Delayed Class 3 medical due to sleep aid

drbnphx

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Bruce R
I am an aspiring student pilot with 22 hours of flight time. I went to take my medical exam and get my student pilot ticket. I was delayed because I used to take Trazodone 25 mg for sleep. The AME said I would have to discontinue its use, and after sixty days he would send in paperwork to the FAA. Its been a month since he sent in the paperwork. I asked him about a time line and he said 8-10 weeks from when he faxed in the paper work. Ok so Im looking at 6 more weeks of great flying practice. But.... is there a worry that I may not get the exam cleared or that I will be put on SE? Also, Is there truth to a statement I read on line that says the AME is actually able to call and get clearance sooner?
 
I am an aspiring student pilot with 22 hours of flight time. I went to take my medical exam and get my student pilot ticket. I was delayed because I used to take Trazodone 25 mg for sleep. The AME said I would have to discontinue its use, and after sixty days he would send in paperwork to the FAA. Its been a month since he sent in the paperwork. I asked him about a time line and he said 8-10 weeks from when he faxed in the paper work. Ok so Im looking at 6 more weeks of great flying practice. But.... is there a worry that I may not get the exam cleared or that I will be put on SE? Also, Is there truth to a statement I read on line that says the AME is actually able to call and get clearance sooner?

Not to rain on your parade but I, too, had a student that found she had been using a proscribed drug. She did the sixty day thing, then reapplied which then triggered the Feds asking for a other tests and more data. After 11 months she's jumped through every hoop but still is waiting. She suspended her flying after about the fourth hoop pending the final outcome. It's frustrating as she's probably one of the most vibrant, healthy-looking students I've ever had.

Tip: whatever you do, never provide one shred of data more than they specifically ask for. It can only hurt you.
 
That is very disheartening. I will get my written out of the way and see what else they throw at me.
 
The AME is mostly correct. But what they are looking for with sleep disorders is alcohol, depression and sleep disorders. Unless the letter that was written at day 60 saying, "he's off and doing fine", the "he's off and doing fine" is likely to provoke a SAP evaluation and/or a screening sleep study, demand for a DMV search.

This one is different depending on which examiner gets your file after days and days. So I usually prepare the student for BEAR, and provide a DMV search (no DUIs....$2. at the Secy of State office), and coach the doc to say, "there has been no component of alcoholism in this man's medical history", if the doc is willing to say that.
 
Yes, Bruce, the letter was written at exactly day 60, in compliance with what the AME stated must be in the letter in his letter to me. So I think that's a plus. DUI January 2010 impaired to the slightest degree. Not such a plus but I have not had a drop of alcohol since. The doc will say No component of alcoholism because it is true.
 
Then your AME needs to call and ask that it be reviewed NOW. If he is the AME of record, he can do that. I do it all the time.
 
That was the sentence I wanted to hear DrBruce! I sent him a fax requesting that he do just that and he said that the FAA was the 800 lb gorilla in the room and we just had to wait out the 8-10 weeks for them to look it over. How do I get my medical doc's opinion regarding alcoholism in the right hands? Have her write another letter?
 
That was the sentence I wanted to hear DrBruce! I sent him a fax requesting that he do just that and he said that the FAA was the 800 lb gorilla in the room and we just had to wait out the 8-10 weeks for them to look it over. How do I get my medical doc's opinion regarding alcoholism in the right hands? Have her write another letter?
Yes. and then you fax it in....but their reaction to it will be dependent on many many things.....

Examples:

"I am drbnphx's physician of record for the past eight years. During this period I have followed him for ___, ____, and ____, and seen him ten times. I know him well enough to be able to say that he has sustained interpersonal relationships, and has employment in a situation that required that he self start and reliably work without supervision. He has a successful career in _____. There has never been a hint of alcoholism or illicit drug use in his history. He is 72" tall and 210 pounds and there is no hint of sleep apnea. His Trazadone was given short term as an intermittent sleep aid", which has been discontinued 60 days without ill effect.

That will result in a completely different response from:

"Mr. drbnphx was seen in June 2013 for________. He is not being followed for drug abuse nor alcoholism". He's been off trazodone for 60 days, without ill effect"


Do you see the difference? The first one addresses absence of drug/depression behaviors. The second once simply says, "no, we don't know of any".

HIMS AME
(Google HIMS Program- it's FAA's psych credentialed guys)
 
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Thanks for the insight of things to come, that just blows. :(

But like Bruce's advice to cover the bases of drug and alcohol behaviors, better to put the lid on the apnea worm can now than leave it open for later.

(Yes, I get the dissatisfaction expressed by many in the other thread. But we need to push forward with what we are dealt with now versus tossing a tantrum and getting nowhere.)

Thanks, Bruce, for showing us the difference in the letters and why the expanded version is better.
 
But like Bruce's advice to cover the bases of drug and alcohol behaviors.......
Thanks, Bruce, for showing us the difference in the letters and why the expanded version is better.

After having gone through a consult with Doc Bruce and reading his posts....I can say I wish there were more like him to help our pilot community. I feel fortunate to have such a professional down the block so to speak (actually 1.5 hours away or so by flight). If you have the AME or your physician prepare the letters as he recommends, to the letter, you can avoid land mines along your journey to a medical certificate. I find with the IRS, they want things worded a specific way.
 
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