Georgia DUI Ambien and Lunesta
In Georgia, alcohol consumption isn’t the only thing that can get you arrested for driving under the influence—you could also be charged if you are impaired by drugs. A DUI Drug charge doesn’t apply only to illegal substances but also to over-the-counter and prescription medication. A Georgia DUI involving Ambien and Lunesta have the potential to seriously affect your driving ability, you could face a charge if you operate a vehicle while under their influence.
You may have heard that people who take these medications often engage in activities that they do not remember when they wake up. In fact, there have been cases of people taking these medicines, falling asleep, and then driving. Though this action is involuntary, you could still be arrested for “sleep driving” under the influence.
The Federal Drug Administration (FDA), recognizing that prescription sleep medications could cause sleep driving, required manufacturers to put a warning label on the bottle and include a medication guide with the prescription.
Some cases of driving under the influence of Ambien and Lunesta are obviously involuntary—the driver may be wearing pajamas, appear disoriented, and have no idea why he or she is driving. In these cases, a skilled lawyer should be able to successfully fight your DUI charges. However, there are some cases that could be seen as voluntary. For example, consuming alcohol after taking these prescriptions or taking more than the recommended dosage could invalidate the involuntary defense. Likewise with taking the medication on the way home in order to give it time to kick in.
Ambien and Lunesta users should use extreme caution before driving a vehicle. If unknowingly engaging in activities is a problem for you, hiding your keys before bedtime may be a good idea.
If you are facing a Georgia DUI involving Ambien and Lunesta, you need an experienced defense lawyer on your side. Enter your contact information on our online form today and one of our lawyers will get in touch with you for your free initial case evaluation.
