[Driving under the influence of benzodiazepines and antidepressants: prescription and abuse]

Acta Med Port. 2011 May-Jun;24(3):431-8. Epub 2011 Aug 12.
[Article in Portuguese]

Abstract

Benzodiazepines are drugs usually used in anxiety disorders, dyssomnias, convulsions, muscle disorders, alcohol and other drugs detoxification, as well as in preoperative sedation/amnesia. Moreover, antidepressants are mainly indicated in depression and as co-therapeutic drugs in other psychiatric disorders. The use of benzodiazepines and antidepressants is associated with some health and public safety problems. Decreased of attention, concentration, reflexes, visual capacity, motor coordination and reasoning, associated with increased reaction time and lack of awareness of driving impairment among these drug users, contributes to the increased risk on traffic safety linked with these drugs. This risk may further increase with non-compliance of medical prescription, drug abuse or concomitant use of alcohol. The relationship between the use of psychoactive drugs and road traffic safety is, however, an extremely complex subject and has a primordial importance in the clarification of the role of benzodiazepine and antidepressant effects on driving skills. The prevention of driving under the influence of these drugs depends on the awareness, among doctors, of the risks associated with their use. Thus, the consciousness of medical prescription, as well as providing clear information to patients is extremely important.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antidepressive Agents / adverse effects*
  • Automobile Driving*
  • Benzodiazepines / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Prescription Drugs / adverse effects
  • Substance-Related Disorders*

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Prescription Drugs
  • Benzodiazepines