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Depressed Pilots Can Fly on Medication, FAA Decides
Wall Street Journal ^ | 4/3/2010 | Shirley S. Wang and Melanie Trottman

Posted on 04/04/2010 1:57:58 AM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld

The Federal Aviation Administration will let some pilots who take four popular antidepressants return to the skies, saying Friday that it is easing its long-standing ban on psychiatric medications.

The old policy stemmed in part from concerns over possible side effects of psychiatric drugs, including sedation. But newer medications have fewer side effects, and pilots' associations have pressured the agency to reconsider the ban.

FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said some pilots with depression likely weren't being treated or were doing so in secret out of fear of losing their jobs. "We need to change the culture and remove the stigma associated with depression," said Mr. Babbitt.

Starting Monday, the agency will consider granting waivers that will allow pilots to fly while taking Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa or Lexapro, as well as their generic equivalents.

Medical experts and mental-health organizations supported the move, noting that untreated depression itself has an impact on job performance. They cautioned that the FAA needed to monitor the changes and keep pilots' confidentiality in mind.

Another risk: If some pilots who come forward aren't granted waivers, the agency may inadvertently discourage others from doing so, said Ken Duckworth, a psychiatrist and medical director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, an advocacy organization.

The Air Line Pilots Association, the world's largest pilot union, backed the move. "This policy change should improve aviation safety and pilot health," it said in a statement.

The FAA says it can't estimate how many pilots might come forward but believes pilots' depression rate doesn't differ much from that of the general population, about 10%.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: airplane; antidepressants; aviation; depression; faa; pilots; psychiatric

1 posted on 04/04/2010 1:57:58 AM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
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To: sonofstrangelove

pilots on drugs,
needs to be made public


2 posted on 04/04/2010 2:25:21 AM PDT by element92
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To: sonofstrangelove

Call me crazy,( no pun intended ), but I like to have my pilots alert and oriented. I have to be for my line of work.


3 posted on 04/04/2010 2:35:53 AM PDT by Artie
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To: sonofstrangelove
What happens when those pilots go off their drugs not supervised by a physician? How many of these drugs have suicidal side effects? This is just PC nuttiness.
4 posted on 04/04/2010 2:36:33 AM PDT by mimaw
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To: mimaw

Actually this makes sense. The effects of these particular anti-depressants are well understood and do not negatively affect job performance.

My doctor (who is also a personal friend) jokingly says they should put Prozac in the water. He’s being facetious, but is serious about the fact that it is a safe and effective drug.


5 posted on 04/04/2010 2:40:55 AM PDT by 6ppc (It's torch and pitchfork time)
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To: 6ppc
I'm not comfortable with the whole idea. Having had a relative a fine person a local hero decide his meds made him less energetic stopped them on his own and shortly thereafter committed suicide.
6 posted on 04/04/2010 2:47:36 AM PDT by mimaw
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To: 6ppc
My doctor (who is also a personal friend) jokingly says they should put Prozac in the water. He’s being facetious, but is serious about the fact that it is a safe and effective drug.

Next time you see him ask him if he's ever seen Serotonin Syndrome before. Good chance he'll ask what's that? Many doctors writing the scripts for it will likely say that yet it is a very real possibility. It's an adverser reaction which symptoms in behavior can be similar to taking LSD. If the friend says rubbish keep the friend but find another doctor. It is always a possibility when taking antidepressants.

I am by no means exaggerating how it can affect a person nor am I making it up as I have seen it happen and not be caught by over six doctors including two shrinks writing the script. Antidepressants are great medications for those who trully need them BUT doctor and especially patient and patients family need to be educated to this possible reaction. It's rare but if it happens the patient and possibly those around the patients life may be at risk. Their halucinations are their reality what it happens.

Airline pilots should not be allowed to fly until maximum absorbition bloodstream level has been achieved for at least one month. That means at least two months after starting taking the antidepressant. They need to be a lot more closely monitored by their doctor than a see you in three months routine as well.

7 posted on 04/04/2010 3:07:35 AM PDT by cva66snipe (Two Choices left for U.S. One Nation Under GOD or One Nation Under Judgment? Which one say ye?)
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To: sonofstrangelove

But newer medications have fewer side effects,

HORSE SHIT.
There isn’t a medication dispensed that does not have 4 sheets of paper along with it describing a dozen symptoms and problems worse then the one the medication is supposed to treat...


8 posted on 04/04/2010 3:28:49 AM PDT by SECURE AMERICA
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To: SECURE AMERICA
I saw my wife tripping on Zoloft before. Two hospitals and six doctors miss diagnosed the reaction to the drug as psychosis and nearly let her die. The above mentioned drugs in this article are SSRI's. They can effect Serotonin levels. Serotonin is a chemical 98% located in the stomach and used for digestion. IF it migrates to the brain that is Serotonin Syndrome and such issues as hallucinations can happen.

My wife thought she was watching TV. It was turned off. For over 5 days she thought she was Tess on Touched by an angel. For over five days doctors tried their best to talk me into having her committed rather than them doing some very simple blood work and medical diagnostics. Two were shrinks and both upped the SSRI dosage saying she needed more. She went as far as to go unconscious and they still didn't catch on. I found out what it was by doing an online look up of her meds thanks to some information and debates with Freepers and some prays as well.

I am not against antidepressants but I do believe too many doctors writing the prescription are not aware of the risk nor take it seriously. I had two doctors say Rubbish to me when I showed them the information. Ironically it was their pharmacology professors alert. Personally? I'd feel better and safer with the pilot taking Xanax, Ativan, or Valium. They will not have this reaction as it is the countering agent for the condition. Yet doctors are scared to death of them. My wife has taken Xanax for 25 years with great results. I have taken it 16 years now. Both of us can not take antidepressants in any shape or form. They can kill either one of us.

9 posted on 04/04/2010 3:46:29 AM PDT by cva66snipe (Two Choices left for U.S. One Nation Under GOD or One Nation Under Judgment? Which one say ye?)
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To: cva66snipe
Both of us can not take antidepressants in any shape or form.

A friend of mine's mother was put on Prozac several years ago. It reduced her to a giggling fool unable to concentrate on anything. After several months of not being able to function they took her off of it. This is not exactly what I want in the cockpit......

10 posted on 04/04/2010 5:32:03 AM PDT by Thermalseeker (Stop the insanity - Flush Congress!)
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