A breath test is meant to pick up on drinking alcohol in the breath, but can it detect other substances? Let’s discuss what you should know about how your medication could affect your breath test results.
The Effects of Medicine on BAC
In most cases, your medication will not significantly impact your BAC score. However, it is important to be mindful that some medications, like liquid cold and flu medicine, do contain alcohol. While the percentage is likely low enough to keep you well under the legal limit, it could be enough alcohol to be detected during a breath test.
Drugged Driving
While the alcohol found in medication may not be enough to put your BAC above the legal limit, there can be other effects that lead to a drugged driving charge.
Certain medications have side effects including:
- Drowsiness
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Impaired thinking
These side effects can all affect your ability to drive safely. If you are swerving between lanes or otherwise showing signs of recklessness, an officer may pull you over and investigate you for drugged driving. Often, people are surprised to face this charge after using their prescribed or over-the-counter medication. Always check the listed side effects and drug interactions before taking your medication and getting behind the wheel of a car.
Here’s a list of some common medications known to affect driving capability:
- Anxiety medication
- Seizure medication
- Antihistamines
- Motion sickness medication
- CBD products
- Cold medicine (liquid Nyquil is 10% alcohol by volume!)
Texas DWI Defense
If you have been charged with DWI of drugs after taking legal or illegal drugs, contact Deandra Grant Law. These cases are more complex than those involving alcohol, and our team knows what it takes to craft a strong defense based on scientific and legal principles. Give us a call today at (214) 225-7117 to discuss your case with our Dallas DWI defense attorneys.