Psychoactive Medication and Traffic Safety

Joris C. Verster and Monique A.J. Mets
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Joris C. Verster: Utrecht University, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Psychopharmacology Section, P. O. Box 80082, 3508TB Utrecht, The Netherlands
Monique A.J. Mets: Utrecht University, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Psychopharmacology Section, P. O. Box 80082, 3508TB Utrecht, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2009, vol. 6, issue 3, 1-14

Abstract: Driving a car is important to maintain independence and participate in society. Many of those who use psychoactive medication are outpatients and are thus likely to drive a vehicle. Most common adverse effects that impair driving are reduced alertness, affected psychomotor functioning and impaired vision. This review discusses the effects on driving ability of most commonly prescribed psychoactive drugs, including hypnotics, antidepressants, antihistamines, analgesics and stimulant drugs. Within these categories of medicines significant differences concerning their impact on driving ability are evident. The International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety (ICADTS) categorization can help physicians to make a choice between treatments when patients want to drive a car.

Keywords: Driving; drugs; psychoactive medication; traffic safety; ICADTS (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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