How Prescription Medications Can Affect Field Sobriety Test Results
Field sobriety tests are a common tool used by law enforcement to determine if a driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. But what many people don’t realize is that certain prescription medications can affect a person’s ability to pass these tests, even when they are not intoxicated.
If you’ve been taking prescription medications and were arrested for failing a sobriety test, connect with a Houston DWI lawyer. An attorney can share with you how prescription drugs might have impacted your sobriety test performance.
Medications Can Mimic Alcohol Impairment
Several prescription medications can cause side effects that mimic the signs of alcohol impairment, making it difficult to pass a field sobriety test. Common medications that may have such effects include:
- Drugs like Valium, Xanax, and Ativan are used to treat anxiety, but they can cause drowsiness, dizziness, and impaired coordination. Some of these symptoms are also associated with alcohol consumption as well.
- Pain relievers. Prescription painkillers, especially opioids like OxyContin or Vicodin, can lead to drowsiness, dizziness, and confusion. These side effects can make it challenging to perform tasks that require coordination and focus, such as walking in a straight line or standing on one leg.
- Medications like Prozac or Zoloft can cause side effects like blurred vision, dizziness, and impaired motor skills. These symptoms could be misinterpreted as signs of intoxication during a field sobriety test.
- Some over-the-counter and prescription antihistamines, used to treat allergies, can cause drowsiness and slower reaction times, which may affect sobriety test results.
Designed to measure balance, coordination, and the ability to follow instructions, there are a few sobriety tests law enforcement rely on. The three most common tests are the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN), the Walk-and-Turn, and the One-Leg Stand. Prescription medications that affect the central nervous system can impair these abilities, leading to a failed test even when the driver is not under the influence of alcohol.
For example, the HGN test looks for involuntary jerking of the eyes, which can be caused by certain medications. The Walk-and-Turn and One-Leg Stand tests require good balance and coordination, both of which can be compromised by medications that cause dizziness or drowsiness.
Questioning Test Validity and Other Legal Defenses
If you were arrested for drunk driving in Texas, it’s essential to understand your options when it comes to legal defenses. When medications have been prescribed to the individual charged, an attorney may be able to argue that the field sobriety tests were not reliable indicators of impairment due to your medication’s known side effects.
As soon as you connect with a Houston DWI lawyer, they can collect medical records and expert testimony, documentation that may illustrate that the medication you were taking has side effects that mimic impairment. They also could question whether the officer accurately interpreted your performance.
Should you challenge charges against you? Being charged with a drunk driving offense when you’re sober but taking prescription medications is a frustrating and challenging situation. The legal team at Ayson Law Firm can help. Contact us today for a free consultation.
