Good comments, but a couple of mis-conceptions in general with several
postings.

First of all, the preponderance of medical opinion is that SSRI
medications do not impair a pilot. My neighbor is a heart surgeon and
he takes a stronger dose than I do. Whether or not the underlying
diagnosis is an impairment is a case-by-case issue. With rare
exceptions, people taking SSRIs are not suicidal or about to go
'postal'. Unfortunately, the FAA has lumped everyone together -- not
by medical condition, but by the medication alone without exception.
This is similar to fixing an age limit -- no one flys after 65
regardless of your condition.

With regard to Navy pilots, I think Daniel is confusing SSRIs with
other anti-anxiety meds. It takes from 3 to 4 weeks for SSRI meds to
have an effect. My doc. is an ex-Navy flight surgeon and he was the
one who told me he regularly prescribed SSRIs to Navy pilots -- based
at home.

Incorrect, at least partially. A new pilot may NOT qualify for an SP
ticket if taking a medication OR having a medical condition which may
impair their ability to fly safely.

In the case of combat carrier pilots, SSRI's are prescribed for their
anti-anxiety effects. Extreme anxiety is a very natural and normal
consequence of air combat, but has very negative effects on combat
pilots' abilities to keep themselves alive, hence the prescription -
normally a single preflight dose.

Daniel