Medical & HealthNews and debate about medical and health issues as they relate to aircrews and aviation. Any information gleaned from this forum MUST be backed up by consulting your state-registered health professional or AME.
Is escitalopram (10mg SSRI) detectable in the 2nd class medical? I am going for my medical test next week and not going to mention that I am taking the medication. what are the chances of me getting caught?
Do you really think that is a wise choice? It doesn’t matter what ailment you have. Legally you have the responsibility to make sure you are a fit and proper person to fly. The fact you want to go under the radar and not tell the local ame is not abiding by that rule. I see you have issues with anxiety on your previous posts. My advice is to tell the ame what you are taking and go through the regular hoops you need to go through. Speaking from experience I once was on a SSRI for anxiety. I have been SSRI free for over 5 years and hold a valid class 1 medical. I know when I was going through that issue I did not meet the fit and proper person requirement. So I know someone who is taking the medication what they are going through. I was totally transparent with my ame about my past history. Who is to say they will not allow you to have a medical once you prove that you are stable on the medication? I highly recommend you be honest with this one Trojan.
Hi, I have to agree with Gingernut and Naki Boy, Non disclosure will probably come back to haunt you or cause you further anxiety subconsciously.. just bite the bullet and do the right thing.
I just wanted to know whether the policy was going to be under EASA. In alot of cases people have re-lapses and needed to go back on SSRI or feel forced to come off them to get there license back. I wanted to see if things were going to chance under EASA>>>>
To the first post the answer is no because they do not test for this at the medical. However, you have the option of the NPPL route and hopefully from Sept this year you will be able to take the drug whilst holding a EASA class 1 or 2 medical certificate subject to medical tests and reports.
I would not recommend the path you suggested because of the rule changes planned, the legal implications if caught and perhaps your motivation behind this. I know you want to fly but you need to step back and think of the ramifications.
If it helps I am on the same SSRI drug and whilst limited to the NPPL I can still enjoy my flying and feel safe in the knowledge that all the people who need to know are in the loop, including the CAA and I have been tested and reported on by the experts to confirm this. Also because I have reported this condition to the CAA they have a very good history of my condition and hopefully I will regain a class 2 medical later in the year.
So the question is if this is a long term condition you need to come clean now and not later when you decide to go for a higher medical standard.
does your NPPL have any restrictions e.g. safety pilot?
i am on SSRI for the first time so have grounded myself since I have been on it - i feel fit to fly but wont until i notify the authorities.
what i wanted to know is that if SSRIs are likely to be allowed in some form under class 2 medicals (which I have/had) then i dont need to work to some artificial rule of being clear of them etc.
There are no restrictions with respect to the NPPL and taking SSRI drugs provided you pass the medical, other than the usual license limitation:
Day time VFR UK airspace Single engine aircraft up to 3 passengers (note this does not mean the number of seats in an aircraft, in other words you can fly a 6 seat Piper Saratoga aircraft but you are only allowed to carry 3 passengers plus yourself as the pilot) max aircraft weight 2000kg
No they don't check. I agree with Gingernut and Naki boy.
To me your attitude is dangerous, irresponsible and shows poor judgement and decision making. These are not attributes that are conducive to flight safety.
Have you considered the potential implications and consequences for you, any passengers, people on the ground, your insurance (etc), if you do have an accident?
The rules and the laws are there, whether you (or I) agree with them or not. You are not above them.
If you are unwell with anxiety/depression, why don't you just get yourself on track with treatment and then re-assess? Surely that's the best thing to do?
Beany
Last edited by beany; 2nd Aug 2012 at 11:29.
Reason: spelling - again!
the thing is guys, I am 10000% cured on SSRI. like i'm a very normal person, I just have the fear to stop and having to deal with all the anxiety again.
the thing is guys, I am 10000% cured on SSRI. like i'm a very normal person, I just have the fear to stop and having to deal with all the anxiety again.
.
You need to understand Trojan that you are, or are going to commit an offence. You can and if caught will be in big trouble. That will make that anxiety of yours a lot more elevated than it is now don't you think?
You need to deal with the reason Trojan that you have anxiety in the first place. There is a reason why you feel the way you do. It is because you are fearful. That is all anxiety is. You said you fear stopping the medication and by the way I am not telling you to, but you are worried about the consequence of dealing with the anxiety again. Well in my opinion that’s exactly what you need to do. Take on that demon we call anxiety. Challenge the way you feel about the anxiety because it does feel very real. The fact is that it is just a feeling.
Now I know that this is getting off the topic about declaring medication but I want you to know that there is another way around this, and that is dealing with your illness get better and then look at getting your medical back then. SSRI are great at masking the problem but don't get to the bottom of why you are feeling the way you do. At the end of the day we feel what we fear.
If you want PM me and I will tell you how I got through anxiety.
Trojan, you are not cured, you are only symptomless. This is a huge difference.
Just tow little thoughts: What if you get sick and your body doesn't take up the medication in the normal way, e.g. because you threw up? You potentially will have no constant blood levels of your medication and thus no adequate control of your symptoms.
The second thought (well rather an example). A few years ago there was a plane crash with three people dead. The investigators found out that the pilot had a neurologic disease that was not compatible with flying, which was not disclosed. The pilot took medication. Well, it obviously worked well for a limited time, as the pilot was doing that for a while. But then this pilot was having a little drink with his passengers during the flight. Just a very samll drink, so it should do no harm. The problem the pilot didn't get was, that one of his (undeclared) medications had a pathologic response to alcohol as one of the side effects. Two passengers had to pay tribute to this stupidity.
Now, what I want to say: you do not have the qualification to understand the complexity of medical conditions and flying. Leave that to the professionals!
Physicians are generally a helpful persons who really want to get their patients in a state where the patients can have the life they want. And AMEs are not different, so trust their knowledge and be courageous. You might just make a very helpful experience.
SSRIs are not screened for in common urine drug screening.
Urine is examined either for drugs of abuse (opiates, cannibis, cocaine, etc.) or for medical irregularities (protien, blood, ketones, etc.)
If one specifically wanted to find an SSRI, a gas chromagraph will easily detect it's presence because of their fairly long half life and rate of elimination.
