antidepressants

[stirdawg24]

I have my private but haven't flown in 10 years and was the last time i got my medical. itching to get back into it and on the verge of buying a mooney, i went for my medical last week but it was deferred. 5 years ago, i began taking an tricylcic anti-dep. to combat a somatic/physical problem. i didn't realize that taking such, even a considered low dosage, was a disqualifier for the med. cert. the doctor told me that i have to be off the medication for 3 months and have my personal doctor write a letter before they would give me consideration. i was reading this was true for those taking such a med under 6 months, but what about having taken it for 5 years? the doctor said he expects that within the next year there is a good chance they will begin to allow certain psychotropic meds. does anyone know if the website service www.leftseat.com actually speeds up the process or has influence for approval. thanks for any insights.

[My Flight Surgeon]

First, you will need to be off antidepressants a minimum of 3 months and more preferrably 6 months since you took the medication so long. With that length of time in treatment, the FAA will want to see a psychiatric evaluation from a board certified psychiatrist that you have no psychiatric issues.

Second, the sites like www.leftseat.com, www.aviationmedicine.com, and www.faaspecialissuance.com all provide similar services for varying costs. No one has the ability to influence the FAA in their decision making - the policies are set by the Federal Air Surgeon and not changed without his approval. The services these organizations provide is to guide you through what you need to gather from your physicians or consultants, package the information in a concise manner for review by the FAA and followup with the FAA on the status of the application for Special Issuance.

Third, there is a plan in the works at the FAA to allow some very selected use of antidepressants in pilots. Initially, the criteria will be very strict as will the monitoring requirments. I understand from the Federal Air Surgeon that they will probably publish these criteria by the fall of this year.

[stirdawg24]

thank you for your prompt response. greatly appreciated. being that it is such a low dosage, getting off the med. has been at the bottom of my priority list with family and building my company at the top. however, i will now be working to get off of it. because i am only trying for a 3rd class certificate, will i not have to take their costly $3K psych comp.? is that just for 1st class?

i just read that canada and australia allow its pilots to be on certain antidepressants. the AME that i saw last week told me that he knows of many pilots who have great mental health issues but once in the cockpit they are as normal as can be. i have faith that the FAA will catch up so such pilots won't have to live with such difficulty.

thanks again!

[My Flight Surgeon]

If they ask for a consult, it will probably be a psychiatric consult and not the expensive neuropsychology consult.

[stirdawg24]

ok, thanks. i'll head in to your office for my next 2 year as i'm just outside of phoenix.