FDA is reminding consumers that some medicine labels warn to not operate heavy machinery while taking them, which includes driving a car. These prescription and OTC products can cause adverse effects such as drowsiness, blurred vision, dizziness, slowed movement, fainting, inability to focus, nausea, and excitability. Some common drugs that can affect one’s ability to operate a vehicle include opioid analgesics, prescription anxiety drugs, antiepileptic drugs, antipsychotic drugs, some antidepressants, products containing codeine, sleeping medications, muscle relaxants, medicines for motion sickness and diarrhea, “stay awake” drugs, and other medications with stimulants.
