Medicines at the Wheel
What's in the Bottle?
What's on the Label?
Adding Alcohol
The Drug-Driving Danger List


If you've got a bad cold or a bout of flu and you're taking a cough or cold remedy, think twice before you pick up your car keys - because it's quite possible that the remedy you're taking to help your symptoms could impair your driving ability. And it's not just cough and cold remedies that can cause danger – other over-the-counter and prescription medicines can also affect your reactions.


What's in the Bottle? 

The risks of drinking alcohol and driving are well known, but many people don't realise that there could be danger lurking in their medicine bottle. Modern medicines are very safe and effective when they're taken correctly, but some do have side effects. Some can have a sedative effect and make you drowsy, while others can act as a stimulant. Either way, these side effects may affect your judgement – and driving ability. Everybody reacts differently to medicines, so you won't know how a medicine will affect you until after you've taken it.


What's on the Label? 

All medicines are supplied with a patient information leaflet or with important information printed on the medicine label. This will tell you how and when to take the medicine and whether there are any side effects that could alter your normal levels of concentration and co-ordination.

Part of your pharmacist's job is to make sure that you have all the information you need to get the best result from your medicine with the minimum of risk, so if there's anything you're unsure about please ask – your pharmacist will be happy to explain anything you don't understand.


Adding Alcohol 

Alcohol can make the side effects of certain medicines worse, so always check with your pharmacist that it's safe to drink alcohol with any medicine that you buy, or are prescribed. It's also worth knowing that some medicines can stay in your bloodstream for several hours after they've been taken, so if your medicine carries a warning to avoid alcohol, don't assume you'll be safe to have a drink if you just wait a couple of hours after you've taken a dose.


The Drug-Driving Danger List 


Our list gives details of some common prescription and over-the-counter medicines which cause drowsiness as a side effect, but there are other medicines that also have side effects that you should be aware of if you're driving. So always read the patient information leaflet or label carefully, and ask your pharmacist for advice.
 

Medicine

Side-Effect
Cough & Cold Remedies  Some day or night-time remedies may have a sedative effect.
Sleeping Tablets  These remain in the body for several hours and will probably affect driving the morning after they've been taken. 
Tranquillisers/Antidepressants & Anti-Epilepsy Medicines  These can make you unusually drowsy and can affect driving the same day or the day after they've been taken.
Antihistamines/Allergy Treatments & Travel Sickness Pills  These may make you drowsy and if so, you shouldn't drive for several hours after taking them. They can also impair your vision and make you more susceptible to "dazzle". 
Painkillers  Some can make you feel tired and less alert and others act as a stimulant, which can all affect your driving.