As the weather fluctuates between nice and nasty, cold season arrives fast and furious. Suddenly, hundreds of students flee to grocery stores and dining halls in pursuit of a remedy-- Benedryl, NyQuil and Sudafed. These winter warriors provide consumers with an inexpensive means to fight allergies and the common cold. But drivers may want to look elsewhere for a cure.\nMore than 50 million Americans experience allergies, according to the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases. The NIAID also reported that Americans suffer one billion colds annually. These ailments fuel the non-prescription drug industry. \nA study conducted by the University of Iowa found that the antihistamine diphenhydramine significantly impairs a driver\'s ability to operate a motor vehicle. Diphenhydramine is a popular ingredient found in numerous over-the-counter cold and allergy medications. It can affect driving even more than the consumption of alcohol ,according to the University of Iowa study.\nFirst Sergeant Scott Beamon of the Indiana State Police tells drivers, \"As long as you use what is prescribed and follow labels, you should be in good shape.\"\nThe Governor\'s Council on Impaired and Dangerous Driving reported 1,015 accidents occurred in 1999 because of drivers falling asleep behind the wheel. No statistics exist directly linking these crashes to the consumption of over-the-counter medication because few drivers are tested for legal drugs after an accident.\nThe National Transportation Safety Board said this poses a potential threat to millions of Americans and the pharmaceutical industry has not done enough to prevent these accidents from happening. They are now calling on the drug industry to develop stronger warnings to help consumers become aware of this threat.\nIn response, the drug industry said that warning labels already exist. The rest is up to the consumer.\nThey give several suggestions helpful in protecting a person from becoming a victim of drowsy driving:\n•Do not overmedicate. While the tendency to take more to feel better may seem like a good idea, this attitude can seriously hinder a driver\'s ability to operate a motor vehicle.
• Pay attention to warnings. Most over-the-counter drugs place various warnings just below the directions. If drowsiness or dizziness is listed as a side effect, do not attempt to drive.
• Look for non-drowsy alternatives. Many pharmacies offer a wide selection of medications, which include non-drowsy alternatives. Take Dayquil versus Nyquil.
• Obtain a prescription when possible. Pharmacist Steve Carter explained that these are typically safer than most over-the-counter drugs because they usually lack antihistamines. \nBeamon also said mixing alcohol with any medication is a dangerous cocktail.
