A medicine can be familiar and still raise a new question before a driving lesson: am I allowed and able to drive safely today? The answer cannot be based only on whether the medicine was prescribed or bought without a prescription.

I’m Elvis Begic, your instructor at Rijschool in Maastricht. This guide explains a sensible preparation process. It does not assess an individual medicine and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist.

The rule depends on the medicine

Rijksoverheid explains that many medicines do not create a problem for driving, while others make driving unsafe or prohibited. Some effects are obvious, such as sleepiness, dizziness or blurred vision. Other medicines can reduce reaction or muscle control without you noticing it immediately.

Use the official Rijksoverheid guidance on medicines in traffic as your starting point. It links to the medicine-specific information service and advises discussing changes with a doctor or pharmacist. Do not stop, change or reschedule prescribed medication on your own simply to attend a lesson.

Check before the lesson, not in the driver’s seat

If you start a new medicine, receive a different dose or combine several medicines, check the driving information in advance. The same applies to medicines for allergies, pain, sleep, anxiety or travel sickness: do not judge a whole category by one product you used before.

A useful preparation sequence is:

This list is a practical preparation routine, not a medical assessment.

“I feel normal” is not a complete check

The government notes that some medicines can affect driving without the user clearly noticing it. That is why your own feeling is only one piece of information.

During a manual lesson in my Volkswagen Golf, you need attention for observation, clutch control, gear changes and decisions. If you feel sleepy, dizzy, unfocused or otherwise unwell, do not hide it. A lesson is not the place to test whether a warning applies to you.

I cannot decide whether a medicine is compatible with driving. That decision must follow the official medicine information and, where needed, professional medical advice.

Avoid making alcohol or other substances part of the experiment

Rijksoverheid warns that combining certain medicines with alcohol or drugs can create additional legal and safety risks. Do not improvise with combinations or assume that a small amount is harmless.

For a learner, the best habit is simple: check first and keep the situation clear. If you are uncertain, arrange advice and do not drive until the uncertainty is resolved.

Turn safe preparation into a repeatable habit

Preparation is not only about medicines. Before every lesson, ask yourself whether you are rested enough to learn, whether distractions are put away and whether you understand the controls you will use.

Read our practical guide to phone and navigation habits and the article on starting driving lessons calmly. These articles support preparation, but they do not replace health or legal guidance.

Lessons in Maastricht and nearby towns

I provide personal manual driving lessons in English and Dutch in Maastricht and nearby areas including Meerssen, Bunde and Gronsveld. Clear communication matters: if something affects whether you can drive safely, deal with it before the lesson.

View the current lesson prices and packages or contact Elvis about your lessons. For theory study alongside practical lessons, you can use ViaTheoria in English or Dutch.

Official guidance checked on 21 October 2026. Medicine instructions can differ by product, dose and personal situation, so always check the current information for your own medicine.