuals taking them. Even some over-the-counter drugs could put drivers and pedestrians at risk.
Benzodiazepines, commonly prescribed to treat anxiety, may impair driving ability. Popular examples include Xanax (alprazolam) and Ativan (lorazepam), both of which may lead to sleepiness, dizziness and mood shifts that limit driving ability.
1. Drowsiness
Drowsy driving is one of the leading causes of accidents, yet difficult to detect. Sleeping seven to nine hours every night and taking breaks while driving or using a passenger on long journeys are effective ways to combat drowsy driving and reduce its effects.
Certain antidepressants and sedatives/hypnotics may cause drowsiness or dizziness when beginning treatment or increasing dosage, particularly at first start or increase of dosage. Tricyclic antidepressants, SSRIs, SNRIs and anxiolytics have all been linked with side effects including drowsiness that could impair driving abilities; at the same time common over-the-counter medicines like cold/allergy remedies, antihistamines (like diphenhydramine/ cetirizine), and sleep aids could all affect driving abilities – with greater impact if taken together with alcohol or other sedatives/sedatives/sedatives/sedatives.
2. Dizziness
Dizziness is an uncomfortable sense of unsteadiness or spinning that can impair driving abilities and should be treated immediately to reduce its risks. Dizziness can be brought on by sudden head movements or elevation changes; fleeting episodes usually pass with rest; but persistent or severe dizziness may render driving hazardous.
Dizziness-causing drugs, including antidepressants (such as Tricyclic Antidepressants (Tofranil and Elavil) benzodiazepines and certain sleep aids), can inhibit driving abilities significantly. They include tricyclic antidepressants such as Tofranil or Elavil), benzodiazepines and some sleep aids – leading to distracted driving, which accounts for most car accidents. According to Rapaport et al (2008) analysis of national databases revealed that non-sedating antidepressants increased crash risks more than their counterparts (study conducted using national databases analyzed national databases showed). Other drugs that could cause dizziness include SSRI’s, anticonvulsants blood pressure medication opioid pain relievers as well as over the counter medications like ibuprofen or naproxen.
3. Nausea
Antidepressants may impair your driving ability by making you queasy, leading to poor concentration and coordination when behind the wheel. This effect is typically most evident upon first taking medication but should gradually diminish over time.
Psychoactive drugs such as antidepressants, hypnotics and anxiolytics increase the risk of motor vehicle collisions; for this reason several countries prohibit these medications in drivers.
Studies have consistently demonstrated that ICADTS category III medications (benzodiazepines, sedative-hypnotics and certain antidepressants) increases risk for traffic accidents equivalent to having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.8% or greater. Rapaport et al (2011) conducted research involving 109,406 older drivers using health and police databases; their crash rate was found to be 1.4 times greater for those reporting antidepressant use versus those who didn’t report using medication at all.
4. Seizures
States typically impose laws that mandate those suffering seizures must report them prior to driving and provide medical certification that they are safe. They also need a doctor’s note from a physician attesting they can safely operate a vehicle; however, laws often stipulate a minimum number of seizure-free days necessary before maintaining driving privileges.
Focal onset seizures usually start in one area of the brain (known as the focal point ) and spread throughout, sometimes preceded by warning signs known as auras.
Absence seizures (previously known as petit mal seizures) occur when someone stares into space with subtle body movements such as eye blinking or lip smacking that last 5 to 10 seconds and are rarely dangerous; usually experienced only by children.
5. Loss of coordination
One of the more serious adverse reactions associated with antidepressant medication is loss of coordination. This risk increases significantly when taken alongside antispasmodic or antispastic agents like Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine), Skelaxin (metaxalone) and Zanaflex (tizanidine).
These medications are typically prescribed to treat spasms of the back and neck, though they can also be found in many over-the-counter cold and flu medications. When taken in higher dosages they can also treat insomnia and pain relief.
Studies comparing driving performance of participants who had used ICADTS category III anxiolytics, hypnotics or antidepressants within the past three years with healthy controls revealed no difference in swerving behavior, speed variance and eye-steering coordination – however the timing of eye movements and steering wheel movements did differ significantly between groups.
