Semi Truck Drivers Should Not Drive While Taking Anti-Smoking Drug Chantix
The anti-smoking drug Chantix has been linked to serious side effects and approximately 100 accidents. As a result, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which is a government agency that issues regulations that are designed to make sure semi truck (aka tractor trailer and 18 wheeler) drivers and their vehicles are safe, recently issued a statement saying semi truck drivers should not be driving commercial motor vehicles if they are on the drug. One of the regulations that governs semi truck drivers requires them to be physically qualified to drive a semi truck. Each semi truck driver that drives a commercial motor vehicle interstate must have a medical certificate indicating that he or she was examined and approved by a medical professional. The medical professional examines the prospective semi truck driver and notes any conditions that may affect the person's driving ability (such as the need to wear glasses) and makes sure he or she does not have any conditions that would disqualify that person from driving. Examples of conditions that would render a semi truck driver unsafe and unable to drive a semi truck under the regulations are epilepsy and insulin-dependent diabetes.
In order to keep unsafe semi truck drivers off of the roads and help prevent serious injury accidents involving semi trucks, the FMCSA recently announced that semi truck drivers should not be driving while taking the anti-smoking drug Chantix. Medical professionals who check semi truck drivers to make sure they are physically able to drive are not supposed to qualify a person on this drug. According to a report by The Institute for Safe Medication Practices, Chantix has been linked to seizures, vision problems, dizziness, heart irregularity and diabetes. Another report released in late 2007 indicated that the drug Chantix was linked to nausea, fatigue, headaches, suicidal feelings and erratic behavior.
Clearly, anyone suffering from some or any of these side effects from Chantix should not be driving a semi truck, and the FMCSA recognizes this. However, the obvious flaw is that during the medical exam where a prospective driver is being medically evaluated, the medical professional will likely only know if the person is on Chantix (or other prescription drugs), if the person discloses this information. The person's medical or pharmacy records are not obtained for the exam. Therefore, if a person fails to disclose that he or she is on this drug, any rule preventing a person from driving a semi truck on that drug would have little effect.
