“Taking medicines and feeling drowsy” is a symptom that many people have experienced, sometimes affecting their daily routines and even making driving a risky task. In addition to medicines that cause drowsiness, some medicines cause fatigue, dizziness, or interfere with vision. Today, we will introduce you to medicines that you should avoid while driving, along with an easy way to observe warnings on drug labels.
Medicines that affect driving, such as:
Antihistamines,
also known as antihistamines or anti-allergy drugs, including motion sickness drugs such as chlorpheniramine, are found in both single and combination forms. They cause sedation, drowsiness, dizziness, and blurred vision. In addition to not using the drug before driving, this type of drug should not be used together with alcohol or drugs that have a sedative effect.
Anti-anxiety drugs/sleeping pills/psychiatric drugs and some neurological drugs
such as diazepam, alpazolam. โปรโมชั่นพิเศษจาก UFABET สมัครตอนนี้ รับโบนัสทันที This group of drugs is a drug that acts on the central nervous system. It has both short-term and long-term effects on the body, such as extreme drowsiness, sleeping for an unusually long time. Muscle incoordination, resulting in delayed decision-making. Effecting the body’s ability to perceive various organs and control the functioning of the limbs. If you take this group of drugs and then drive a vehicle. You may experience lingering drowsiness from the drug or reduced decision-making efficiency while driving, which may lead to an accident.
Opiate-based painkillers
such as tramadol, have central nervous system depressant effects, causing side effects ranging from palpitations. Low blood pressure, dizziness, drowsiness to more severe ones such as depression of the body’s respiratory center, muscle cramps, and hallucinations. Therefore, you should avoid driving a vehicle yourself while taking this medication.
Many cough syrups that are opium derivatives
such as black cough syrup containing codeine, can cause nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, and impaired driving ability. High doses can cause respiratory arrest, shock, and cardiac arrest.
Muscle relaxants/muscle pain relievers
affect neurotransmitters in the brain, reduce muscle spasms, relieve stiffness. And help muscles relax, which can sometimes cause weakness in the arms and legs and impair their control.
Other types of medicines
such as diabetes medicines, high blood pressure/heart medicines, and eye drops, can interfere with driving.
Precautions to prevent drug-induced drowsiness while driving
- Avoid taking drugs that cause drowsiness before and while driving. Look for warnings on the label before taking the drug, such as “This drug causes drowsiness. Do not drive a motor vehicle or operate machinery or work that involves a risk of falling from heights.” or “Test first to make sure that you are not drowsy after taking this drug.”
- Avoid taking drowsiness-causing drugs with alcohol, and check the label for warnings before taking the drug, such as “Do not take with alcohol or anything that contains alcohol” or “This drug contains …% alcohol. Use with caution.”
- Some medications can interfere with vision, such as eye drops and artificial tears. Although they may temporarily blur your vision, they should not be used while driving.
- Taking drugs that cause fainting, palpitations, dizziness, fatigue, which are side effects of some drugs, such as diabetes drugs, blood pressure drugs, should ask a doctor or pharmacist for clear side effects. Do not stop taking drugs or adjust the drug use yourself to drive. However, you should avoid driving yourself.
Drugs that affect driving can be found in both the types prescribed by doctors from hospitals and the types of over-the-counter drugs that can be purchased at pharmacies and general stores. Therefore, before using, read the instructions on the label and strictly follow the warnings. For safety, it is best to buy drugs from a properly licensed pharmacy with a standard pharmacist who can give advice on the correct and appropriate use of drugs.