Past use of Accutane

J

Jordan Harleston

Guest
I received my 3rd class medical in August 2022. Started Accutane November 2022. Being an unlearned and unmotivated student pilot, I was ignorant of the side affects and my responsibilities of taking certain medications. I initially chose aviation because I had thought of nothing else to do with my life during Highschool, which led to an incredibly slow and stagnant progression in my training, and it wasn’t until the last 3 months of my private pilot training where I had a wake up call and began taking aviation more seriously and fell in love with it. Got my private summer of 24 and am currency checkride ready for my instrument rating. Learning more it recently popped into my head about my past use of accutane and after researching its side effects and how the FAA takes it seriously I’m getting particularly anxious about my next visit with an AME. Will there be any consequences for me, as a student pilot, not being aware of this mistake? I flew while on this medication, and personally experienced no severe side effects besides dry lips. Does the FAA care about past medications? Do I report it? Does the FAA have my medical records? Will my night hours flown for my PPL be “revoked” since I technically flew them illegally while taking accutane?
 
If it was me, I'd probably talk to an AME on a consultation-only basis to ask these questions (make sure not to fill out MedXpress before you go — just get a consultation... maybe from a different AME than the one you usually go to. If you're worried about talking to an AME, you could consult with a private advocacy service like AOPA Medical, AMAS, or LeftSeat.)

That said, FAA 8500-8 (the medical form) asks, "DO YOU CURRENTLY USE ANY MEDICATION (PRESCRIPTION OR NONPRESCRIPTION)?"

Personally, I would answer the form legally and accurately at the time of the form's submission. If you're not on Accutane at the time you fill out MedXpress, then I would not report the Accutane as it does not seem required to report by my understanding. You will, however, have to report the doctor's visit if it was within the last 3 years of when the new medical application was opened.

On the note of whether there would be significant consequences — I would reckon that's unlikely, provided you genuinely had no side effects that would affect flight safety, such as severe headaches, mood changes, or significant vision issues. It would be helpful if you had doctor's reports that could attest to that too. The FAA tends to be more concerned about deliberate concealment or reckless disregard of medical fitness. Being unaware doesn’t completely absolve you, but if you had no safety-related side effects, it lessens the regulatory concern.
 

"For applicants using oral isotretinoin (Accutane), there is a mandatory 2-week waiting period after starting isotretinoin prior to consideration. This medication can be associated with vision and psychiatric side effects of aeromedical concern - specifically decreased night vision/ night blindness and depression. These side-effects can occur even after cessation of isotretinoin. A report must be provided with detailed, specific comment on presence or absence of psychiatric and vision side-effects. The AME must document these findings in Block 60, Comments on History and Findings. Some applicants will have to be deferred. For applicants issued, there must be a NOT VALID FOR NIGHT FLYING restriction on the medical certificate. A waiting period and detailed information is required to remove this restriction. The restriction cannot be removed until all the requirements are met."
 
Well you were legal when the cert was issued
Get off the Accutane
follow the note at the bottom of this excerpt

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Since you were not PIC at night (you had a CFI on board) you will likely be forgiven.

B

BTW, "getting serious" as an excuse, is pretty darned LAME.
 
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