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

Hello Pprune!

Perhaps one of the more obscure threads here in Military Aircrew, but I was hoping somebody could provide some help on a bit of research I'm conducting in line with my degree.

There are a number of drugs and medication that have side-effects such as drowsiness and loss of concentration over a period of time, an apt example of this is Melatonin. I am aware that US civilian aircrew are forbidden from taking Melatonin and other listed drugs up to three days before a flight as it can affect their performance.

I was hoping to gather some similar evidence from our ever faithful RAF. Do you recall any restrictions on consumption of certain drugs etc.? Could anyone point me in the direction of a current policy? (I've scoured the RAF website to no avail)

I'm aware of the Zero-Tolerance of Drug Consumption within the RAF, but just to dispel any comments, I mean over-the-counter/prescribed drugs or those that are not listed as "unacceptable" under the Zero Tolerance Policy.

I thank ye of good faith in advance!

Cheers,

Adam.

Self-medication = no-no. Simple.

In theory paracetemol, asprin or alka-seltzer should not be taken without medical supervision. The issue is very simple. A over-the-counter drug may have no or minimal side-effects in an earth bound environment. Sitting comfortably at 8,000 feet and then banging out at 40,000 feet may have totally unforeseen consequence.

I would hazard a guess that the pharacuteicals do not test drugs for extreme use unless requested by an authority.

You mention melatonin. Many years ago there were various trials to find a suitable drug that could be used as a sleeping pill. On issue was getting aircrew to sleep at odd hours or after high-stress activity. One such was Temazepan and another were Mogadon. Ideally they would put you out but allow you to be woken and become instantly alert. The latter was effective at putting you out for 8 hours and have minimal residual effects after that time. Unfortunately I believe it was assessed as adictive and the recovery period inside the 8 hours (2 pills) was not as rapid as they hoped.

Look at the Air Clues link and you will find the address of the AvMed people who will I imagine be delighted to help, Dr Stevenson in particular.

I can remember hearing the gear clunk in the up position leaving Washington USA aboard a Vickers Funbus and then popping a Temazepan.
the landing at BZN did not wake me up but a kind gent on his way off the aeroplane did. Awesome. It was subscribed to many on irregular or anti-social shifts in the early ninties. AFAIK few took up the offer for it as routine.

Diablo Rouge
Were you the Air Eng then?

STH

No, that would have been the Air Eng!

Although Te-marzipan was regularly available during Gulf War 1, I only used it once when sharing overnight accommodation at Tabuk with about 8 others and a couple of enormous diesel generators. Did just what it said on the tin and I slept like a lamb, to wake up feeling fine the next day.

Only other drug rule I recall was no alcohol within 12 hours (or was it 50 ft?) of flying.

Seem to remember some rule about viagra when it first appeared on the scene, as it could affect peripheral vision.

Restrictions
 

Rather a wide ranging topic but with regard hypnotics (ie sleeping tabs) the trick is to get the desired effect (good sleep) without the nasty after effects (lethargy etc) To do this the drug has to have a very short half life.
Tamazipan has a half life of approx 8hrs so is not to be recommended in aviation.
Dormicum (Midozalam) was used in the Falklands with success, the newer type of hypnotics of the Imidozopyridene group would seem to offer even better results, quick acting, very short half life with non of the barbiturate hangover.
Best of luck with the study.

How very appropriate for a self-professed minigun person.....:p

Yes Beagle, very droll. Never needed it's services, but seem to remember some ruling, and bizarrely something about bungee jumping when it first appeared. The quacks had some concerns about eye damage from the shockloading.

Used Temazepam fairly frequently during Gulf War 1, bewteen sorties, as the timings were irregular and spread all over the clock. Effective stuff.

Used sparingly during the initial Afghanistan invasion, as sleeping in a BFOT, with up to 30 other folk, on the edge of a civilian airfield, with the Americans building a huge field hospital on your doorstep, was hard work.

You are of course using a highly technical term there that not many would understand.......;)

Big Floral Orange Tent?

ARRSE is your friend for translations. One that I was in not long ago had a few more than 30 in, in fact I believe it was several hundred mostly USMC, aren't I a lucky one.

ISTR Night Nurse was handy during kipper fleet tacevals ....:zzz:

I think the only OTC drugs mentioned are NightNurse, Paracetamol, and Asprins. However, I see no one has contradicted the assertion that self-medication is a no-no.

I remember one particular Nav Plotter who was adicted to Vic Nasal sniffers. He lost one on take-off as it shot through the nav crate before he could catch it :}

Probably obvious to most, but you're not supposed to fly if taking Fluoxetine (Prozac) and will be downgraded whilst on them, and for a period afterwards. However you are likely to be under close medical supervision, so it would seem unlikely (and kind of daft) to be self-medicating Prozac!

Don't know whether the downgrading is due to the effects of the drug itself or because of the state-of-mind usually associated with the reason for taking them in the first place. Docs mentioned in previous posts should be able to clarify.

That's one hell of a bang seat.

We were simply told no medication/drugs without the docs' say so.

Shy, droll, you know what I meant.

Good chance to be honest about our drug taking here.

If you were suffering from a cold, would you :

a) Take a Lemsip and wait until it was over

or

b) Go to the Doc ?

Verve,

would depend on what was going on. Not going to turn down urgent op flying due to a bit of congestion. Sudafed plus Oxymetazoline Hydrochloride nasal spray seems to do the job for a day. Any longer than that or head still not clearing, I visit the doc. I always seem to suffer a few days of stuffiness on a det, combination of the human excrement dust that is blowing around, poo pond and aircraft air con. Both of those drugs have been prescribed to me in theatre by the flight surgeon for short term use only.

As for the sleep issue, a firm dose of Temazapalm usually does the trick! :\

If I had to choose between Melatonin and Temazepam, I would choose the latter, with the former having some pretty big question marks over its long term side effects. I dont think its been passed by UK authorities.