Apologies, it's me again, but I was just wondering if any of you have issues driving because of the ADHD? My specialist advised me that certain meds might affect my ability to drive.I don't drive often. I passed my test about 22 years ago and stopped driving not long after because of an incident of getting in to a fight with my Dad because of the way I had been shown of changing gear. I only started driving again the other year, as my Grandad died and left me his car. I have always hated driving - the stress and worry caused by other reckless drivers, really freaks me out.
My Dad was a professional driver due to his work (police), so there's always been this high plateau to aspire to, but the truth is I don't enjoy driving.
With my recent ADHD diagnosis, I'm aware that just a short journey leaves me drained because I'm having to concentrate so much. I also find my attention sometimes falters and I have to stop myself daydreaming whilst in the car.
Any advice/words of wisdom.
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The driving warning is pretty standard for any medication which can affect alertness.
It isn't just ADHD medication, but also antidepressants, pain medication, allergy or cold medication ...the list goes on.
I take my current non-stimulant medication in the evening because early on I experienced some daytime sleepiness. (I'm not sure if the sleepiness was due to the meds, or the fact that I am short on sleep too often lately.
Stimulant medications also have the potential to cause excitability, agitation, anxiousness...any of which can cause problems with driving. It's rare, but also possible, for ADHD medication to cause bodily tics (such as by causing tardive dyskinesia). Motor tics can definitely be a problem when driving.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist (chemist?) if you have questions about the likelihood of such side effects from your current medication.
Thanks for getting back to me.I'm still waiting on a follow up with the specialist for next steps to take. I'm also waiting to hear from my Doctor if the National Health Service will accept a private diagnosis of ADHD, or whether I'll need to go through further assessments.
I currently take Amitriptyline in the evening for IBS and that can lead to drowsiness the next day. My whole sleep pattern is off-kilter at present.
Did you have any issues with ADHD in regards to driving before you were diagnosed and medicated?
I was lacking a lot of confidence for driving early on. Over time, I became much more comfortable driving.
The biggest problems (due to inattentiveness and distractibility) were that I have is that I can miss a turn or get lost when I'm driving to somewhere that I haven't been to very much. It still happens on my meds, but less often than before.
Also, before I started taking ADHD medication, I used to be less coordinated.
I have always been a conscientious driver, trying my best to drive safely everywhere I go. It's a priority for me to put safety first when I'm on the road (and I'm pretty much all other situations).
I have a similar experience. Safety is important to me. If ADHD is not treated my brain must work harder than a brain that is not neurodivergent to remain alert, focused, and minimize distraction. Because my brain works so hard on safe driving, I experience fatigue afterward. I am mentally drained after the drive. If medicated I am calm, alert and focused an entire drive (long or short trips) without feeling anxious, stressed, or overwhelmed. I am also not drained by the drive. If severity is worse than usual at certain periods of my life, I can feel and sense the difference in my consciousness as it relates to attention and concentration. Some people with ADHD have time blindness that can also affect safe driving.
I hadn't thought of it, but I also would feel fatigued after a drive (mentally, and sometimes physically).
Before my diagnosis, it was after most drives over 5 minutes, and the more unfamiliar the roads or the more traffic on them, the more anxious and fatigued I would be afterwards.
Thank you for the response. The medications definitely sound beneficial. I have the time blindness, which seems to have worsened since I lost my job, which says alot, as it's always been bad.
I'm currently floating around in a limbo, jobless and without the follow up appointment for my ADHD diagnosis and no further forward with an autism diagnosis. Added to that, my partner has just informed me that she can't handle the relationship anymore and I'm taking too long getting treatment and she wants me out of the house. Absolutely devastated by that.
Ditto about safety. On the rare occasions I do drive I will either be at the speed limit or slightly under the speed limit, but that seems to rile alot of other drivers who often seem excessively aggressive.
I was assessed as having moderate to high inattention type, so I do worry about that with driving. I have zero self confidence, which also impacts my driving.
I have Inattentive ADHD and driving is an issue. Distraction is a problem for me and driving is very stressful and exhausting. I take special care to make sure I’m being safe and the mental energy to do so is tiring.
I drive a full size pickup truck/trailer for my business and find that I’m more attentive in the larger vehicle because I have to go slower.
My driving pre-meds was a source of a lot of anger and fear on my wife’s part. Her being tense made me more tense and a nasty cycle ensued.
Post meds (Welbutrin) it’s better but my therapist asked me if my wife enjoyed driving and if so why not let her drive. So I stopped being a prideful ass and she drives a lot now which is nice. We share long drives and are able to talk instead of fight.
I found that if I need to slow down, take a little longer at intersections, etc I do so and don’t worry about people beeping their horns. I avoid highways if possible and adjust my time table so I’m not rushing anywhere.
I live in a remote rural area and the places I work are also not very large. Driving in city traffic is very very stressful and I cut my music or book off and focus as much as possible.
I had a job once driving for Fed Ex and they paid for a weeklong driving course which was invaluable. I don’t know if a course is affordable or feasible for you but that might help.
I know it’s hard to fight through some of the fears/shame from mistakes when you were learning to drive. My dad was kinda harsh and driving was easy for him and not for me. Once I learned how to be kind to myself and relax my driving improved.
I’m not a “good” driver but I’m careful and can back a trailer in just about anywhere!
The absolute best advice I ever got was from a boss who told me that there are few problems in driving that can’t be solved by just slowing down. So slow is smooth and smooth is fast.
Hi Prussic,Thanks for that. I'm relieved to hear so many other people with ADHD suffer the driving exhaustion and that we all sound like careful/cautious drivers, which is definitely not bad thing. Defensive driving sounds like the best way to go.
I can't imagine the stress driving a big trailer must cause. That would be like a nightmare for me.
The advice your boss told you is the same as my Dad told me. It definitely makes sense, but I find other road users stress me out as the drive so close and are so impatient. I'm also seeing driving from my partner's side where she is always fast, aggressive, impatient and reckless. Even in pouring rain she sits right behind the person in front. It's definitely made me very nervous in the car.
I hear you on other drivers. I’ve found that if I tell myself my life is important, their life is important and if they are impatient they can pound sand and thank me later for being careful it helps me not take horn beeping, etc personally.
I don’t purposely annoy people but if they are that impatient then it’s not my fault they left too late. If it’s an emergency then they can flash their lights etc.
Driving is A#1 the most stressful thing in my life. I used to cycle everywhere but a move and job change ended that. But I don’t like leaving my homestead or county and that may play a part in the driving stress.
And I hear you on aggressive driving. My wife is “assertive” (her word) and can move through traffic like a race car driver! She’s got amazing ability to judge distance, timing, speed. Her dad was a Special Forces helicopter pilot so I think it’s genetic. I’ve learned to relax and let her do her thing. It’s pretty awesome.
Hi Alexa009,Thanks for your reply. That's definitely where I'm at with my driving. I come from a family where on my Dad's side, all the men must love driving and being interested in cars. That's just not me.
Being a passenger means I can be alone with my thoughts. The way my brain is wired I find I can't drive listening to music as my concentration often focuses on the lyrics or melody, which is obviously bad news when I'm supposed to be driving.
I get drained driving too because of the stress of. Ring a careful driver and taking bad drivers personally. I do enjoy driving in some places, but city driving is not something I like. Have you tried riding your bike whenever possible?
Driving affects me in similar ways. If I drive I don’t have energy or motivation to do anything else. It is as if the driving drains my mental energy and I can’t think or do anything afterward. I am exhausted by driving and the thought of driving. If there is a medication shortage or supply issue I am not able to drive and must identify alternative options for transportation.
Hi Mamamichl,Thanks for the response. I can completely relate to you on taking bad drivers personally. If anyone even sounds a horn or flashes their lights at me, I take it personally - I really feel it - and it sticks with me/bugs me. None of my family can understand me with that one.
I used to cycle alot, but I haven't been out on my bike since my late teens, as I became nervous on my bike too, especially after my best friend was killed when he was cycling.
At this point of severity in my life, my ADHD needs treated. If ADHD is not treated I have difficulty driving. If the ADHD is treated on the right medication and dosage I am a safe driver and driving does not cause health issues. If ADHD is not treated my brain has to work too hard. Driving causes anxiety and severe fatigue if left untreated.
That sounds like where I'm at just now. The specialist recommended medication to help me, but if my National Health Service doctor doesn't accept the diagnosis, then I'll have to pay for the medication privately, which could be a struggle with being jobless just now. Saying that, the medication does sound hopeful for helping my brain.
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