Pharmacists Association Classifies 386 Ingredients of Medicines Requiring Caution When Driving, Including Zolpidem and Morphine

"Avoid driving if you experience symptoms such as drowsiness or blurred vision"

The Korean Pharmaceutical Association announced on the 3rd that it has independently classified 386 pharmaceutical ingredients that require caution when driving after taking them, and has provided this information to member pharmacies nationwide. This measure comes as traffic accidents after taking medication continue to occur, ahead of the enforcement in April of the revised Road Traffic Act, which will toughen penalties related to drug-impaired driving.

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The association stated, "Traffic accidents after taking sleeping pills such as zolpidem have recently emerged as a social problem," adding that "this is a preemptive measure ahead of the enforcement of the revised Road Traffic Act." The revised Road Traffic Act clearly prohibits driving when normal driving is difficult due to not only alcohol but also fatigue, illness, or the influence of drugs, and raises the level of penalties.

The association divided pharmaceutical ingredients into four levels according to risk. Specifically, there are 3 ingredients in the "simple caution" category, 166 ingredients in the "caution when driving" category, 199 ingredients in the "driving risk" category, and 98 ingredients in the "driving prohibited" category. The driving-prohibited category includes ingredients such as insulin, zolpidem, and morphine.

The "caution when driving" category includes painkillers such as aspirin and dexibuprofen, as well as Woohwang Cheongsimwon, while the "driving risk" category includes oseltamivir phosphate, an influenza treatment, and ingredients used in erectile dysfunction treatments.

The association has delivered this list to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the National Police Agency, requesting the preparation of an official guideline and a standard list. In particular, it suggested to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety that labeling and marking requirements be improved so that warning phrases such as "Do not drive after taking" or "May cause drowsiness" are clearly indicated on the outer packaging of over-the-counter medicines.

The association noted that this list does not constitute a legal standard or an administrative obligation. It emphasized, however, that "because the effects of medications and individual responses vary, rather than uniformly labeling specific drugs as 'driving-prohibited drugs,' it is important to avoid driving when you experience subjective symptoms such as drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, or decreased concentration."