There are all sorts of reasons why a driver’s abilities behind the wheel may be disrupted, whether they consume alcohol before getting in their car, do not get enough sleep at night or have worked a very long day. However, some people do not realize that the allergy medication they take could also have a negative impact on their ability to stay safe on the road. If you struggle with seasonal allergies, it is especially important to be aware of how allergies—and certain drugs you may take to help with your symptoms—could increase the chances of a motor vehicle crash.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, some allergy medications can lead to drowsy driving, which could result in an auto accident. There are a number of ways in which drivers may be affected by allergy medications, even if they do not seem to feel drowsy after taking them. For example, a driver’s reaction time may be slower, and they may feel confused, which can be disastrous behind the wheel. Moreover, consuming alcohol and taking other drugs that may interact with allergy medication can cause a driver to become even more drowsy while on the road.
Unfortunately, many drowsy driving accidents will take place this spring, some of which will be the result of allergy medication. If you were hit by someone who was drowsy when the accident took place, this could be difficult to pinpoint, and those involved may not recognize allergy medication as a factor which contributed to the crash.
