Navigating the Hazards: Prescription Drugs and the Road.

Did you see the article in Driving for Better Business, on Prescription Drugs and Driving? ?We all have that promise with each prescription comes not only the promise of healing but also the potential for unforeseen risks on our highways and byways.?As a former, Mental Health first aider and still in conversations with drivers, a depot tells drivers that they must be informed if they were on any medication and did do the odd drug test.

What came up from this was side effects, I spent many an hour talking about them, some were shocked at what I told them and went straight back to the doctors, who always gave that you never told us speech.

So, from my list that I have spoken to various people about, I have written here, that there are a couple of them included which are quite commonly prescribed and some you can get over the counter in smaller doses, yet the outcome can be the same.

Still don’t believe me, then here is a story, a person had a scratch that was from a corner of a door nothing to write home about, but it wouldn’t heal. I knew of their condition and was made aware of this scratch 4 months after that fact. I took the time to dig into their medication and found that a tablet that they took was very low on the hazardous scale, yet after stopping taking it the wound healed (and yes GP made aware).

The point is that front-line staff need to be approachable and now we have people trained in Mental Health First Aid, it should not limit their want or need to be able to help. ????

The tranquil allure of benzodiazepines like Valium, Xanax, and Ativan promises relief from the storm of anxiety and insomnia yet veils a perilous risk. Behind the veneer of calmness lies a treacherous descent into drowsiness and impaired coordination, particularly hazardous for those behind the wheel. Ensnared by the seductive grip of these drugs, individuals may unwittingly surrender control to a haze where reality blurs and the road becomes a labyrinth of uncertainty. A single misstep threatens to shatter the illusion of tranquillity, unleashing chaos upon the asphalt.?

Antidepressants such as Prozac, Lustral (Zoloft), and Cipralex (Lexapro) offer a beacon of hope amid the shadows of despair yet harbour unsettling side effects. Symptoms like dizziness and blurred vision cloak the mind in a fog, especially daunting when faced with the complexities of daily life, let alone driving. Amidst medication-induced haziness, the road morphs into a maze of confusion, mirroring the fractured state of the psyche and tragically leading to unforeseen accidents.?

In the realm of psychosis, antipsychotics like Risperdal, Abilify, and Zyprexa serve as guardians against the encroaching darkness, but not without a silent threat. Sedation and cognitive impairment accompany their tranquillity, turning the act of driving into a daunting task as the mind struggles amidst induced haze, blurring the lines between dream and reality.?

Antihistamines such as Phenergan, Benadryl, Claritin, and Zyrtec offer relief from allergy symptoms but at the cost of drowsiness and impaired coordination, particularly risky when navigating roads. Similarly, anticonvulsants like Epanutin, Neurontin, and Tegretol maintain stability amidst seizures but may induce drowsiness and compromise coordination, turning the road into a perilous tightrope.

Anti-nausea medications like Compazine, Phenergan, and Transderm Scop bring solace to those battling gastrointestinal distress, yet their tranquillity conceals a risk of drowsiness and compromised coordination, posing dangers behind the wheel. In the realm of blood pressure management, antihypertensive medications like Clonidine and Alpha-blockers, though crucial for stability, may veil a deceptive calm that threatens consciousness, turning the road into a treacherous tightrope where catastrophe lurks with every misstep.

My note to ALL is to have all medication investigated if not by the surgery's pharmacist or where you fill your scrips.