Hello and welcome to Healthcare Magic. Thanks for your query.

This decision will depend on the severity and extent of both these diseases and how much of a disability a person is suffering due to them.

Lupus is an auto-immune condition which can have a variety of manifestations, that affect any part of the body - skin, joints, heart, lungs, blood vessels, liver, kidneys, and nervous system. So, it depends upon how much a person is affected and which systems are affected. For example, if a person's vision is affected, then this may be an impariment to driving. Or, if there the joints are affected causing restriction in movements, then this again may be an imapirment to drive. Often people with lupus can have 'photosensitivity', in which case exposure to the sun can cause burning sensations and worsening of the skin problem.

Similarly, is a person with Schizophrenia is having active or persisiting psychotic symptoms like paranoid beliefs, fears or hallucinations, then it will not be safe to drive. Also, some psychiatric medication given to treat Scizophrenia can cause drowsiness and reduced attention. This again will be a risk for driving.

So, in conclusion, if a person is having active or residual symptoms of both diseases, or is having any impairment or disability in normal functioning, or is on multiple medication, then it would be better to avoid driving.

Wish you all the best.

Regards,
Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar
Consultant Psychiatrist

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