OVER THE COUNTER
DRUGS CAN GET YOU
BUSTED
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What is Drugged Driving?
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Get the Right Advise
Meds and Driving
Don’t Mix
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Medicines
or
Supplements …
Can cause a variety of
reactions.
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Sedating Antidepressants
• Equal to driving drunk.
• Should not be used ten hours
prior to driving.
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Antihistamines
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Slows down reaction time.
Impairs coordination.
Causes Drowsiness.
Example: Chlorpheniramine,
Diphendydramine, Promethazine,
Triprolidine.
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Decongestants
• Drowsiness (Drowsy drivers are
responsible for an estimated 100,000
traffic crashes and 1500 deaths per
year).
• Anxiety.
• Dizziness.
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Other Over the Counter Meds
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Cold and Cough Medications.
Antihistamines.
Motion sickness pills.
Decongestants.
Diuretics.
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Have you just taken an Over the
Counter Drug?
• Did you read the label?
• Does it cause drowsiness?
• Am I able to drive?
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University of Iowa Research
• 39 million Americans suffer from
Hay Fever or Allergies.
• Only 4.8 million take prescription
medication.
• Others go without treatment or they
treat themselves with over-thecounter medication.
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Discussion:
Drugs can impair our bodies
in a variety of ways.
Can you name some
impairments?
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Impairments
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Blurred vision.
Excitable.
Alter depth perception.
See or hearing things.
Raised or lowered blood pressure.
Sleepy.
Dizzy.
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Impairments (cont.)
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Fainting.
Nauseated.
Effects reaction time.
Concentration..
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Always read your Consumer
Medical Information Sheet
(CMI)
Need to find a CMI?
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Monitor Yourself
• Know your body reactions.
• Keep track of how you feel on
new medications.
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Medications can have a
positive or negative
effect on your driving
ability.
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Over-the-Counter Drugs can
Reduce your Driving Ability
Antihistamines–
• Drowsiness.
• Poor Concentration.
Cold Remedies–
• Cold Tablets.
• Cough Syrups.
• Sleeping Pills.
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RCW 46.61.502(1)
A person is guilty of driving
under the influence of
intoxicating liquor or any drug
if the person drives a vehicle
within this state.
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Other Drugs and
Stimulants
that can Effect your
Driving
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Common Stimulants
• Slimming Pills.
• Sleeping Pills.
(Tylenol PM)
• Cold and Flu Medication.
(Tylenol Cold and Flu)
• Decongestants.
(Sudafed, Benadryl, Codral)
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Side Effects from Stimulants
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Impaired Co-ordination.
Aggressiveness.
Hyperactivity.
Hallucinations.
Blurred Vision.
Dizziness.
Fainting or feeling fatigued.
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Depressants
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Cough Mixtures (Benadryl Original).
Allergy Medications (Actifed).
Anti depressants.
Antihistamines (Actifed).
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Side Effects of Depressants
• Impaired Co-ordination; Reaction
Time; Alertness.
• Memory Loss.
• Dizziness.
• Fatigue.
• Nausea.
• Tremors.
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Extra Care Taken
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Sleeping Difficulties.
Anxiety, Depression and Stress.
Allergies and Hay Fever.
Arthritis.
Blood Pressure.
Fluid Retention.
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Extra Care Taken (cont.)
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Nausea.
Stomach Problems.
Diabetes.
Herbal or Naturopathic Remedies.
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Herbal or Naturopathic
Remedies
are not regulated by the
Food and Drug
Administration
(FDA)
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Before using Herbal
Supplements
Ask yourself these questions:
• What kind of research has been done on
this product?
• Does this product make outrageous
claims?
Avoid products that make promises that no
product can possibly live up to.
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No Herbal Supplement
can Cure
• Cancer.
• Give us the Fountain of Youth.
• Weight Loss Miracles.
Remember, if it sounds too good to
be true, it probably is.
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Some common Herbal
Supplements
St. John’s Wort — used for depression.
If you eat certain foods (chocolate,
wine, yogurt, salami, smoked or
pickled foods), or take certain
medicines (cold or hay fever pills, diet
pills, nasal decongestants) the
chemical reaction could cause high
blood pressure and nausea.
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Herbal Supplements (cont.)
Passionflower — used to
encourage sleep.
Side effects — can cause bleeding
when used with oral anticoagulant
therapy (warfin/coumadin).
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Herbal Supplements (cont.)
Melatonin — used for sleep
problems.
Side effects — can cause
confusion, problems sleeping,
seizures and headaches.
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Herbal Supplements (cont.)
Salvia — leafy herb, ingested by
chewing fresh leaves or by drinking
the extracted juices. Dried leaves can
be smoked.
The effects are from one minute, can
last less than thirty minutes.
Side effects — hallucinations or
delusional episodes.
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Consequences for Driving
Under the Influence
of Drugs
• Costs large amounts of money.
• Embarrassment.
• Possible injury or death.
The risks are not worth it!
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Show DVD
“Drivers
Alert — Over the Counter
Drugs”
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Summary
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You are in charge of yourself.
Talk with your physician and pharmacist
Read the labels. Check for side effects.
Give your body time to adjust to new
medications.
• Do not Doctor yourself.
• Be responsible. Don’t Drug and Drive
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DRUGGED DRIVING
IS A
DANGEROUS ACTIVITY
THAT PUTS
US ALL AT RISK
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Evaluation
1. Identify some over-the-counter
medications that could impair your
driving abilities?
Answer: Slimming Pills; Cold and Flu
Medication; Antihistamines; Allergy
Medications; Sleeping Medications.
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Evaluation (cont.)
2. List three symptoms that could
impair your driving ability?
Answer: Drowsiness; Dizziness;
Blurred Vision; Nausea; Fatigue.
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