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...)

In a previous article, "Skylune" said:
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.

Yes, Zyban is disqualifying.

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

Lexapro is also disqualifying. As is any other SSRI antidepressant.

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...)

To get a medical, you'd have to prove that the drug is no longer affecting
you (which isn't hard if you haven't taken it in a few weeks) but also
that the condition that it's treating no longer affects you. Both my
primary care physician and my psychologist had to write letters to the FAA
for me. Then it took them over a year to process them, because half of
the doctors in the aeromedical branch were called up by their reserve
units. Then I got a special issuance for a year, and after the year was
up the FAA needed letters from the PCP and psychologist again, and then I
got a normal medical.


--
Paul Tomblin http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
You cannot run Windows innocently. Guilt of aiding & abetting, at
the very least, is automatic.
-- David P. Murphy

To get a medical, you'd have to prove that the drug is no longer
affecting
you (which isn't hard if you haven't taken it in a few weeks) but also
that the condition that it's treating no longer affects you. Both my
primary care physician and my psychologist had to write letters to the
FAA
for me. Then it took them over a year to process them, because half of
the doctors in the aeromedical branch were called up by their reserve
units. Then I got a special issuance for a year, and after the year was
up the FAA needed letters from the PCP and psychologist again, and then I
got a normal medical.

(I know I'm opening myself up for a ton of abuse, but what the hell....)

So it was the stupid bureaucracy that held you up, rather than any kind of
waiting period. That's good info. Thanx.

Since my episode of blackness was several years ago without a relapse
(I've learned to vent a bit more... ;-) ), would I need to declare that?

"Skylune" wrote in message
lkaboutaviation.com...
To get a medical, you'd have to prove that the drug is no longer
affecting
you (which isn't hard if you haven't taken it in a few weeks) but also
that the condition that it's treating no longer affects you. Both my
primary care physician and my psychologist had to write letters to the
FAA
for me. Then it took them over a year to process them, because half of
the doctors in the aeromedical branch were called up by their reserve
units. Then I got a special issuance for a year, and after the year was
up the FAA needed letters from the PCP and psychologist again, and then I
got a normal medical.

(I know I'm opening myself up for a ton of abuse, but what the hell....)

So it was the stupid bureaucracy that held you up, rather than any kind of
waiting period. That's good info. Thanx.

Since my episode of blackness was several years ago without a relapse
(I've learned to vent a bit more... ;-) ), would I need to declare that?




Yes you would.

by "Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATcox.net Feb 9, 2006 at 10:40 AM


Yes you would.

Based on Flyingmonk's experience, do u think a letter from an MD attesting
to no medications, symptom free since '02 be sufficient? thanx.

"Skylune" wrote in message
lkaboutaviation.com...
by "Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATcox.net Feb 9, 2006 at 10:40 AM


Yes you would.

Based on Flyingmonk's experience, do u think a letter from an MD attesting
to no medications, symptom free since '02 be sufficient? thanx.




Who knows what FAA Medical division is going to do. It won't help when we
send in a complete history of your postings to the REC.AVIATION groups.

by "Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATcox.net Feb 10, 2006 at 11:32 AM



Based on Flyingmonk's experience, do u think a letter from an MD
attesting
to no medications, symptom free since '02 be sufficient? thanx.




Who knows what FAA Medical division is going to do. It won't help when we

send in a complete history of your postings to the REC.AVIATION groups

;-), LOL. I can always claim that some unauthorized person was using my
computer!

And maybe change my handle back to my original longtime Yahoo ID:
skilune. Skylune is just a nom de guerre for my aviation related
questions and/or rants.

Yes, it would. I am going through that right now, Prozac for many years,
and the FAA wants to see 90 days without the meds, and an evaluation by an
MD. My test
is Monday.

Al




"Skylune" wrote in message
lkaboutaviation.com...
by "Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATcox.net Feb 9, 2006 at 10:40 AM


Yes you would.

Based on Flyingmonk's experience, do u think a letter from an MD attesting
to no medications, symptom free since '02 be sufficient? thanx.

by "Al" Feb 10, 2006 at 04:54 PM


Yes, it would. I am going through that right now, Prozac for many years,

and the FAA wants to see 90 days without the meds, and an evaluation by
an

MD. My test
is Monday.

Al

Good luck, Al, and thanks for the advice.

"Paul Tomblin" wrote in message
...
In a previous article, "Skylune" said:
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.

Yes, Zyban is disqualifying.

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

Lexapro is also disqualifying. As is any other SSRI antidepressant.

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...)

To get a medical, you'd have to prove that the drug is no longer affecting
you (which isn't hard if you haven't taken it in a few weeks) but also
that the condition that it's treating no longer affects you.


Wow! Zyban for smoking Lose Medical Stop taking Zyban Start Smoking again
never get medical back! Ouch!!!! Glad I Quit Cold Turkey over 2 years ago
now not 1 relapse!