Depression and flying

by (Paul Tomblin) Feb 9, 2006 at 02:42 PM


I spent two years without a medical because I took Welbutrin for two
months. Is it any wonder that pilots who suspect that they are suffering
from depression don't seek treatment?

A serious submission from me:

Suspended for two years! That's a long time. Wellbutrin is the same
medication used in an anti smoking drug (Zyban). I wonder if treatment
for anti-smoking using Zyban disqualifies you for medical.

Personally, I don't smoke, but a few years back (in '01) I was on Lexapro
for a few months after sudden death of a loved one. I resisted the doc's
advice to take it(the whole macho thing: sign of weakness, just get over
it, that sort of thing), but after I took it for a while I felt better,
and phased it out.

Would that episode prevent me from getting a real license (PPL)? (I'm not
interested in the sport license, which strikes me as a waste of time unless
you wanna fly in circles for fun...)