Would my meds stop the DVLA giving me a licence?
Posted , 7 users are following.
I have paranoid schizophrenia, ocd, traits of bpd and severe depression. I take mirtazapine anti depressants. I have been prescribed quetiapine 25mg tablets to be taken 4 times per day to see if it will even me out in some way. A friend told me that I should have a bus pass from my local council due to my mental health issues. My friend told me to speak to the DVLA to ask them if they would give me a driving licence (I have never had one) due to my mental health. I spoke to a really helpful guy who told me that the DVLA have no issue with someone who suffers from the mental health issues I have driving a vehicle!! I was shocked! He then asked me if I took any medication so I told him about the mirtazapine and have just been prescribed quetiapine as well. He said if the tablets cause drowsiness and would impair my judgement then they would not allowe me to have a licence. I was told to ask my GP for a letter. I was wondering if anyone has any advice on any of this or have any of you gone through this? i haven't taken it yet but will this quetiapine cause drowiness and impairment of judgement? I dont want to make a fool out of myself asking my GP for a letter if quetiapine does not cause these side effects. I dont like wasting my doctor's time ... thanks for any thoughts or advice
1 like, 12 replies
kerry15755 kathy82501
Posted
Sister_Stigma kerry15755
Posted
Sister_Stigma kathy82501
Posted
WalkingPharmacy Sister_Stigma
Posted
Hi there,
sounds like you aren't aware that you need to disclose your medical problems.
I answered Kathy lower down, so I won't repeat it all again, but I'll just paste the main points here:
Regardless of what meds you are taking, the DVLA website gives you advice on what conditions are reportable.
The list is at the link below, and if you click on the link below it brings up a list of medical conditions and disabilitys:
https://www.gov.uk/health-conditions-and-driving
Click on the one you are suffering from, and it tells you exactly what to do, for example, I suffer from Bipolar Type II. Click on Bipolar, and it tells me "You must tell DVLA if you have bipolar disorder."
NickOliver WalkingPharmacy
Posted
I took mirt about 12.30 last night and for much of the day I have been fairly dopy. So clearly to have driven in such circumstances would have been insane. Even more so with quetiapine which I| was on for 4 months.
And my own experience is that it is only when you go to cross the road or, as in my case, singing in a choir that you realise the effects of the med ie a situation requiring decisionmaking.
kathy82501
Posted
NickOliver kathy82501
Posted
Also when I was on quetiapine until recently I was like a zombie in the morning even when I took it the night before.
In addition I am still on mirtazipine and I still feel driowsy in the morning.
See https://patient.info/doctor/fitness-to-drive
Then I quote from that site:
"If the licence holder cannot or will not advise DVLA of their condition, the doctor should consult GMC guidelines at www.gmc-uk.org"
Finally I don't think that it is a civil right to drive. A car is a dangerous weapon.
Patient Moderator Note: I have removed an URL (a link) from this reply as it was unsuitable for inclusion within these forums however I have provided a suitable replacement. Sorry for any inconvenience.
kathy82501
Posted
WalkingPharmacy kathy82501
Posted
The list is at the link below, and if you click on the link below it brings up a list of medical conditions and disabilitys:
https://www.gov.uk/health-conditions-and-driving
Click on the one you are suffering from, and it tells you exactly what to do, for example, I suffer from Bipolar Type II. Click on Bipolar, and it tells me "You must tell DVLA if you have bipolar disorder."
I need to fill out two forms, as I am an HGV driver, and I expect I will loose my HGV (Vocational license) and after some debate I hope to be allowed to keep my car licence.
Note: You can be fined up to £1,000 if you don’t tell DVLA about a medical condition that affects your driving. You may be prosecuted if you’re involved in an accident as a result.
It isn't necessarily a straight yes/no to the form. You may need to see a Doctor who does work for them.
I had a severe back operation in 2002, resulting in some further problems. At that time they made me see their Doctor and then called me to clear up some confusion, and I was allowed to keep my licences. It wasn't something they seemed to take lightly. They made very thorough enquiries at the time before making their decision.
As regards the 25mg x 4 per day, that would be a starting dose to see if it helps, and to increase slowly to avoid side affects.
It's not the medication which requires you to inform DVLA though, it is the Illness or disability.
Good luck sweetheart.
NickOliver kathy82501
Posted
I live in London and the fact that I am not able to drive gives me a Freedom Pass which allows me to go anywhere in London on public transport for free, so there are some advantages of not being allowed to drive.
WalkingPharmacy NickOliver
Posted
Loosing my licence will add weight to not being able to work, as I'm only 46, so I think I will be facing a fight. I've been so ill the last few years, I haven't even been sending my sick notes in for the last 2 1/2 ish years.
Even driving a car more than 30 miles doesn't appeal to me at all now, whereas I used to drive hundreds of miles at work and jump in the car Friday after work, and drive another 150 miles to Wales for the weekend, without a thought.
I just hope they don't go after my car licence. I'd be totally lost without it.
tersia03817 kathy82501
Posted
I doubt such a small dose of q will make you feel drowsy, especially if you take it at night. By morning the drowsyness should have worn down. I take 175mg a day, and I take it at 8pm. By 9am the next day, I'm functioning fine. I drive a car and I know when I'm drowsy, so I NEVER drive at night after taking my guitiapine. As long as you act responsibly, you should be fine.