Law Office of Michael L. Fell
900 Roosevelt Irvine, CA 92620
(949) 585-9055

4 Ways to Avoid Accidentally Being Guilty of Prescription Drug DUI

It happens all too frequently: A person is prescribed a legal prescription, take it as indicated, drives their car, and ends up charged with driving under the influence of drugs. At Law Office of Michael L. Fell we represent those caught in this difficult position but we also want to help others from ending up there. Read these four tips for avoiding driving under the influence of legal prescription drugs, then contact us at (949) 585-9055 if you are in need of a free legal consultation.

  1. Read Warning Labels and Take Them Seriously
  2. If any drug you are prescribed can potentially cause your driving to be unsafe, it should have a warning label instructing you not to operate heavy machinery while using the drug. If it does, take this warning seriously. If it does not have this label, it is still worth doublechecking with your pharmacist to make sure that it is safe to drive after taking the drug.

  3. Talk to Your Doctor About Potential Interactions
  4. Even if the drug itself does not cause side effects that impair your ability to drive, it could interact with other drugs you are taking in a negative way. This is why you must always tell your doctor all drugs you are taking – whether prescription or over-the-counter. Once again, you can also consult with your pharmacist if you are concerned about the interactions between various things you are taking.

  5. Be Careful When Drinking Alcohol
  6. There are many medications that do not mix well with alcohol. Doing so can significantly impair your ability to drive and lead to a DUI charge itself. Talk to your doctor to find out how any medication you are taking can mix with alcohol. Remember that though a DUI is a serious consequence, it could be even worse – your medication could be deadly when mixed with alcohol.

  7. Don’t Drive Until You Are Sure You Can
  8. The ideal option is to take medication for the first time only if you are in a situation where you are not going to need to drive. You can then take the drug, assess how it affects you, and be sure that you are safe to drive. If possible, do this several times. Remember that in some cases, the side effects of the drug will lessen with time so a drug that you initially cannot drive on could be safe to drive on later.

When in Doubt – Find Someone Else to Drive

If you do drive and end up being arrested for a DUI then there are steps Law Office of Michael L. Fell can take to represent you. However, if you drive when it is not safe to do so, you could put your life and the life of others at risk. If you are not 100% sure that you are okay to drive, the best option is to let someone else drive. If you are alone then call a rideshare to get from A to B.