# "Don't drive or operate heavy machinery": FDA-required? History of wording?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-drive-or-operate-heavy-machinery-fda-required-history-of-wording/808160>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 4, 2018, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-drive-or-operate-heavy-machinery-fda-required-history-of-wording/808160 "2018-02-04T15:21:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\
**Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-drive-or-operate-heavy-machinery-fda-required-history-of-wording/808160/1 "2018-02-04T15:21:59Z")

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In subject: The boilerplate warning for zillions of medications, even OTC ones (I think) like antihistamines.

Drug-release information specifications for prescribers and consumers is a hugely regulated process, with enormous implications and even financial impact, and is negotiated by the pharm legal department; a debate about even having a “black box” warning for anti-depressants, let alone the wording, made the NYTimes.

So:

1. Is there an identifiable history and record of exactly that wording?
2. If so, I’m particularly interested in what the definition/decision of “heavy machinery.” Any ideas?