Not on meds but asked to be on pathway II by the FAA?

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Excellent-

Guest
I was diagnosed with mild depression in another country in 2019 with more meds because of a breakup. Took the meds for a few months. And then in 2021 I moved to the US and had trouble sleeping so the doctor here prescribed me more meds and thought it was due to my depression. I was better with more regular exercises and after 3 months stopped any meds in 2022 April. All reports have been good since then.
Now the FAA decided that I have recurrent major depression disorder and got a denial saying the only potential way is to be on Pathway II. My understanding is this requires me to go back on medication again. How is that possible? Do I appeal/reapply after taking the meds for 6 months? If I were to start medication again as requested by the FAA, and not due to another episode of depression, would there be any negative repercussions on my current application or in the future? My psychiatrist has affirmed that I do not require medication.
Thank you everyone!
 
They are saying that because you have gone off and then back on at least once. So if you are unable to stay off - that’s defined as recurrent disease. And since you have done this off/on/off thing - they don’t believe you can or will stay off. So you have to go through the process of being on. It’s not what you feel you can - it’s what has been proven by your past and what they believe is the case until proven otherwise.

Your psychiatrist is saying here and now. If the FAA asked your psychiatrist - and whether they will affirm that you will /NEVER/ go back on - like as in ever - would that still make that affirmation / guarantee ? Doubtful. Right. That’s what the FAA is dealing with.
 
Also I’m in the lower Wisconsin and wonder if there is a good HIMS AME you could recommend?
 
Excellent- said:
Now the FAA decided that I have recurrent major depression disorder and got a denial saying the only potential way is to be on Pathway II. My understanding is this requires me to go back on medication again. How is that possible?
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I don't know.

It's bad enough that CAMI can require expensive tests that are not medically indicated and are not covered by your health insurance, but requiring you to take a drug that your own doctor doesn't feel is medically indicated (especially when the drug itself is disqualifying) seems like boundary overstepping to me.
 
Excellent:

Well, this stems from your, and the above posters' failure to understand that disease that has already recurred, or is reasaonably thought to be recurrent, won't be certified off meds and off monitoring. Nobody is forcing you back on to the now seven listed potentially certifiable meds. This isn't the Gulag and you don't "Need to fly" as a right to survive.

But understand that folks with recurrent psychiatry disease, are much much longer between relapses if treated. In their (FAA's) view, treatment requires monitoring. So They are telling you, rather than denying you, (hint, hint) that you might be able to move forward if you were on meds (for lengthening of the time constant for recurrence) and monitored.

They didn't have to give you the "hint, hint". They could have just denied you flat.
 
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