Is your prescription impairing your ability to drive?

Depending on your general health, you may take several medications to live a happy, productive life in Colorado. When you get behind the wheel, your legal prescription medication could make police suspect you of driving under the influence. 

AAA Senior Driving takes a look at the issue. While aimed at elderly motorists, the insights can apply to anyone taking a legal prescription medication. 

Understand your medication’s classification 

Not all prescriptions impact driving ability. Those that usually do include decongestants, tranquilizers, cough medicines and narcotic pain pills. If you are not sure how to classify your prescription, ask your doctor or pharmacist. 

Let your pharmacist and doctor know about your over-the-counter medications 

You may not think the supplement or daily vitamin you take is worth bringing up with your physician or pharmacist, but that is not the case. Over-the-counter medication could interact with your prescription and impair your ability to drive. 

Keep all your doctors in the loop 

Maybe you have multiple physicians, or a physician and a psychiatrist. In either case, you could take multiple medications from multiple health care providers. Be sure you keep all your medical care professionals in the loop so each knows which medications you take at one time. 

Know the side effects of your medication  

Talk with your pharmacist and doctor about your medication’s side effects; specifically, how your prescription could impact your driving skills. Of course, you can also read over the list of side effects that often comes with your prescription. 

This information is only intended to educate and should not be interpreted as legal advice.