Taking medication and driving

If you have been given medication you must check whether it is safe for you to drive while you are taking it if you intend to drive. If your medication has no effect on your driving, you can drive. However, you will not be able to drive if your driving is impaired after taking some types of medication. Any medication that affects hearing, vision, coordination and visuospatial perception, concentration, judgement, reaction time, muscle power and judgement should not be taken before driving. If your medication leaves you feeling drowsy or sleepy, sick, dizzy, weak or easily confused, don't drive. If your medication means you are not able to focus or pay attention or it gives you blurred vision or slurred speech, don't drive.

Some medications can cause nausea, fainting, dizziness, slowed movement or excitability.

Which medications mean you shouldn't drive?

Your doctor will be able to advise you whether medication is safe or not. The following products require caution:

• Tranquilizers
• Sleeping pills
• Some pain relievers (generally stronger ones)
• Some cold remedies
• Some anti-allergy products
• Some antidepressants
• Prescription drugs for anxiety
• Some diet pills, if they contain stimulants
• Products containing codeine

If you have to take medication but also have to drive, make your doctor aware and it might be possible to be prescribed one or more medications that have a similar result but don't affect your ability to drive. They might also be able to adjust the dose, change the timing of the doses, or change your diet or exercise regime to reduce the need for the medication.

Length of impairment

Some medications only have short-term effects when you change the dose. This means you might only need to stop driving for a few days until your body adjusts. However, some medications are strong enough that you will need to stop driving for the whole course.

Using alcohol and medications

Alcohol can magnify the impairment effects of medicines so it's advised to not use alcohol at all if you are taking medication.

Alternatives to driving yourself

Plan as many trips in advance as possible so that you can coordinate other ways of getting to your desired destination.

• Carpooling
• Taxi/Uber
• Walking
• Cycling (but bear in mind that medication can make cycling unsafe, too)
• Public transport - buses, trains
• Hitching a lift (not exactly reliable, or safe)

If you are older, some services offer free or subsidised transport for seniors between certain locations.

You can also do some tasks online, for example online shopping for groceries.