Drivers warned to check bottle of popular cold and flu medication

Sniffling, sneezing and suffering from a nasty cold? If you’re like most people, you’ll probably reach for some over-the-counter relief.

While those tiny pills and syrups might soothe your symptoms, they could also steer you straight into legal trouble if you get behind the wheel.

Experts warned that certain cold and flu medicines can turn you from a responsible driver into an offender.

Certain medications for flu or cold can cause drowsiness, slower reaction times, or even dizziness. But even if they don’t impair your ability to drive, it is illegal to drive with certain drugs in your system in the UK.

The consequences for dangerous driving are very serious: you can face an unlimited fine, a year-long driving ban, up to six months in prison and a criminal record.

If you feel drowsy or anything different from normal, read the side effects of the medicine you’ve taken and avoid driving.

Experts urged drivers to be careful and take the medicine you’ve been prescribed, follow the doctor’s advice on how to take the medicine, and stick to the prescribed dosage.

We all lead busy lives, and sometimes it may seem inconvenient to be unwell. However, driving under the influence of drugs is extremely serious and can have life-altering consequences.

Even if you are used to taking a particular medication and believe it doesn't impact your driving, if you are stopped by the police or involved in an accident, and the medication carries a warning against driving, you could still face charges.