how to work out new drug driving law of 550 mcg/l of diazepam into how many mg of tablets!!!

my gp sa1d she has n0t been asked t0 g1ve t0 the 1nf0rmat10n 0ut - wh1ch really supr1sed me as the 0ther 0ne was addament he had been... cur10us. Perhaps they are d01ng what they usually d0 wh1ch 1s test these th1ngs 1n certa1n c0unt1es rather than ent1re UK - rather s1m1lar t0 what they are d01ng w1th f00d stamps f0r drug add1cts - 1ts 0nly happen1ng 1n 0ne c0unty up N0rth...the med1a 0nly kn0w what they have been t0ld t0 tell us, wh1ch 1 th1nk 1s scare st0r1es - anyways lets see what happens 1n March.  1 w1ll s1gn a part1t10n f0r th1s law t0 be rev1ewed f0r prescr1bed meds. Even the 150,000 are en0ugh t0 get th1s get th1s d1scussed 1n parl1ament. Alasta1r Cambell has mental health pr0blems...and speaks up f0r them. Th0ugh hes unp0pular f0r g00d reas0n...

Hi everyone- I think a petition would be a good idea - however my GP has told me its ok to carry on taking them....how come we are all hearing different things? I think if you are unlucky enough to get pulled over - all you need is a dr's note explaining that you have tolerance and are a safe driver and thats that - it will be very difficult to take this court...infact there a MILLION people on these medications currently in the UK, most of my friends I know who take diazepam (I met in anxiety group) Have no idea about this law...when I told them, unlike me they didnt become worried... there is no way other medications can substitute diazepam for me - I ve tried beta blockers but they dont work on my symptoms - we cant just lie down and accept this! we need to stand up for ourselves, is anyone out there good at putting pen to paper to write a cohesive bullet point short letter explain why this is unfair and unsound - I know I have the support of my Gp who agrees with me that I am not a concern driving on this medication. 

as long as you are capable of driving, you will not be prosecuted if over limit, providing Doc. has prescribed . good idea to keep re-order part of your prescription with you.

The DVLA cannot ask your doctor or dentist or even your psychiatrist to supply them with medical information, its strictly confidential and can only be given with the patients permission. Its up to the individual themselves to inform the DVLA of any medical conditions or medications they have or are taking. If you are in an accident and found to be unfit through taking diazepam and you did'nt inform the DVLA then you could be in trouble.

If your Dr thinks you are unfit to drive - that you are using your medication in a dangerous way- and you are not willing to tell the DVLA the Dr has to - same with an alchoholic or an eplipelitic. However since our Drs know us and consider us safe drivers taking medications for a mental health condition they are not required to do so. 

The legislation provides a statutory “medical defence” for people taking the drugs for medical reasons, if their driving was not impaired. The conditions of the medical defence state that the individual is not guilty of an offence if:

the medicine was prescribed, supplied, or sold to treat a medical or dental problem, and

it was taken according to the instructions given by the prescriber or the information provided with the medicine.

The individual may need to provide written evidence to satisfy the points above (eg, the tear-off section of a prescription or the medicine’s patient information leaflet).

- Buy a dash cam - to record that you are a safe driver/fit to drive for evidence.

 

Advice for healthcare professionals

Any condition that requires medicinal treatment may itself pose a risk to driving ability if left untreated. Therefore it is important to advise patients to continue their treatment.

Advice to give to patients taking any medicine:

Continue taking your medicine as prescribed

Check the leaflet that comes with your medicine for information on how your medicine may affect your driving ability

It is against the law to drive if your driving ability is impaired by this medicine

Do not drive while taking this medicine until you know how it affects you (especially just after starting or changing the dose of the medicine)

Do not drive if you feel sleepy, dizzy, unable to concentrate or make decisions, or if you have blurred or double vision

Internet probs..we are fine..carry on with the valium ..will try to upload the advice given to doctors 

You are ok ..there is a Medical Defence ..google new drug driving laws March ...for professionals..I have internet probs ..you are ok 

who is unsure about the effects of their medication or how the new legislation may affect them, to seek the advice of their doctor or pharmacist

There will also be a medical defence if a driver has been taking medication as directed and is found to be over the limit, but not impaired. THINK! advises drivers who are taking prescribed medication at high doses to carry evidence with them, such as prescriptions slips, when driving in order to minimise any inconvenience should they be asked to take a test by the police.

Professor David Taylor, Royal Pharmaceutical Society spokesperson and member of the Department for Transport advisory panel on drug driving said: