Question for the Flight Physician

"Mortimer Schnerd, RN" mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com wrote in message
...
Is the FAA aware of a new anti-smoking drug called Chantix? More to the
point, do hey have an official position on it? For most of my career, we
always used Nicoderm patches on those inpatients who smoked... with very
uneven results. I have, within the last few months, become aware of
Chantix and its ability to totally kill the desire to smoke. Before I
suggest it to a friend of mine who flies for a commuter, I want to be able
to say one way or the other if it will affect his ability to fly while
he's taking it. If not, I'm just going to keep my mouth shut; he'd never
look into it in that case.

Gentlemen?

Although it doesn't agree with Dr. Atkielski's advice, I found this when I
googled AOPA CHANTIX:

http://www.vansairforce.net/old_news.htm
- TRYING TO STOP SMOKING?...from aopa site
The FAA allows pilots taking a new smoking-cessation drug, Chantix, to
continue flying as long as they have a status report from their treating
physician that confirms they have not experienced any adverse side effects.
Chewing gums that help you stop smoking are also permitted. But a
prescription medication, Bupropion, marketed as Zyban and Wellbutrin, which
is commonly prescribed for smoking cessation, is an antidepressant and
cannot be taken while flying. Current FAA policy does not allow pilots to
fly while using antidepressants. If you are using Bupropion to stop smoking,
you must be off it for 30 days before flying.

"Mortimer Schnerd, RN" mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com wrote in message
...
Is the FAA aware of a new anti-smoking drug called Chantix? More to the
point, do hey have an official position on it? For most of my career, we
always used Nicoderm patches on those inpatients who smoked... with very
uneven results. I have, within the last few months, become aware of
Chantix and its ability to totally kill the desire to smoke. Before I
suggest it to a friend of mine who flies for a commuter, I want to be able
to say one way or the other if it will affect his ability to fly while
he's taking it. If not, I'm just going to keep my mouth shut; he'd never
look into it in that case.

Gentlemen?



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com


Called will power just quit!!! I was 3 packs a day quit cold turkey almost 4
years if you want to bad enough you will quit unless you have a weak mind!!!
The drug companys want you to think you need drugs or patches to quit you
just need to be strong and stop!

NW_Pilot wrote:
Called will power just quit!!! I was 3 packs a day quit cold turkey almost 4
years if you want to bad enough you will quit unless you have a weak mind!!!
The drug companys want you to think you need drugs or patches to quit you
just need to be strong and stop!


Some can, some can't. My father quit a 3 ppd habit cold turkey back when I was
15 and hasn't smoked since, even though my mother continued to smoke for another
20 years or so. The friend who inspired this whole thread has quit 1000 times.
I guess he's weak then. But that label doesn't help him quit for good. This
Chantix might.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com

"Mortimer Schnerd, RN" mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com wrote in message
...
NW_Pilot wrote:
Called will power just quit!!! I was 3 packs a day quit cold turkey
almost 4
years if you want to bad enough you will quit unless you have a weak
mind!!!
The drug companys want you to think you need drugs or patches to quit you
just need to be strong and stop!


Some can, some can't. My father quit a 3 ppd habit cold turkey back when
I was 15 and hasn't smoked since, even though my mother continued to smoke
for another 20 years or so. The friend who inspired this whole thread has
quit 1000 times. I guess he's weak then. But that label doesn't help him
quit for good. This Chantix might.


My grandfathers brother had emphysema, weighed about 90 pounds, and was in
real bad shape - one day he wakes up and he is in a hospital bed - the whole
family is there, the priest is there, and he asks "What's going on?"

"The priest just gave you your last rites."

He replies "Maybe I should quit smoking."

--
Geoff
The Sea Hawk at Wow Way d0t Com
remove spaces and make the obvious substitutions to reply by mail
When immigration is outlawed, only outlaws will immigrate.

"NW_Pilot" wrote in message
. ..


Called will power just quit!!! I was 3 packs a day quit cold turkey almost
4 years if you want to bad enough you will quit unless you have a weak
mind!!! The drug companys want you to think you need drugs or patches to
quit you just need to be strong and stop!


It depends on the physiology *and* psychology of the person. I've tried
quitting I don't know how many times. Longest was 9 weeks. All it takes is
a "trigger" to revert back (once I get over being sick like heroin
withdrawals). If there is a drug out there that will help with the
psychological (as well as the physiological - it seems Chantax does that as
well, in re nausea), I'll take it. So far I haven't found it. Maybe this
is it....

--
Doug Semler, MCPD
a.a. #705, BAAWA. EAC Guardian of the Horn of the IPU (pbuhh).
The answer is 42; DNRC o-
Gur Hfrarg unf orpbzr fb shyy bs penc gurfr qnlf, abbar rira
erpbtavmrf fvzcyr guvatf yvxr ebg13 nalzber. Fnq, vfa'g vg?

"Doug Semler" wrote in message
...
"NW_Pilot" wrote in message
. ..


Called will power just quit!!! I was 3 packs a day quit cold turkey
almost 4 years if you want to bad enough you will quit unless you have a
weak mind!!! The drug companys want you to think you need drugs or
patches to quit you just need to be strong and stop!


It depends on the physiology *and* psychology of the person. I've tried
quitting I don't know how many times. Longest was 9 weeks. All it takes
is a "trigger" to revert back (once I get over being sick like heroin
withdrawals). If there is a drug out there that will help with the
psychological (as well as the physiological - it seems Chantax does that
as well, in re nausea), I'll take it. So far I haven't found it. Maybe
this is it....

--
Doug Semler, MCPD
a.a. #705, BAAWA. EAC Guardian of the Horn of the IPU (pbuhh).
The answer is 42; DNRC o-
Gur Hfrarg unf orpbzr fb shyy bs penc gurfr qnlf, abbar rira
erpbtavmrf fvzcyr guvatf yvxr ebg13 nalzber. Fnq, vfa'g vg?

Once you stop taking the other drug you may have withdrawals from that. As I
said it's will power I know it is not easy you just have to have the will to
do it be strong it can be done with out drugs. Your body will suffer a
little from the damage you have done to it already but it can be overcome
with time. Our society is becoming to dependent upon pharmaceuticals (Drugs)
some of witch have far more worse side effects then natural substances that
nature created.

In clinical trials, Chentix was generally well tolerated. However, there
were side effects that were more general in occurrence and some that were
more serious, but rare.

Gastrointestinal Side Effects: The most common side effect of taking Chantix
is nausea. Other gastrointestinal symtoms include abdominal pain, gas,
dyspepsia, vomiting, constipation, acid reflux, and dry mouth.

Psychiatric Side Effects: Psychiatric disorders involved problems with sleep
disorders such as insomnia, abnormal dreams and nightmares.

Nervous Systems Side Effects: Nervous system problems involved headache,
somnolence, and lethargy.
General disorders included fatigue, malaise, and asthenia.

Metabolism Side Effects: Metabolism and nutritional side effects included
either increased or decreased appetite and anorexia.

Other side effects involved skin rash and respiratory disorders.

More serious, but less common were life threatening side affects which may
or may not require medical attention depending on severity of symptoms and
life threatening nature. Those include, nut are not limited to, blood and
lymphatic system disorders (anemia), cardiac disorders (chest pain, heart
arrhythmia, heart palpitations and rapid heartbeat, stroke, atrial
fibrillation, and coronary heart disease), ear disorders (tinnitus,
vertigo), thyroid gland disorders, gastrointestinal disorders (diarrhea,
gingivitis, gastritis, esophagitis, gastric ulcer), immune systems
disorders, metabolism disorder (diabetes), musculoskeletal (back pain,
muscle cramps, musculoskeletal pain, arthritis, osteoporosis), nervous
system disorders (disturbance in attention, dizziness, amnesia, migraine,
restless leg syndrome, tremor), psychiatric disorders (anxety depression,
irritability, restlessness, mood swings, agitation, decreased libido). There
is a low occurrence of renal and urinary disorders, reproductive disorders
(menstrual disorder, erectile dysfunction), vascular disorders (hot flush,
hypertension, hypotension), respiratory disorders, and skin disorders (acne,
dermatitis, dry skin, eczema, psoriasis).

Chantix has no clinically significant pharmacological drug interactions and
was shown not to have carcinogenic effects in studies on rats.

"NW_Pilot" wrote in message
...

"Doug Semler" wrote in message
...
"NW_Pilot" wrote in message
. ..


Called will power just quit!!! I was 3 packs a day quit cold turkey
almost 4 years if you want to bad enough you will quit unless you have a
weak mind!!! The drug companys want you to think you need drugs or
patches to quit you just need to be strong and stop!


It depends on the physiology *and* psychology of the person. I've tried
quitting I don't know how many times. Longest was 9 weeks. All it takes
is a "trigger" to revert back (once I get over being sick like heroin
withdrawals). If there is a drug out there that will help with the
psychological (as well as the physiological - it seems Chantax does that
as well, in re nausea), I'll take it. So far I haven't found it. Maybe
this is it....

--
Doug Semler, MCPD
a.a. #705, BAAWA. EAC Guardian of the Horn of the IPU (pbuhh).
The answer is 42; DNRC o-
Gur Hfrarg unf orpbzr fb shyy bs penc gurfr qnlf, abbar rira
erpbtavmrf fvzcyr guvatf yvxr ebg13 nalzber. Fnq, vfa'g vg?

Once you stop taking the other drug you may have withdrawals from that. As
I said it's will power I know it is not easy you just have to have the
will to do it be strong it can be done with out drugs. Your body will
suffer a little from the damage you have done to it already but it can be
overcome with time. Our society is becoming to dependent upon
pharmaceuticals (Drugs) some of witch have far more worse side effects
then natural substances that nature created.


snip

You just quoted the same side effects for just about every single drug on
the market. shrug Anyway. My point is, not everyone has the
PSYCHOLOGICAL makeup to just up and quit a physical addiction. They are
called "addictive personalities". I am one of those. I can't go into a
casino; I'll drain my bank account. Luckily I don't like being drunk (nor
the day after) so I don't drink but a couple glasses of wine/beer with
dinner or in a social situation (i like the taste with food).

That being said, the temporary side effects suffered while taking the drug
may or may not outweigh the benefits the drug may or may not provide. That
is between me and my doctor. And no one else. Regardless of your opinions
on "will power" and the drug companies, you have absolutely no say in this
decision.

--
Doug Semler, MCPD
a.a. #705, BAAWA. EAC Guardian of the Horn of the IPU (pbuhh).
The answer is 42; DNRC o-
Gur Hfrarg unf orpbzr fb shyy bs penc gurfr qnlf, abbar rira
erpbtavmrf fvzcyr guvatf yvxr ebg13 nalzber. Fnq, vfa'g vg?

"Doug Semler" wrote in message
...
"NW_Pilot" wrote in message
...

"Doug Semler" wrote in message
...
"NW_Pilot" wrote in message
. ..


Called will power just quit!!! I was 3 packs a day quit cold turkey
almost 4 years if you want to bad enough you will quit unless you have
a weak mind!!! The drug companys want you to think you need drugs or
patches to quit you just need to be strong and stop!


It depends on the physiology *and* psychology of the person. I've tried
quitting I don't know how many times. Longest was 9 weeks. All it
takes is a "trigger" to revert back (once I get over being sick like
heroin withdrawals). If there is a drug out there that will help with
the psychological (as well as the physiological - it seems Chantax does
that as well, in re nausea), I'll take it. So far I haven't found it.
Maybe this is it....

--
Doug Semler, MCPD
a.a. #705, BAAWA. EAC Guardian of the Horn of the IPU (pbuhh).
The answer is 42; DNRC o-
Gur Hfrarg unf orpbzr fb shyy bs penc gurfr qnlf, abbar rira
erpbtavmrf fvzcyr guvatf yvxr ebg13 nalzber. Fnq, vfa'g vg?

Once you stop taking the other drug you may have withdrawals from that.
As I said it's will power I know it is not easy you just have to have the
will to do it be strong it can be done with out drugs. Your body will
suffer a little from the damage you have done to it already but it can be
overcome with time. Our society is becoming to dependent upon
pharmaceuticals (Drugs) some of witch have far more worse side effects
then natural substances that nature created.


snip

You just quoted the same side effects for just about every single drug on
the market. shrug Anyway. My point is, not everyone has the
PSYCHOLOGICAL makeup to just up and quit a physical addiction. They are
called "addictive personalities". I am one of those. I can't go into a
casino; I'll drain my bank account. Luckily I don't like being drunk (nor
the day after) so I don't drink but a couple glasses of wine/beer with
dinner or in a social situation (i like the taste with food).

That being said, the temporary side effects suffered while taking the drug
may or may not outweigh the benefits the drug may or may not provide.
That is between me and my doctor. And no one else. Regardless of your
opinions on "will power" and the drug companies, you have absolutely no
say in this decision.

--
Doug Semler, MCPD
a.a. #705, BAAWA. EAC Guardian of the Horn of the IPU (pbuhh).
The answer is 42; DNRC o-
Gur Hfrarg unf orpbzr fb shyy bs penc gurfr qnlf, abbar rira
erpbtavmrf fvzcyr guvatf yvxr ebg13 nalzber. Fnq, vfa'g vg?

Yea, between you and your drug pusher/perscriber! You said it yourself you
don't go in to casinos that is will power. Same with smoking just don't suck
on the end of a cigarette. As for temporary side effects from a drug they
don't know what long terms side effects will be.

What's the difference Between A Drug Pusher and Drug Dealer, The Pusher has
an M.D. look at their portfolio and compare with prescriptions written.