morphine and driving

[aandie]

hI I was wondering if anyone knows if I can drive while on morphine legally? Thanks for any help...

[Bananas5]

Hello aandie

Yes.

David has 100 micrograms of slow release 72 hrs patches.

He has been up to 125 mg and felt so awful he couldn't have driven anywhere.

I am sure there must be a limit but never heard of one.

Hope this helps

Patx

[Hidden]

I believe the decision is your as to whether you feel safe to drive. The medications all come with warnings not to drive etc but everyone reacts differently to them. If you don't feel safe then you shouldn't drive. As from March there are new 'drug driving' laws coming in to place. You can be pulled over and have a roadside test that can measure drug level in your system, including some prescription painkillers. It is recommended that you have a copy of your prescription with you as it is legal to have these drugs on prescription. But if they deem you in an unfit state to drive you can be prosecuted. I'm not an expert but this is how I believe it works/will work. Hard decision for me to make as I am under so pressure not to have time off work, on an absence monitoring plan that could lead to 'Ill health retirement', work don't understand chronic pain. But it is my decision to make, I always think how I would feel if I nodded off at the wheel and killed someone. Not worth the risk when I am on full dose, so either stay home or suffer the pain of a smaller dose. New laws will make me even more careful though! Hope this helps.

[CarolineC57]

Here's a news report on the new drug-driving law to which Suebooo refers:

bbc.co.uk/news/health-31306714

If you're taking the prescribed amount then you should be within limits - but if you are taking a lot of different pain meds it might be worth having a word with your pharmacist just to make sure you're still within the limit for driving legally.

[Bananas5]

Does not apply in Scotland.

Pat x

[earthwitch]

It is always about whether it affects your driving ability or not. You can't give definitive amounts of different meds that put you "over the limit" because everyone reacts differently. If a doctor thinks it might be, then they have a duty to report their concerns and in that case you would be required to do a driving assessment to check if you were safe. If you really aren't sure, then the safe thing to do is organise your own driving assessment (at a specialist disability driving centre). Its often very hard to tell what your reaction times are like until it comes to the crunch, and by that stage it can be too late if you fail to react to something like a child running out in the road in front of you. Better safe than sorry. For what its worth, I knew a girl with cerebral palsy who had fairly poor reaction times initially, but trained herself to be safe enough to be able to drive (after testing by an instructor) by using computer games that required a fast reaction. It did take her 6 months or more to improve, but it worked for her.

As far as different meds go, I was fine driving on maximum codeine daily doses (4 x 60 mg) when I was really used to taking that amount regularly, but give me one tramadol in a day and I didn't feel at all safe to drive. A friend of mine is wiped out and totally unsafe on one 8/50 cocodamol.

[Hidden]

There is new legislation come into place which changes how people on prescription medication are treated.

Taken from Gov.uk website:

Prescription medicines from March 2015

From March 2015 it will be illegal in England and Wales to drive with certain illegal drugs in the blood, even if you’re not unfit to drive.

It will also be illegal to drive with certain levels of certain legal drugs if you’re unfit to drive.

Talk to your doctor about whether you should drive if you’ve been prescribed any of the following drugs:

clonazepam

diazepam

flunitrazepam

lorazepam

methadone

morphine or opiate and opioid-based drugs

oxazepam

temazepam

You can drive after taking these drugs if:

you have been prescribed them and advised how to take them by a healthcare professional

they aren’t causing you to be unfit to drive

You could be prosecuted if you drive with certain levels of these drugs in your body and you haven’t been prescribed them.

The law doesn’t cover Northern Ireland and Scotland but you could still be arrested if you’re unfit to drive.

[Chawner]

OMG I hope so !

I have been on it for nearly four years and I have driven all the time. I had never thought about it not being allowed too. Sometimes I think I shouldnt be driving though !

[Bananas5]

What are the numbers for accidents caused by people taking prescription drugs?

Yet another not so bright idea by the Westminsters. In order to catch those taking illegal drugs which sweeps innocen people into its scheme.

We now have those who need to take them worrying whether to drive, to stop taking for that period thus increasing pain and stress.

Pat x

[katieoxo60]

Sounds like the new law is much the same if your drugs effect your reactions then you are advised to refrain from driving,i.e if they make you drowsy. I take opiates for pain and sometimes they cause me to forget, but I don't drive. So it is still very much to do with the effect on you as an individual, if you are driving now it should not make any difference unless your drug dosage is changed. The link on this post is very clear, thanks caroline

[Hidden]

Law or no law, if you don't feel safe driving, if your reactions are slowed or you feel too drowsy you should not drive. The risk to yourself and more importantly other road users and pedestrians is too great. Unfortunate, but OUR individual responsibility, not the government or police force. Just another 'burden to bear' for chronic pain sufferers, to have to choose between pain and safety, but a very necessary one I feel. Both can affect driving ability, getting the balance is very difficult in my experience.

[Poppy_Ann]

Hi,

Like most other painkillers Morphine comes with the warning not to drive or operate machinery if it makes you sleepy so it is up to you to decide how you feel, no one else can tell you that you feel sleepy (except for a hypnotist) but if you do feel sleepy then it is best not to drive as it can mean being involved in an accident and if they find out that you are on strong medication then they can blame you for it and you can be prosecuted for "driving under the influence" which most people think is only for drinking but it includes most non prescribed and prescribed drugs that affect your concentration in any way.

so best to not drive if you feel the effects.

for some of us who have been on them for years seldom feel the effects that much even with large doses but some one who just started taking them may be effected with a small dose which is why they leave it up to you to decide.

regards Poppy Ann.

[DISC]

I wear morphine patches and I drive, work etc!

[Hidden]

I am a former Police Officer and I only just found out about the changes from a post that I read on the Internet somewhere.

For me, if you do not feel fit enough for driving then do not do it whether you are on medication or not. You may not fall foul of Driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs laws but you may still commit Driving without due care type offences if you are not driving to a standard that would be expected of a 'reasonable driver'.

As a result of the new laws, I will carry copies of my prescriptions with me.

Please do not risk your life or the lives of others. We had a saying in the Police when we were driving, "no call is so urgent as to justify an accident". If in doubt - stay in, get a cab or get a friend to drive you.

[Hidden]

It has always been the case that if you feel you are unfit to drive you must inform the DVLA. I did when I was first diagnosed with RSD and they took my lice4nce away. As an ex-police officer I wouldn't have driven anyway

[angelrobert]

If you want to follow the prescriptions of physicians and specialist they usually don't allow driving during this condition and have some warnings but it totally depends on your personal perception what decision you should make. I personally suggest you not to take risk of drive!!! orthopedicsurgerysandiego.com/

[aandie]

Thank you for all your replies...

I have been on morphine mst for 3 years and am now coming off it.. My aim is to be free within the next 8 weeks.. The reason I asked was I habe received a letter from the DVLA saying that a third party had contacted them saying I was not fit to drive. I have 21 days to return the form, after this time they will make their decision if I can keep my driving license.

I am deveatated, I was hit by a car 3 years ago and the resulting injuries were to me a broken back, injuries to my right arm and my left foot was trapped and now i have problems with my ankle...

The accident was caused by a lady falling asleep at the wheel of her car... Therefore I am more aware than most what can happen...

I know how my medication effects me and their is no way I would get into my car and drive if I felt ill... Im hoping filling in the form and sending a letter saying much the same as I have here will help me keep my license. Without it, I will struggle to get my children to and from school, my Mother and myself to hospital/doctor appointments....

once again... Thank you for your comments.. I really appreciate them. xx

[deebie1985]

The law has recently changed on this. You can drive but not until you know how it affects you. If you feel it affects your reaction etc in any sort of way don't drive.

For myself personally, I have been on Oramorph for 3 years now and I won't drive for at least 4-6 hours after taking it and that's only if I really had to. For instance, I have had to go without it at work etc in the past as I know im due to finish work in around 4 hours or less and will not take that risk, so I would rather be in pain than lose my licence, or even worse killing someone. If the pain gets that worse I call a taxi or get someone to pick me up.

In myself, the effect usually wears off in around 3.5 to 4 hours.