Is it safe to drive whilst taking morphine (zomorph and oramorph) and steroids (dexamethasone)?
We are due to go away for a few days with our family and my husband insists he is safe to drive (about 3 hours) whilst the rest of us are very concerned.
He has advanced GOJ cancer with mets to liver, lungs, nodes. At appointment last week we were told disease had progressed and there would be no more treatment.
Hi Jonno,
Thank you for getting in touch and welcome to the online community. My name is Penelope and I am one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists.
We would suggest talking to the doctor who has prescribed your husband’s zomorph and oramorph about whether he is safe to drive or not. There is advice from GOV.UK on cancer and driving and drugs and driving: the law. In England, Wales and Scotland if morphine or opiate based drugs are prescribed and do not impair driving ability then someone may be able to continue driving. This will, of course, depend on how the medication affects them and their safety on the road.
There is also information from Cancer Research UK about cancer, driving and car insurance.
You have clearly had some very difficult news recently. Your husband’s role within the family is possibly changing if he is less well than previously, and this can be very challenging for him and the rest of the family.
We have resources about emotional support for family and friends on our website. You may also like to give us a call on the Macmillan Support Line to talk things through further.
Best wishes,
Penelope, Cancer Information Nurse Specialist
You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email.
Ref/ KG
