How do you drive with an implanted defibrillator?

Patients with implanted defibrillators often have driving restrictions, says Mayo Clinic. They should wait at least one week before getting behind the wheel. If the implant is due to cardiac arrest or ventricular arrhythmia, patients should wait six months before they drive, as long as they experience no shocks.

Later, if a patient experiences a shock, another six-month shock-free driving ban is usually in place, according to Mayo Clinic. Holding a commercial driver's license is typically not an option for a patient with an implanted defibrillator. Not every authority agrees with these limitations, however; the European Heart Rhythm Association recommends waiting only three months.