Drugs against the flu can act like alcohol at the wheel

Deteriorated driving ability: Flu aids can act like alcohol at the wheel
In the cold season, many people fall ill with cold or flu. Those who then resort to medicines should be extra careful when driving. Because such drugs can severely limit the ability to drive, experts warn.

Driving ability can deteriorate severely
Motorists should be extra careful not only in the cold season because of possible smoothness. If you are taking medicines for colds and flu, their driving ability can be severely worsened. This has been pointed out by TÜV Süd in a press release. "All drivers who take medication during the influenza period should read the leaflet carefully and in addition ask their family doctor or pharmacist if fitness to drive is at risk," explained Jürgen Brenner-Hartmann, head of traffic psychology and traffic medicine MOT South.

Medicines have an influence on driving. Image: Pictures4you - fotolia

Symptoms like alcohol
For example, many of these remedies can cause dizziness, anxiety, and fatigue. In addition, the reaction time is often slowed down considerably. These are the same symptoms as they appear with alcohol in traffic. And the anesthetic effects of liquid medicines containing alcohol or codeine are often underestimated. Therefore: No cough syringes when driving. How problematic the relationship between road traffic and pharmaceuticals is, shows the accident statistics. According to the Federal Association of German Pharmacists Associations (ABDA), every fourth accident in Germany can be attributed to the use of tablets. (Ad)