Class 1 Medical Prescription Questions

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gonzo1996

Filing Flight Plan
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gonzo1996
Hello,

I'm 28 and interested in pursuing a piloting career, possibly even doing commercial later. I've been getting some conflicting information and was hoping to find some help in sorting it out. I take two medications, buspar and propranolol, on a daily basis for anxiety, which has been diagnosed. Upon doing some research and if I'm not mistaken, it seems that taking buspar is prohibited by the FAA and that I cannot get any medical because of it. If that's true, would this mean that I could be permitted to obtain my medical and fly if I were to discontinue taking the buspar? I also can't really find much information about the propranolol. Also would this mean I would have to see a HIMS AME before attempting to obtain the Class 1 medical given I take these two medications for anxiety? I have yet to fill out any Medxpress forms or see an AME.

Thank you.
 
Propranolol for high blood pressure is a yawner. If you have no side effects and your BP is now in range, you're fine.

Both the Buspar and the anxiety diagnosis are indeed issues. While being off the drug for an extended period will change the certification process, you're talking about a special issuance. It would be best to have a consult (pre-application) with a good HIMS AME so you can get your ducks in line before starting the process.
 
flyingron said:
Propranolol for high blood pressure is a yawner. If you have no side effects and your BP is now in range, you're fine.

Both the Buspar and the anxiety diagnosis are indeed issues. While being off the drug for an extended period will change the certification process, you're talking about a special issuance. It would be best to have a consult (pre-application) with a good HIMS AME so you can get your ducks in line before starting the process.
Click to expand...
This sounds pretty encouraging, thank you. I've already left a voicemail asking my city's HIMS AME for a consultation, will take some time for them to review the message I left though.

Hypothetically if I were to discontinue using the buspar past that two year mandated timeframe, would this also mean I would have to continually keep obtaining SIs upon renewal given I had a history of taking it and even I were to not have any issues with discontinuation down the line? And how much added difficulty would this cause with the renewal process?
 
You’ll likely to be on the SI treadmill for five years and with no recurrence you may return to normal. Typically in the interim you’ll get renewed every year for any class.
 
Ron is trying to be helpful but isn't getting that the FAA is going to have to see if what you have is considered recurrent depressive disease. If you have enough risk factors for recurrency (or even if it it has already recurred), or if the disease is more than 5 years long, then two years off does you no good. That's FAA-Recurrent disease, and if untreated and unmonitored WILL RECUR AGAIN when unmonitored and gets denied.

Those are the guy whose pathway (provided no suicidality nor dual ssri/snri treatmenet in the record) is the ON SSRI path.

So it's wise while you are still on the meds to get in to see a board certified MD psychiatrist (they wont see you if you are off meds- a DEEP DARK secred of Obamacare) and get his take. If you are already off the meds, FAA will requrie a Foresnic psyhiatry opinion and for that retail price (about 4K) you might as well get it from a HIMS psychiatrist who speaks part 67. You'll need him to be taking care of you anyway, if you end up on the ON SSRI path, which is a REQUIREMENT of that pathway (continued care of a board Certified MD Psychiatrist).
 
flyingron said:
You’ll likely to be on the SI treadmill for five years and with no recurrence you may return to normal. Typically in the interim you’ll get renewed every year for any class.
Click to expand...
This again sounds really encouraging. I understand this is going to take a lot of time but i feel confident and optimistic
bbchien said:
Ron is trying to be helpful but isn't getting that the FAA is going to have to see if what you have is considered recurrent depressive disease. If you have enough risk factors for recurrency (or even if it it has already recurred), or if the disease is more than 5 years long, then two years off does you no good. That's FAA-Recurrent disease, and if untreated and unmonitored WILL RECUR AGAIN when unmonitored and gets denied.

Those are the guy whose pathway (provided no suicidality nor dual ssri/snri treatmenet in the record) is the ON SSRI path.

So it's wise while you are still on the meds to get in to see a board certified MD psychiatrist (they wont see you if you are off meds- a DEEP DARK secred of Obamacare) and get his take. If you are already off the meds, FAA will requrie a Foresnic psyhiatry opinion and for that retail price (about 4K) you might as well get it from a HIMS psychiatrist who speaks part 67. You'll need him to be taking care of you anyway, if you end up on the ON SSRI path, which is a REQUIREMENT of that pathway (continued care of a board Certified MD Psychiatrist).
Click to expand...
bbchien said:
Ron is trying to be helpful but isn't getting that the FAA is going to have to see if what you have is considered recurrent depressive disease. If you have enough risk factors for recurrency (or even if it it has already recurred), or if the disease is more than 5 years long, then two years off does you no good. That's FAA-Recurrent disease, and if untreated and unmonitored WILL RECUR AGAIN when unmonitored and gets denied.

Those are the guy whose pathway (provided no suicidality nor dual ssri/snri treatmenet in the record) is the ON SSRI path.

So it's wise while you are still on the meds to get in to see a board certified MD psychiatrist (they wont see you if you are off meds- a DEEP DARK secred of Obamacare) and get his take. If you are already off the meds, FAA will requrie a Foresnic psyhiatry opinion and for that retail price (about 4K) you might as well get it from a HIMS psychiatrist who speaks part 67. You'll need him to be taking care of you anyway, if you end up on the ON SSRI path, which is a REQUIREMENT of that pathway (continued care of a board Certified MD Psychiatrist).
Click to expand...
Thank you for your response. So if I understand correctly, after discontinuing the buspar I'm still likely going to be directed from the HIMS AME to have a psychiatric evaluation and have regular follow-ups with whomever before I'm deemed suitable for Medical? Costs aren't necessarily a concern of mine, but I'm simply curious of what to expect from this process, which I know will take a lot of time.

Regardless this situation really has been both encouraging and revelatory beyond just ambitions in aviation. I feel confident and positive about taking the necessary steps to getting off this medication.
 
Well I gave the circumstances under which you would be sent to the HIMS psychiatry eval. It would depend on the evidence in your care record, your 10 year pharmacy search....etc. But if you have been on meds for > 2 years, do't be too confident. the agnecy requires a COMMUNITY psychiatrist report at between 2-and 5 years' duration.

To get to see a community psychiatrist you have to still be on the meds (It's an obamacare secret- if you're not on a med the reimubusement is not enough for them to do an "evaluation")....and then it's to the high dollar forensic psychiatrist.
 
bbchien said:
Well I gave the circumstances under which you would be sent to the HIMS psychiatry eval. It would depend on the evidence in your care record, your 10 year pharmacy search....etc. But if you have been on meds for > 2 years, do't be too confident. the agnecy requires a COMMUNITY psychiatrist report at between 2-and 5 years' duration.

To get to see a community psychiatrist you have to still be on the meds (It's an obamacare secret- if you're not on a med the reimubusement is not enough for them to do an "evaluation")....and then it's to the high dollar forensic psychiatrist.
Click to expand...
I understand. I'm not going to do anything and see what the HIMS recommends.

I must admit I'm not familiar with what a community psychiatrist does and specifically what they'd do in this situation.
 
The community psychiatrist: He's going to look at your risk facotrs for recurrence.... He'll be authoritative, NOT like the PCP nor APRN.
 
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