Class 2 medical & SSRI's

[Ben B]

I'm keen to start flying lessons however after reading the CASA website i'm still a little confused. I've suffered from minor/mild depression/anxiety for most of my adult life however i've been on Zoloft for the last 3 years or so which has completely turned my life around. As i undertand it, medical approvals are done on a case by case basis when you're on SSRI's? Just wondering if anyone else has been through this process and can advise. Fyi, i'm only hoping to train up to PPL, not CPL - do CASA treat this condition any differently when issuing Class 1 or 2?

Thanks in advance.

[tartare]

Hope you're successful Ben - I'm a PPL - also on SSRIs - different country.
No effect on flying whatsoever - in fact, arguably calming and an aid to concentration I'd say.
Fly safe.

[mustafagander]

Ben,

Relax! I spent about two years on SSRIs. I hold a 1st class ATPL and all that was necessary initially was for me to be stable on the medication for 28 days and later for my treating physician to ask me formally the three questions "are you suicidal?", "are you homicidal?" and "are you coping well with the side effects?" every three months. I am employed on long haul operations with an old carrier in Oz.

My problem surfaced after a very messy divorce, so my answers were "I wouldn't give the bitch the satisfaction", "what name did you have in mind" and, given that the side effects of Zoloft are loss of libido and reduced appetite, "I love the side effects".

We had a guy at the time who was the VP welfare for our Association and looked after all of us on SSRIs - we were nick named "Harry's 400". Yes, there are that many depressed pilots around.

Relax Ben, you'll be OK and your depression will likely be manageable for you soon. I have a depressive nature I discovered but I have it well under control because I can see the "black dog" stalking me and I deal with it.

PM me if you're concerned.

[Homesick-Angel]

Good to see these questions asked..There is quite a bit of info in the medical section which I found last year when i was in a similar situation..

I had an effing hell of a year last year with deaths and stress and house moves and relationships falling apart-its fair to say i just couldnt hack it for a while and my body and mind went on a little holiday...to hell!...I ended up on ssri's for a while and I wouldnt hesitate getting back on them again if i needed to ( I too am prone to bouts) as they gave me much needed peace and helped me get back on track.

It seems that in the old days things were a lot more difficult if you admitted to a problem, but modern drugs such as ssri's and possibly the realisation that such a tough stance by the powers that be in aviation meant many pilots suffered in silence (unfortunately many probably still do) and were possibly putting many people at risk by not admitting and facing up to anxiety and depression.(it might have a lot to do with the fact that past medications turned you into a zombie!)

As far as medicals go, it is much more of a case by case scenario now as it should be, so as long as you are settled on the drug (as you would well know the first month or so can be pretty strange, as can the month coming of them) then you wont have any troubles.

Good luck.enjoy the flying.


Pm me if you need any info, but it looks like musta has it covered pretty well

Cheers

[Ben B]

Thanks for your great replies. Yeah, i found the CASA website a little confusing in that it seems to acknowledge and allow the use of SSRI's but then later on it seems to indicate that it won't certify anyone with a depressive illness. Anyhow, Zoloft has been a huge help for me (pretty much taken the depression/anxiety away whilst on it) so looks like i'll book that medical. Thanks again for your help.

[Old Akro]

Like most things CASA there is a fair bit of individual interpretation of the rules. There is also a fair bit of avoidance of taking responsibility by CASA. You may need a letter from a third party doctor saying that there is no adverse affect on flying. I'd do some homework with your non-DAME GP before you go to a DAME.

CASA's approach is less transparent and less logical than the FAA, but the FAA medical guidelines are also available online. It might be worth looking at its attitude also.

[Clearedtoreenter]

Shouldn't be a problem... but you will probably get 'renew by CASA only' or something on your medical certificate... which means the DAME cannot sign you off and a report (that you will have to pay for) by whoever prescibed the drug (or some looney overpaid trick cyclist) will have to accompany your report to CASA. They will then make a decision. Fact is that it is better to have people being treated for their depressive illnesses and on SSRI's than them leaving their illnesses untreated because they fear losing their licence. (One of CASA's more enlightened ideas.)

[Homesick-Angel]

Fact is that it is better to have people being treated for their depressive illnesses and on SSRI's than them leaving their illnesses untreated because they fear losing their licence. (One of CASA's more enlightened ideas.)

I had no idea at the time (denial!) but my flying was affected during the time I was anxious and depressed. My motor skills were fine, and I made no large mistakes(that Im aware of:\) but I was on edge for long periods of time, and would find by the end of a 3 hour nav I was stuffed because i wasn't able to relax my mental focus in the stages of flight where Id normally kick back and enjoy the view and just monitor what was going on.I was just too anxious.I would also max out a lot quicker and feel overloaded with tasks that normally seemed easy or non stressful.

Once i admitted i had a problem and sought help i was back to normal after a short time..What did me in was pretending i was fine and pushing through it like my resilient (stubborn b#stard) irish ancestry told me to.:ouch:

The message from experience is..get help if you need it. Its amazing how quick you can stop the rot.

[mustafagander]

Sorry Ben,

I forgot the CASA Only renewal bit. It's not a big deal, I just ensured that I'd first had "the interview" with my treating physician and collected the relevant report which I gave my DAME to stick in the envelope.

My treating physician was my local GP, not a specialist psychiatrist so making an appointment to see him was not a problem. Actually the whole thing was rather low key because I responded well and quickly to Zoloft. My GP did say later that had I not responded within a week or two he would have sent me off to a shrink.

Another thought - if you're flying and using any medication, especially psychotropic stuff, carry a copy of the prescription.

[Ben B]

Thanks again for all your replies. I'm going to have a chat to my GP so that she can put down something in writing before i go see a DAME. Mind you, she's recommended a DAME to me before when i've asked her about this in the past - i might go see him as they might know each other.