Driving safety is not only about knowing the rules of the road, but also about taking responsibility for your condition. Imagine: you got behind the wheel, but took some sedative or cold medicine, and suddenly you feel that your reaction slows down, your eyes stick together, and it becomes harder to concentrate. This is what you should avoid.
There are medications that are better not to take before driving. For example, sedatives like valerian or corvalol can “turn you off” in the middle of the road. Antihistamines, especially old ones like suprastin, cause drowsiness, and instead of catching allergies, you will struggle to sleep. And there are also painkillers with codeine, which not only affect your well-being, but can also show something “interesting” on a breathalyzer.
Even common cold medicines, such as Theraflu or Coldrex, can “throw up a surprise.” They sometimes affect your blood pressure or nervous system so much that you feel unsteady. But Nurofen, if it’s just ibuprofen, seems to be OK, but no one has ever stopped the dizziness either.
Another nuance is breathalyzers. You drank valerian tincture or cough syrup, and it suddenly shows “alcohol.” Not really, right?
So you should read the instructions before taking any medication and check whether you can drive afterwards. If in doubt, it is better to ask your doctor or pharmacist. Because driving is not only about skills, but also about responsibility.