A lot of people all over the world have to take various medicines from different diseases, both serious and not so serious. And the matter is in the fact that many of us get into the car, drive to the chemist’s, get the pills and take them even without thinking about the one of the urgent problem of driving and medicines. Of course we should think this over.
Invisible Problems
While most of us know that some serious health problems, such as dizziness, epilepsy or short-sightedness make people unable to drive the vehicle, few are aware of the impact medications can make on human body. However they can be even more dangerous.
Anti-Depressant Medications
Let’s take anti-depressants as a bright example. According to researches more than 7 million people in the USA have a depression at any one time and at least a third of them could be at wheel while taking anti-depressants. These drugs have such side effects as aggression, agitation, anxiety, blurred vision and dizziness. The number of depressive illness and consequently the number of prescriptions is constantly increasing.
Some scientists say that tranquilizers and anti-depressants of older generations have a very vivid negative impact on driving and consequently they increase the risk of collisions and other road accidents. However the fact is that newer forms of medicines are still as dangerous for driving as older ones.
That is why it is very important for those drivers who take anti-depressants to control their driving behavior and be aware of the fact that their driving abilities are impacted by these drugs. They should realize their responsibility not only for their own health but also for health and life of other drivers and pedestrians.
Medical consultants say that different drugs can have different effects and lead to various reactions depending on the individual. That’s why when a patient is prescribed a new drug should get from the doctor all necessary information: whether it is safe for driving or not, it is better for such people not to get at wheel for two or three days in order to check their reaction to the new medication.
Some people can have a paradoxical reaction to some drugs. Diazepam, for instance, which usually has a sedative effect in some cases, can cause hyper excitability.
Now you see how important the problem is. However, not only anti-depressants are dangerous for driving.
Simple at first sight health problems can lead to serious situations while driving. For instance, for example, you were coughing or sneezing for the whole nigh and had a very bad sleep. As the result your reactions became less sharp than usually.
Hay Fever
Very often during long hot summer many people are red-nosed, sneezing and sniveling because of hay fever. Allergy is not only very unpleasant but dangerous as well. It may seem unbelievable, but a sudden uncontrollable sneezing can be very hazardous especially for drivers traveling at 70 mph.
Flu and Colds
In winter colds and flue are the most common health problems ? they can prevent you from sleeping at night. What do we usually do in such situations? We take medications making us drowsy and helping sleep. And in the morning after this deep drug-induced sleep we get into the car and drive somewhere as if nothing has happened. We just don’t realize that our reactions are not sharp even if we feel fine. Imagine that the driver in the car in front of you is in the same state and you’ll understand that this can lead to an accident.
So keep in mind that you can get into serious situation on the road not only when you feel bad. One of the major hazards is tiredness, which causes most of the road accidents in the USA. The list of such factors also includes stress, pain in joins, hay fever, colds, flu, a stiff neck, etc. so before getting into your vehicle make sure that you feel good and are able to drive. Always read guidance leaflets before take the medications. If they prescribe to avoid driving, don’t take risk.