The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) warns that 25% of the drugs that are commonly consumed, authorized by the AEMPS (Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products), can affect driving. Drowsiness, decreased attention and altered reflexes are the main effects that these medications can have on the driver’s ability, which according to statistics are the cause of 5% of accidents.
At this time of year it is common to face colds and catarrhs. This leads to an increase in the consumption of anti-flu and anti-cold medications, many of which can be purchased without a prescription. The DGT warns that, although these over-the-counter medications are easily accessible, their misuse and self-medication can have negative consequences for road safety.
The DGT recommends that whenever we start taking a new medication we ask our doctor about the risks of driving while your treatment lasts. It is also advisable to read the leaflet for detailed information on possible side effects that may affect driving ability.
In fact, on the packaging of medications that affect driving, the pictogram of a car appears inside a triangular danger sign. This symbol does not mean that it is prohibited to drive if you take that medication, it only indicates that it is advisable to read the leaflet where all the side effects are described.
The symptoms of colds and catarrhs ??already hinder proper driving. Nasal obstruction, headache, watery eyes and sneezing can impede the concentration necessary for safe driving. Additionally, the fatigue and general feeling of malaise associated with these symptoms can negatively affect the driver’s ability to react quickly to unforeseen traffic situations, thereby increasing the risk of accidents.
To all these symptoms we must add the side effects caused by the antihistamines and antitussives contained in anti-flu products. The most worrying symptom is drowsiness, which is involved, directly or indirectly, in between 15 and 30% of traffic accidents in Spain, according to the DGT.
For this reason, Traffic recommends that people who consume anti-colds should try “not to drive or do so with great caution.” “Of the components of the anti-cold-anti-flu drugs, the H-1 antihistamine drugs and the antitussives codeine and dihydrocodeine, affect the ability to drive safely,” adds the agency in its magazine Traffic and Road Safety.
The DGT emphasizes that alcohol enhances these side effects and reminds that, in any case, you should not drive if you have consumed alcoholic beverages. Likewise, it points out that the consumption of other stimulant substances, such as coffee or tea, to counteract the effects of drowsiness, can sometimes also represent a danger.
These drinks can be helpful in the short term and in certain situations, but when their effects wear off, a rebound effect can occur, in which sleep appears suddenly, catching the driver off guard.
To prevent medication-induced drowsiness from affecting our ability to drive, an effective measure is to consider public transportation options as an alternative. If this is not feasible, we can also choose to postpone taking the drug to reach our destination, instead of ingesting it beforehand.
