Marlton, NJ (PRWEB) November 12, 2012

A study recently published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology* highlighted the significantly increased risk of motor vehicle accidents for those who are taking certain kinds of psychotropic medications. The study found that medications such as antidepressants and Z-drugs have as much of an impact on risk of car accidents as previously studied benzodiazepines (BZDs). The Philadelphia accident attorneys at Console & Hollawell urge that patients and doctors alike realize the real risk these medications can cause to both those taking these medications and the motorists they share the road with.

Philadelphia auto accident lawyer, Richard P. Console, Jr. was thankful to the researchers and authors of the study for bringing light to this serious hazard.

These medications often include a section on their labeling warning patients to use added caution when operating heavy machinery, but doctors rarely give patients a real grasp of the risks, Console said. Unfortunately, labeling with a suggestion is not enough to prevent individuals taking these medications from getting behind the wheel, and some will not even read the label. It is imperative that medical professionals make their patients aware of all the risks associated with their medications.

The study examined approximately 5,200 people who had been involved in car accidents and compared drug use with more than 31,000 control individuals.* The results were clear in illustrating the significant uptick in being involved in an accident if the individual was taking a psychotropic medication. This was further inflated the higher the dosage of the medication.*

The U.S. National Library of Medicine** reported that the study added to the existing knowledge within the medical community regarding psychotropic medications and motor vehicle accidents. It was already well documented that BZDs used for the treatment of anxiety and insomnia increased the risk of accidents, but there was not much research into the effects of antidepressants such as selective serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or newer insomnia medications classified as Z-drugs. SSRIs are perhaps the most popular class of antidepressants and include such medications as Prozac, Zoloft, and Lexapro.

The personal injury lawyers at Console & Hollawell, P.C. have been protecting the rights of accident victims since 1994. They are dedicated to holding responsible parties accountable for their negligent actions that led to an accident including improper warnings with regards to medications.

*http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2125.2012.04410.x/abstract

** http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_129192.html

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