|
Post by Bob on Mar 2, 2015 22:17:09 GMT
Hi, I am reading into medication as this will be the next step for me, when i came across this on www.medicines.org.uk regarding Concerta XL 18 mg - 36 mg prolonged release tablets... "4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines Methylphenidate can cause dizziness, drowsiness and visual disturbances including difficulties with accommodation, diplopia and blurred vision. It may have a moderate influence on the ability to drive and use machines. Patients should be warned of these possible effects and advised that if affected, they should avoid potentially hazardous activities such as driving or operating machinery. This medicine can impair cognitive function and can affect a patient's ability to drive safely. When prescribing this medicine, patients should be told: • The medicine is likely to affect your ability to drive • Do not drive until you know how the medicine affects you • It is an offence to drive while under the influence of this medicine." Is this accurate?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2015 22:40:42 GMT
It is an offence to drive impaired.
Usually ADHD meds improve cognitive function - that's the point!
If you cross reference with the driving thread you'll find that it's fine to drive with ADHD as long as you and/or your doc says it's OK, which includes meds.
None of the standard ADHD meds were mentioned in today's drug ban (though Dex is definitely something that potentially appears as a street drug).
There is a standard medical defence for driving with meds (ie it's fine as long as you aren't impaired) and your doc should explain the ramifications of driving whilst medicated.
Luckily the ACPO recommendations for levels of Dex in the body (like the drink drive limit) is higher than normal medication - since methylphenidate (Concerta/Ritalin/Equasym etc) isn't a street drug it isn't measured but there is potential for it to be uncovered by simple drug tests, which see it as an amphetamine. I usually carry a box of meds with me in the car so they can see it's prescription rather than street.
[edit]I've had a read of the blurb now 1) It's not legal, just some notes 2) It contains inaccuracies and is out of date
The only thing in there that is good advice is not to drive until you know your meds.
|
|
|
Post by Bob on Mar 2, 2015 22:45:59 GMT
Okay thanks! It was the first time I'd seen that written and couldn't believe I hadn't seen it before if that was the case.
|
|
|
Post by alpinelake on Mar 2, 2015 23:06:06 GMT
The last statement is confusing and completely contradicts the rest of the information.
I assume that 'under the influence' must refer to an abnormal state of mind, in which you knowingly feel incapacitated. So, if you feel strongly affected by a medication, and then drive, then that would be an offence.
If as it says above, you know how it affects you, and you know it's not inhibiting any mental functions, then you're okay to drive. I would probably get the prescribing doctor to sign off on it, so that god forbid there was an accident, you can prove you weren't 'under the influence', and had actively made sure you were okay to drive.
Obviously some people find that their ADHD impairs their ability to drive in some way, and that taking medication helps improve their awareness. I don't drive currently, although I have passed my test - just. My hazard perception score was shockingly close to a fail :eek:
|
|
flocka
Member's not posted much yet
Posts: 12
|
Post by flocka on Mar 2, 2015 23:17:08 GMT
Wasn't amphetamine listed under the prescription drugs section of the new driving law?
|
|
|
Post by alpinelake on Mar 2, 2015 23:19:50 GMT
|
|
|
Post by alpinelake on Mar 2, 2015 23:27:03 GMT
|
|
|
Post by rhiannon on Mar 2, 2015 23:31:44 GMT
"Unlike the existing ‘impairment’ offence, the new law provides a medical defence if you’re taking your medicine in accordance with instructions – either from a healthcare professional or printed in the accompanying leaflet – provided, of course, you’re not impaired. If you’re driving and you’re on prescription medicine, it may therefore be helpful for you to keep some evidence of this with you in case you’re stopped by the police." So probably best as planetdave says to carry some evidence of it being prescription around with you when you drive!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2015 0:31:41 GMT
Yes - if you go back to my previous post you'll find I was banging on about Dex, which is an amphetamine, and how our dosages should be below prosecution level (and even if they do exceed you have a medical out - they'd have to have proved impairment). Even then it would put your doc in the frame, under medical negligence, for not telling you...driving is a standard adult activity and they have an obligation to check that anything they prescribe is safe for the patient. Methylphenidate gets caught in the simplistic tests as an amphetamine but it isn't and will only be revealed as 'not an amphetamine' under a more in depth analysis.
|
|
Endymion
Member's not posted much yet
Posts: 34
|
Post by Endymion on Mar 5, 2015 16:32:18 GMT
My understanding is that if you are caught driving with any of the various drugs used to treat ADD/ADHD and so on, it will be an offence if:
- You are not prescribed with that drug (given they are for the most part, controlled substances) and/or;
- Your driving is deemed to be impaired whether prescribed or not.
I think it is a bad amendment to the law and knee jerk reaction. I can understand that some drugs must be illegal to use and then drive - same as alcohol at a certain level.
However, the 'deemed impaired' is open to a lot of abuse. For instance, I get stopped and I test positive for Medikinet. I prove that I am prescribed this drug and my levels are within the prescribed amount. Should be ok. But what if the police officer then suggests I was driving badly and so he believes that, irrespective of the medical exemption, I am committing an offence?
With alcohol, impairment is usually proven by medical consensus being that after a certain limit, your ability to drive will be reduced to a level where it is reasonably foreseeable that you may cause an accident. As such, there is very rarely any argument from the Defendant that they were not impaired if the breathalyser/blood tests results come back over the legal limit.
With this new rule, you can be charged and then you set off down a very burdensome road to prove that your driving was not impaired, as a result of the medication. The test for impairment seems to be the Field Impairment Test i.e. what they used to do in the 1960's.
Look up the test. One of the parts of it is the Romberg test. Essentially you have to estimate the passage of time. Don't know about you but I reckon ADHD'ers might struggle with that when being asked by a police officer in front of the public on a busy noisy road to do a test!
Can just imagine someone with ODD and ADD being pulled over by the police and told that despite them proving they are legally fine to be medicated, they are being asked to go through a number of tests which might result in a driving offence if they fail.
The kicker being that if you refuse to take the test, that in itself is an offence.
|
|
|
Post by Kazzy on Oct 29, 2016 0:05:57 GMT
I just been Diagnosed with ADHD at 47 .. I am sooo worried about having to inform the DVLA as i have always had points on my Licence since i started Driving 30 yrs ago Always for Speeding 😖.. I have only had 2 Accidents in that time .. Both not at Fault to myself .. I have always been able to drive really well .. I have been Post office Driver Bus Driver Prison Van Driver and Delivery Driver .. Its one of the only things i can concentrate fully on and do Well ...,if the DVLA took my licence away .. I would be Devastated .. I have yet to find a Drug rhat could ever make me Drowsy .. I wished on one hand i actually could as at least i could eventually get some Kip !!!! The only i have found strong enough to make me Drowsy and Sleep is A Geberal Aneasthetic !!!! 😂
|
|
|
Post by vagueandrandom on Oct 29, 2016 0:31:05 GMT
As everyone said . Do you drive any different since you passed your test?
or since you started meds?
If not, you don't need to tell them.
|
|