Many people in Oklahoma are prescribed muscle relaxers to prevent muscle spasms. While this can greatly increase your quality of life, it can also hinder your ability to drive. You might be surprised to learn that you can be charged with a DUI even if you’re taking drugs that were prescribed by your doctor.
How do muscle relaxants impact your driving?
Most muscle relaxants come with a set of side effects. If your doctor prescribes muscle relaxants for your condition, you might experience headaches, dizziness, fatigue, confusion, aches and pains, light-headedness and even hallucinations. Despite this, it might seem safe to assume that you can still drive. You may assume you can’t be charged with a DUI if you’re taking prescription medication.
In fact, you could be arrested if you’re driving under the influence of muscle relaxers. An officer might pull you over if you seem to be driving erratically. If you fail a sobriety test, you might end up facing a DUI charge. The type of drug doesn’t matter: You’re still driving under the influence of a drug that inhibits your ability to drive safely.
If you do a lot of driving in your daily life, talk to your doctor about finding a medication with the lowest number of side effects. You might also want to stay off the road until you’ve gotten used to your new medication.
Can you defend yourself against a DUI?
A DUI conviction could stain your driving record for years to come. If you’ve been arrested and charged with a DUI, don’t hesitate to call a criminal defense attorney. A legal professional might be able to get the charges reduced and explore alternate forms of punishment. Additionally, they may argue for leniency if you’re a first-time offender who doesn’t have a criminal record.