Restriction of drug-taking in RAF Aircrew (Research help)

[talk_shy_tall_knight]

When spending time in some of the reestier places, the flying fellows would be on a different anti-malarial regime to the ground based folk. I cant remember the names of the drugs. Maybe someone else can.

[minigundiplomat]

Seem to recall Larium was a no no for aircrew. There again full fat milk, red meat and several other things were good for you several years ago, now they are not. It may well have changed.

[Double Zero]

Sleeping pills;

This is an important overlooked point.

Tamazepam ( SP ? ) is a cleared, prescription sleeping pill, but very powerful, much in demand by druggies who will beg, borrow or steal it; I'd not have thought safe to fly until long after using, and I think it's addictive ( I have trouble sleeping, am not aircrew, but I doubt I could get it from my doctor even now ).

Diazapam is a weaker pill, more of a calmer-downer than sleeping pill, if having taken a very small dose I would think it OK to fly after a good 10 hours, but still addictive and I expect most Doctors would disagree with it's use entirely when flying.

There are other subtler drugs available, but rule out Nightol, available from chemists - the only version which has an effect on me is the one -shot version, there are also 2-shot and herbal versions which work in incrementally decreasing efficiency and value; after taking one-shot- Nightol, I have definitely found myself feeling sh**ty the next day, and certainly wouldn't want to drive a car, let alone an aeroplane.

Nightnurse, unless it's changed a lot since years ago when I had it, is a very powerful sedative inc' alcohol and should be avoided at all costs - you'd be better off after a sleepless night listening to the radio than flying with that stuff.

Likewise beware Benolyn cough medicicine; it seems to me it only works against coughs in its' original form, the 'non-drowsy' doing bugger all help to cure one's cough if persistent; however 'original' Benylin is also VERY powerful, I'd hate to think of flying within 48 hrs of touching it...

A couple of tricks I have learned in order to get to sleep;

1, And I Know this works - imagine in your mind a route by road you know well, picture in your mind every turn, junction, straight etc - I guarantee you will be snoring before you reach the end.

2, put on your ( personal civvie ) radio, if necessary with earplug' phones so as not to disturb anyone nearby, and tune into the world service / any local radio in the UK; this will put you to sleep, there might be the odd informative bit, but I guarantee you some sleep !

All the best,

DZ

[cornish-stormrider]

If you need to ask "do I need to bother the doc for this?" and you are driving (or whatever the nav does) some of my hard earned tax dollars round the sky then please feel free to go and pester the quack. In fact, I insist that you do.

A phone call along the lines of "Oi, medic, is this **** ok to fly with? " should suffice. Better that than CFIT through being asleep at the wheel.

[minigundiplomat]

A couple of tricks I have learned in order to get to sleep;

Failing that, The Aircrew Manual will normally do the trick.

[Bob the Doc]

All sedatives require discussion with the doc before you use them. Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) is sedative (especially when taken with alcohol) as well as being a decongestant. Some formulations also contain a stimulant (frequently caffeine) to reduce the sedative effect. Xylometazoline spray (Otrivine) is not sedative as it is administered topically and not systemically.

There is a list of drugs approved and banned in aircrew. It's probably in AP1269 but as I haven't seen a copy for about 10 years (we don't regularly have recourse to it in anaesthetics!)

Generally any drug should be discussed with the doc (although I think you are probably safe with paracetamol!).

Lariam (Mefloquine) causes all sorts of very odd side effects (up to and including florid psychosis) in about 10% of patients so is generally not recommended in aircrew. The specific agent used depends on where you are going and how soon. The last time I had a short notice trip to Sierra Leone (<48 h notice), we were given Malarone.

HTH

BtD

[Tiger_mate]

I know of an incident in which an aircrew member found himself in the company of an individual suffering acute pain. The source of the pain was clear to see and therefore genuine. The ‘good Samaritan’ opened his aircrew first aid kit and donated a painkiller tablet from it to the ‘patient’.

Shortly afterwards the patient had hallucinations of being chased by alligators and snakes replacing the pain. A GP who arrived on scene suspected a deliberate overdose which was far from the truth. Side effects which were never warned about despite every crew member being in possession of said drugs. I believe that the contents of the aircrew first aid kit have since changed but do not know to this day if the painkillers in this story remain in the kit.

[Dengue_Dude]

Yellow bombers were the biz.

I was quite happy taking them - it was the difference between getting SOME sleep and being a zombie! (rather setting myself up here . . .)

Bit like a couple of glasses of wine effect without the headache