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Medicines, machinery and driving (side effects) Medicines, machinery and driving

Warning sign: AVOID AN ACCIDENT -- CHECK YOUR MEDICINES

Some medicines can make you drowsy, dizzy or just a bit less alert. These side effects can be dangerous as they can affect your driving skills and your ability to operate machinery.

Read any warning stickers

Look for these warning stickers on the packaging:

PSA warning label 1 PSA warning label 1a PSA warning label 12

©Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. Reproduced with permission 2011.

Check your consumer medicine information (CMI) leaflet

Every prescription medicine has a CMI leaflet. Look for the ‘Things you must not do’ and ‘Things to be careful of’ sections of the CMI leaflet. You can search for a CMI leaflet for your medicine here.

Read the packaging of your non-prescription medicines

Non-prescription medicines that could make you drowsy or dizzy usually have a warning printed on the packaging, along with advice on using the medicine safely and effectively.

Ask a health professional

  • If you’re still unsure ask your doctor or pharmacist
  • Call NPS Medicines Line on 1300 MEDICINE (1300 633 424).

Your risk of drowsiness or dizziness can be higher if

  • you are using two or more medicines with this effect on the same day
  • you’ve just started taking a medicine or changed the dose
  • you mix these medicines with alcohol or drugs.

Medicines for these conditions may cause drowsiness or dizziness

Prescription medicines

  • Anxiety
  • Arthritis
  • Depression
  • Epilepsy
  • Glaucoma
  • Heart problems
  • High blood pressure
  • HIV
  • Infections (antibiotics)
  • Mental illness
  • Migraine
  • Nausea or travel sickness
  • Pain
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Quitting smoking
  • Sleep problems (sleep medicines can make you drowsy the next day)

Non-prescription medicines

  • Blocked sinuses
  • Cough, colds and flu
  • Hayfever and allergies (antihistamines)
  • Pain
  • Quitting smoking
  • Travel sickness
  • Sleep problems (sleep medicines can make you drowsy the next day)

Not all medicines for these conditions make it unsafe to use machinery. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re unsure.

Date published: 2011-06-01 00:00:00

Reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the date of creation. This information is not intended as a substitute for medical advice from a qualified health professional. Health professionals should rely on their own expertise and enquiries when providing medical advice or treatment. Where permitted by law, NPS disclaims all liability (including for negligence) for any loss, damage or injury resulting from reliance on or use of this information. Read our full disclaimer.

References to brands should not be taken as an endorsement by NPS.