[Tracy J]

Driving while on pain meds? What's your state law?

by Tracy J on Tue Oct 21, 2014 8:32 am

It is time for me to renew my driver's license and my state DMV [Department of Motor Vehicles] requires a medical form be filled out by my doctor if I have been diagnosed with a new medical condition since the last license was issued. I noticed that one of the questions for the doctor is what medications I've been prescribed.

When I was first diagnosed a couple of months ago, I was having a lot of rib and back pain from the bone tumors, so I'm on twice-a-day extended release morphine, which controls the pain quite well. I also have a prescription for Vicodin [hydrocodone + acetaminophen / para­cetamol] for breakthrough pain, but I hardly ever need to take it.

When I first started these medications, I didn't drive for a couple of weeks at all because I wasn't sure how I would react to the meds and because I wanted to give my body a chance to get used to the them. After a couple of weeks, I learned that I don't feel anything from the morphine except pain relief - no lightheadedness, no "high", no wooziness, no sleepiness, nothing. That's about as close to perfect pain control as you can get! When I first tried driving, I had my husband go with me to critique my driving to make sure I was safe. Everything seems fine.

On the other hand, Vicodin makes me woozy, sleepy, off-balance, and definitely unable to drive. So I plan my day accordingly.

Now, when it comes to renewing my driver's license, what's going to happen to my inde­pen­dence?

Here's what I really mean to ask: if they see the morphine on my med list, will they take away my license?

[Tracy J]

Re: Driving while on pain meds? What's your state law?

by Tracy J on Tue Oct 21, 2014 8:59 am

Also, I asked my oncologist when she first prescribed the morphine if I could drive, and she said that many people drive while on narcotics, and I'll just have to see how my body reacts and how I feel. If I feel okay and I feel confident driving, then I can.

I'm going to do this all above board, obviously. If I need to try to get off the morphine to keep my license, then I'll try. If I need to keep the morphine because the pain is too bad, then I will just need to get rides everywhere.

Tough position though - pain vs independence.

[Eric Hofacket]

Re: Driving while on pain meds? What's your state law?

by Eric Hofacket on Wed Oct 22, 2014 12:50 am

I believe the law in my state, California, is if you cannot pass the field sobriety test for whatever reason, you can be charged with driving under the influence or driving while impaired. I have seen accident reports where that charge was made. I do not know if, in those cases, a test was administered, or if they simple found the drugs in the car and made the charge.