Flying on SSRIs?

[Typhoon]

Quick question,

Got my cat 1 taken away from me about 6 months ago as I had to go on a SSRI. Does anybody know if it's possible to get a cat 1 back while on the meds? Has anybody else been in the same situation?

Cheers

[cptn2016]

I would suggest calling the doctor from whom you received your medical. Probably more qualified to answer than any of us. Also, I have heard it suggested on this site that you could contact TC anonymously (so as not to risk something you say being used against you in the future).

A couple of things you may want to read:

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/o ... ri-347.htm

http://www.tc.gc.ca/media/documents/ca- ... 13312e.pdf

[CFR]

Yes it is possible, but requires teamwork between you, your physician (a referal to a physiciatrist may be required), your CAMI and ultimately the Regional Medical Officer (I cannot speak for the other regions but the Pacific region seems to have a positive approach to this issue). Here is an article from the Director of Civil Aviation Medicine from the COPA site that may be helpful as well

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SSRI stands for Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors. These are drugs that are normally prescribed for depression, although they can also be prescribed for social phobias and anxiety as well.

updated 2011 - From Transport Canada, Director Medicine Civil Aviation

For some ten years Transport Canada Civil Aviation Medicine (TC CAM) has been allowing select Canadian pilots to fly while taking certain Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) as treatment for depression. TC CAM initially started this practice as a research project but it has progressed to the point of being standard practice. It is important to note, that it is not simply the medication that determines whether or not someone may fly or not. The underlying diagnosis is also important, as is the response to therapy. A depressed pilot treated with an SSRI who is still depressed is a risk to flight safety. Similarly, some conditions currently treated with SSRIs are not sufficiently well managed with the medication to lessen the aeromedical risk. In some cases this risk can be mitigated by restricting the pilot to fly with another qualified pilot but in other cases that is not so. The reason for our policy change some years ago, similar to that of the FAA, is that treatment of simple depression with an SSRI known to the regulatory authority is safer than allowing depressed pilots to fly untreated or worse on an inappropriate medication. It is also important to note that not all SSRIs are similar in side effect profile and some can be quite sedating. Unlike the FAA, TC CAM will accept more than four specific SSRIs. Canada does not have the same regulatory framework as the US but our policies are very similar. For example, we do not have such a thing as a Special Issuance. Instead we exercise “accredited medical conclusion” under the flexibility clauses of the CARs to allow exceptions to the existing regulations. In keeping with the demands of our legal system our analysis of medical flight safety risk is based on a personalized assessment of the individual pilot, their underlying condition and their response to treatment (including the side effects experienced) Further details of our practice can be found on our web site at
http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/p ... u-2187.htm

I urge you for your own safety, the people who fly with you as passengers and the rest of the flying public to be up front and professional about your medical status with your Civil Aviation Medical Examiner (CAME) and your Regional Aviation Medical Officer (RAMO). Our goal is to keep people flying safely with the medical conditions they have. May I suggest your first step should be to contact your local RAMO to discuss your situation and appropriate next steps. You may do this anonymously if you wish.

D.A. Salisbury MD MHSc FACPM FRCPC CD
Director Medicine/Directeur Médecine
Civil Aviation/Aviation civile

Medical research has shown that the best therapy for depression is a combination of anti-depressants and counselling and that neither one of those individually is as effective as both are together. In general terms the same goes for social phobias and anxiety as well.

See your CAME for more information on this condition and the use of SSRIs.

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I was where you are, and now have a CAT I (I suspect different circumstances however), there are some hoops to go through, but it can be done.

[shaddddow]

hello guys, new to forum, stopped flying for 20 yrs and was put on mild ssri 5 yrs 10 mg celexa ago when my father passed, I recently goy my medical and the ame said it might be anissue, im a private pilot and well out of the loop, pls help!!!!

[rotorspeed]

If you have a letter from psych you usaully can get by if its an antidepressant youre on, as far as I undestand

[Airbrake]

Call your RAMO as they hold your ability to get flying again in your hands. If your in the west/north it is Jay Danforth. He does answer his phone and would way rather you talk to him than any one else.

[co-joe]

I'm going to throw this one out there on the off chance it's of some small help. There's a book called potatoes not prozac that someone close to me follows religiously. She was on meds including SSRI's for years for cripling anxiety. Now she eats a tiny bowl of cooked potatoe right before bed 7, nights a week and swears by it for helping to regulate brain chemicals that most of us take for granted. Shift work and irregular sleep patterns in aviation are going to be your enemy but eating the right foods at the right time is something you have in your control and it can have an enormous impact from what I've seen in the past 7 years with her.

WRT TC's av-doctors, you need to document everything and keep it with you. I flew with a type 1 diabetic and met an monocular pilot who both said persistence, documented doctoral recommendations, and religious record keeping of every visit, every prescription, and every trend brought to every consultation and meeting helped.

[navajo_jay]

Hi Typhoon,

I'm going through the same thing for an anxiety disorder. We are not the only one I can tell you. It's been 5 months now for me. I'm meeting my doc next week. I'll let you know what's going on.

cheers bud!