Medicines and driving: what to check before you get behind the wheel

Start with the label and leaflet

Read the dispensing label and Consumer Medicine Information. Follow driving warnings, even if you do not feel noticeably different. Be particularly cautious when starting a medicine or after a change to treatment.

Know the warning signs

Drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, reduced alertness and poor coordination can make driving unsafe. Effects differ between people, and some can continue into the next day. If you feel affected or are unsure, do not drive; arrange another way to travel.

Check combinations

Alcohol and combinations of medicines can increase impairment. Tell your treating doctor or pharmacist about everything you take, including non-prescription products and supplements.

Stop driving, not treatment

Do not skip doses, stop treatment or change the dose just to drive. Speak to your treating clinician about a plan. In Victoria, driving while impaired by a medicine is unlawful. Other medicine-specific legal restrictions may also apply: this general guide does not establish that it is lawful for you to drive.

Questions for your next appointment

Could this medicine affect my driving? Could the effect last until the next morning? What should I do if I notice side effects? Does my condition or treatment require notification to the licensing authority?

Sources

• Transport Victoria — medicines and road safety
• healthdirect — medicines and driving

Published 9 November 2026. Sources checked 9 November 2026. The healthdirect source was last reviewed in July 2025. This is general patient information, not individual medical or legal advice.