Psychiatric meds questions

[Jay Grimshaw]

Hey all,

From my online research, I'm worried about two red flags with my medical records that might bar me from ever flying.

1st: Is it possible to get a medical while taking Lamictal (or if I get off, having previously taken it) for seasonal depression? Official uses are to treat seizures and bipolar; however my doc prescribed it for my seasonal depression after unsuccessfully trying an SSRI. My understanding is that seizures and bipolar are what makes it a no-go for the FAA. However, if I could successfully make the case that Lamictal is prescribed for and treating my depression, could that work?

2nd: Will having taken ADHD meds (Intuniv and Ritalin) during the same time that I was taking either Lexapro or Lamictal also keep me on the ground? My research found that a history of 'multi agent drug use', meaning the use of psychiatric drugs while on an antidepressant is an absolute denial.

Thanks in advance for any help. I have some other red flags that I am worrying about but I am still working with my doc to understand exactly what is on the records.

Dr. Chien, if you stumble upon this, I would appreciate a comment, but I will also be contacting you via email once I get my medical records. I am just trying to make sure that I can put together all of the correct information to present my case.

 

[AggieMike88]

You already mentioned speaking with Dr. Bruce Chien. That is the best way to get your research started, full stop.

Just about everyone else here, me included, will just be providing best wishes and guesses in the wind.

For a case such as yours, you need the proper guidance from the get go.

What I can share with you is that the process is not going to be easy nor low cost. I wish you the best of luck.

 

[Jonathan Stein]

You need to contact a HIMS AME. I was diagnosed with adhd when I was younger and occasionally took stimulants to help with it. It is possible to get a medical with adhd diagnosis. As far as your use of antidepressants that’s another issue but many people get a Special issuance that have to go thru the ssri protocols. Just know that this process will cost upwards of 10k and will take most likely 1-2 years.
good luck




https://www.faa.gov/pilots/amelocator/media/HIMS INDEPENDENT MEDICAL SPONSORS.pdf

 

[Benw]

Hey all,

From my online research, I'm worried about two red flags with my medical records that might bar me from ever flying.

1st: Is it possible to get a medical while taking Lamictal (or if I get off, having previously taken it) for seasonal depression? Official uses are to treat seizures and bipolar; however my doc prescribed it for my seasonal depression after unsuccessfully trying an SSRI. My understanding is that seizures and bipolar are what makes it a no-go for the FAA. However, if I could successfully make the case that Lamictal is prescribed for and treating my depression, could that work?

2nd: Will having taken ADHD meds (Intuniv and Ritalin) during the same time that I was taking either Lexapro or Lamictal also keep me on the ground? My research found that a history of 'multi agent drug use', meaning the use of psychiatric drugs while on an antidepressant is an absolute denial.

Thanks in advance for any help. I have some other red flags that I am worrying about but I am still working with my doc to understand exactly what is on the records.

Dr. Chien, if you stumble upon this, I would appreciate a comment, but I will also be contacting you via email once I get my medical records. I am just trying to make sure that I can put together all of the correct information to present my case.

Lamictal is perscribed as an anti-seizure medication. 100% grounding until off it for at least three years.

That’s all I can offer based on me previously being on the stuff.

 

[iflyvfr]

Lamictal is perscribed as an anti-seizure medication. 100% grounding until off it for at least three years.
That’s all I can offer based on me previously being on the stuff.

Is that why you were taking it, for seizures? Or is the FAA that obtuse?

 

[Benw]

Is that why you were taking it, for seizures? Or is the FAA that obtuse?

Yes I was taking it for seizures. But you bring up a good point, will the FAA look at it differently when it’s persribed off label

 

[Jay Grimshaw]

I appreciate all of the replies. Once I've got all of my medical records in hand, I'll contact Dr. Chien.

I was diagnosed with adhd when I was younger and occasionally took stimulants to help with it.

Jonathan, could you share what your process for getting a medical was? I was diagnosed very young, but I used stimulants this past semester in university.

 

[Jonathan Stein]

[QUOTE="Jonathan, could you share what your process for getting a medical was? I was diagnosed very young, but I used stimulants this past semester in university.[/QUOTE]

I don’t have my medical yet. My files have been at the faa for almost 9 months and they have not said anything. The nueropsych I saw said that I did very well on my cognitive testing and if I did still have adhd it “was not aeromedically significant” and should no longer be an issue with the faa once they see the test results. I haven’t taken stimulants in almost 10 years so if you can get by without them then the first thing I would do is stop taking them. If there are not other factors involved with your medical certification I think it most likely depends on if you can pass the nuero cognitive testing without stimulants on board. As far as the other meds you take I have no clue how that part of the process works.

 

[Jay Grimshaw]

I don’t have my medical yet. My files have been at the faa for almost 9 months and they have not said anything. The nueropsych I saw said that I did very well on my cognitive testing and if I did still have adhd it “was not aeromedically significant” and should no longer be an issue with the faa once they see the test results. I haven’t taken stimulants in almost 10 years so if you can get by without them then the first thing I would do is stop taking them. If there are not other factors involved with your medical certification I think it most likely depends on if you can pass the nuero cognitive testing without stimulants on board. As far as the other meds you take I have no clue how that part of the process works.

Did you take the Cogscreen test that I've heard so much about? I stopped my stimulants last week. I can absolutely get by without them at work. School... they have helped a lot. Maybe I could pass off the case that I didn't need them, and that I only just wanted them for help with schoolwork. Although I worry that saying that would risk becoming substance abuse or dependence.

9 months is a lot. I wonder what can be done to speed up the process. Best of luck to you.

 

[AggieMike88]

Did you take the Cogscreen test that I've heard so much about? I stopped my stimulants last week. I can absolutely get by without them at work. School... they have helped a lot. Maybe I could pass off the case that I didn't need them, and that I only just wanted them for help with schoolwork. Although I worry that saying that would risk becoming substance abuse or dependence.

9 months is a lot. I wonder what can be done to speed up the process. Best of luck to you.

Regarding you stopping your meds...

Please only do so with the agreement and guidance if your treating physician. (1) So they can monitor the process and manage any adverse effects. And (2), be willing to write in any FAA requested documentation how the weaning went and the results once you were 100% off of the medication.

 

[Jay Grimshaw]

Regarding you stopping your meds...

Please only do so with the agreement and guidance if your treating physician. (1) So they can monitor the process and manage any adverse effects. And (2), be willing to write in any FAA requested documentation how the weaning went and the results once you were 100% off of the medication.

Good tip. I have already talked with my physician about stopping. I had used them 'as needed' so this was fine. I will however make sure to keep track of [the lack of] any adverse affects of weaning with my physician.

Thanks AggieMike88!

 

[Jonathan Stein]

Did you take the Cogscreen test that I've heard so much about?

Yes. It’s a pretty intense 2 days of testing, but we’ll worth it if the medical is issued.

 

[Clarify]

Yes. It’s a pretty intense 2 days of testing, but we’ll worth it if the medical is issued.

my understanding is that the cogscreen itself is a 1-1.5 hour test. The NeuroPsychiatry evaluation and “full battery” test is what eats up the time

 

[AggieMike88]

my understanding is that the cogscreen itself is a 1-1.5 hour test. The NeuroPsychiatry evaluation and “full battery” test is what eats up the time

If you look for posts from a contributor who used to moniker "CogScreamer", you will find a detailed description of the process.

 

[Jay Grimshaw]

I downloaded lumosity...

But a bit of videogames might not hurt for mental training either. Centipede is definitely a lot to pay attention to at once. This helps more than COD or GTA did growing up.

 

[bbj2004]

I was prescribed Adderall after college (since 2009) and have been taking it on and off since then. A few years ago I started flying and eventually earned my PPL and got my 3rd class medical having misinterpreted the FAA's stance on the drug and the disorder. My understanding was that the FAA's stance on Adderall was similar to another substance like alcohol- that it couldn't be used while flying.

I have started working on my IFR and it was in my research about the 1st class medical that I realized that my ADHD diagnosis and history with Adderall disqualifies my 3rd class medical and makes it impossible for me to get my 1st class medical without first going through a battery of exams to prove that it was a misdiagnosis and I don't need adderall.

I'm looking for advice on 1. how to make this right with the FAA so I can receive my 1st class medical 2. are there any AME recommendations who are familiar with this kind of situation and could assist me.

Any advice is greatly appreciated as I have no idea where to start...

 

[Mason]

You only need to post once...

 

[Jay Grimshaw]

I was prescribed Adderall after college (since 2009) and have been taking it on and off since then. A few years ago I started flying and eventually earned my PPL and got my 3rd class medical having misinterpreted the FAA's stance on the drug and the disorder. My understanding was that the FAA's stance on Adderall was similar to another substance like alcohol- that it couldn't be used while flying.

I have started working on my IFR and it was in my research about the 1st class medical that I realized that my ADHD diagnosis and history with Adderall disqualifies my 3rd class medical and makes it impossible for me to get my 1st class medical without first going through a battery of exams to prove that it was a misdiagnosis and I don't need adderall.

I'm looking for advice on 1. how to make this right with the FAA so I can receive my 1st class medical 2. are there any AME recommendations who are familiar with this kind of situation and could assist me.

Any advice is greatly appreciated as I have no idea where to start...

From my research:

You will have to be off of meds for a certain time period before you can apply for a medical. I'm not sure how long. My understanding is that you will need to go through the battery of exams for sure. I believe that you are good to go if you pass those.

As far as letting the FAA know that you omitted information, I think that they work with you as long as you come to them with the mistake, instead of them finding out. There are other threads here with more info.

Good luck! Download Lumosity to start preparing for the ADHD tests.