When you get behind the steering wheel of a vehicle, you become responsible for everything that happens while you operate it. Driving a car is a hefty responsibility, and you want to have your full faculties about you.
You have taken prescription medication over the years for a variety of reasons. Did you know that your medication may affect your blood alcohol content even when it is not making you impaired? Should you ever find yourself pulled over by the police after taking certain medications, you may find yourself in trouble.
How medications alter BAC
Some medications contain components that alter the chemical makeup of your breath. Thus, if a police officer administers a BAC test, these drugs may create false positive readings even if you have not had anything to drink. Most of the drugs capable of creating this type of reading treat asthma or breathing problems. An inhaler is the most effective way to deliver this medication. The most common drugs in this category include:
- Albuterol
- Salmeterol
- Budesonide
Other ways medications enhance your BAC
Most of the other medications that can raise your BAC do so typically only when interacting with other drugs or factors. The biggest culprit of this interaction is alcohol. Having one alcoholic beverage while taking things like allergy or blood pressure medication can greatly intensify the effect of the alcohol on your body and breath. You may become unstable quickly, your decision-making abilities greatly debilitated and even your reflexes may suffer.
When taking prescriptions, it is essential that you read the interaction label carefully. While some drugs, like those used in inhalers, may cause a BAC false positive reading, others become dangerous when coupled with alcohol.
