PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Depression/Stress -- Don't talk about it to your doctor or a psychiatrist.
Old 14th Jul 2008, 21:25
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RatherBeFlying
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
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Depression/Stress -- Don't talk about it to your doctor or a psychiatrist.

The current Aviation Safety Letter makes it quite clear that Transport Canada will suspend your medical if you report taking "mood altering medications" such as "Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Luvox, Serzone and Effexor to name a few" and will not restore your medical until such medications are discontinued and a satisfactory report is received from the attending psychiatrist or physician.

By contrast CASA, the Australian CAA, does allow at least Effexor with the limitation that there's no flying for two weeks after any change in dosage.

So in Oz, pilots suffering depression or stress can seek treatment with the reasonable hope that they can continue flying with minimal interruption while in Canada, pilots have to suck it up or stop flying for who knows how many months.

Flight Safety article

Last edited by RatherBeFlying; 14th Jul 2008 at 23:57.
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