cough syrup with codeine: allowed in the truck???

**truckerdave1970** · 12.01.2009

While I was home for Turkey Day, I picked up a real nasty bug! lots of chest/nasal congestion, fever, aches, the usual crud!
My local witch doctor prescribed a rather strong antibiotic and cough syrup with codiene.
Well, 2 days later I still feel like warmed up garbage but I CANT AFFORD ANYMORE TIME OFF!
If I only take the cough syrup when I take 10 off, can I have it in the truck? Or is this one of those drugs that I cant take at all if I want to drive?
Surely someone here knows off the top of their head or knows where to look. I tried my FMSCA book and it was all a foriegn language to me.
Thanks in advance!

**photolurp2** · 12.02.2009

Did you tell your doctor what you do for a living? I would imagine that if they prescribed it knowing you were a driver, you are ok. You should be fine.

**U4EA** · 12.02.2009

Although it was doctor prescribed, codeine is still technically a narcotic. Does it have that little label on the side that says "may impair ability to drive or operate machinery." If God forbid anything was to happen while you were driving, you could be screwed. Lawyers could definately use that against you in a court of law and if you know lawyers, they will.
The doctor probably never took into account that you operate an 80,000 + lbs vehicle. I guess just go easy on it.

**photolurp2** · 12.02.2009

Here is a question I have always had. Suppose you are taking it for legitimate medical reasons, and you get into a wreck. Could testing tell the difference whether you were under the effects of the medicine at the time, or was there residue in your system, even though you were not under the effects at the time? This I do not know the answer to.

Generally, I would say do not take it and drive...But if you have to, ask your doctor for hydrocodone instead of codeine, as it does not show up in a 5 panel test.

**truckerdave1970** · 12.02.2009

thanks for all the replys, but it doesnt matter anymore as I was fired a few hours ago!
oh well, I was really hating the job for the last 6 months anyway. Now I just have to figure out where the family is going to come up with bill and food money for next month!

**U4EA** · 12.02.2009

Good question photolurp2.

Although I'm no authority in the subject, I believe that if there is a warning label specifically saying not to operate heavy machinery and you crash and kill someone you and/or company would probably get sued. They would probably say if you are that sick you shouldn't be driving anyhow (although who can stay home everytime they take medicine?)

I agree with photolurp2, don't take it, be safe and use over the counter, DayQuil type medicine.

**U4EA** · 12.02.2009

Sorry to hear that trucker Dave!

Well, I guess drink up that codeine!!!! Sorry, I know it's not the time for a joke.

**truckerdave1970** · 12.02.2009

Originally Posted by U4EA

Sorry to hear that trucker Dave!

Well, I guess drink up that codeine!!!! Sorry, I know it's not the time for a joke.

Dont give me any more bad ideas! I was thinking of driving the truck either over a really tall bridge or burying it into the offices at the terminal!

**CBtalker205** · 12.02.2009

What brought this firing on may I ask?

**truckerdave1970** · 12.02.2009

Originally Posted by CBtalker205

What brought this firing on may I ask?

If you can imagine this, it was my anger! I was stuck for 11 hrs at a customer, waiting for them to load my trl that was suppossed to be preloaded. I had been on the road over 50 days and this load was my load home, so I might have been a little impatient!!! I might have lost my temper and ran my mouth a little more than I should have, the cust. threw a fit and sent an e-mail and she got me fired. I deserved an ###-chewing, no doubt, but fired??? right before Christmas???
I really need to work on my temper.