Depression and antidepressant help
02-22-2013, 10:36 AM
#1
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Joined APC: Feb 2013
Position: Beech 99,
Posts: 5
Depression and antidepressant help
So here's my bind, I am attending a 4 year university for a professional pilot degree under part 141. Im half way through my commercial rating (already private and instrument rated) in my 3rd year. Recently I was diagnosed with major depression and have been instructed to take anti depressants. I have a current medical that wont expire for 2 more years. If I don't take the pills and attempt to finish commercial what risks will be involved, are they the same if I take them? Id like to follow procedure and talk to an ame as well as the advisers in my flight program but I know that will result in not being able to complete this rating and my removal from the program until I can get my medical squared away. Ideally I'd like to finish this rating and go through the procedures for a special issuance, i have so much time, money, and effort invested in this, it kills me to think about having to quit and restart. Any advice or experience would be much appreciated.
02-22-2013, 11:38 AM
#4
Working weekends
Joined APC: Jul 2005
Position: Left Seat
Posts: 2,384
02-22-2013, 12:52 PM
#5
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Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2013
Position: Beech 99,
Posts: 5
Yes I have, that was my first choice and I have been seeing someone on a weekly basis. I went to the hospital recently, voluntarily, for a bad episode. At the moment I am just dealing with the aftermath and trying to decide the best course of action.
02-23-2013, 06:45 AM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2011
Position: faa sr. medical examiner (HIMS)
Posts: 216
many many threads on this . . . are u safe to fly? Report! . . . & get rx you need. All issues will work themselves out. You will need a HIMS AME to guide and assist you in the future.
02-26-2013, 10:50 PM
#8
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Joined APC: Feb 2013
Position: HS125 - Both
Posts: 4
I'm sorry, but the first day of Flight Training, I was told, "Never, NEVER discuss ANYTHING with your AME."
I've had friends that went for their Medical with a cold or the flu and had to spend months getting their Medical back from OKC and/or DCA.
There's your Doctor and there's your AME, "never the twain shall meet."
In a 121 operation, depression is easy or at least easier. You go out on Medical Leave, you see a Doctor, you get prescribed one of the four approved anti-depressants, you have to be on a stable dosage of one of the four approved anti-depressants for a year, take a partial HIMS-like psych eval, send the paperwork into FAA Aero-Medical in OKC and you're good (pretty much).
1) Choose a Doctor to treat your depression, that Doctor will have to share your medical history with the FAA. Do NOT use your Primary Care Physician or any AME.
2) Consider using the services of an organization such as Virtual Flight Surgeons (Their name has changed but you can still find them on a google search) or AOPA may have Doctors that liaison between your Doctor (remember #1) and the FAA.
3) If your dosage increases, it starts your year over. I don't know if your dosage being reduced starts your year over or not.
4) Remember that you WILL have to sign a HIPAA release form for the Doctor (Sorry, remember #1) to share your information with the FAA, so don't tell that Doctor anymore than you need to, assume the entire record is going to Aero-Med, OKC.
I don't know the rules under part 91, I don't "think" they're too different.
Perhaps the first step ought to be a VFS or AOPA Doctor consult. Just make sure the conversation is confidential and cannot/will not be shared with the FAA.
FAA Aero-Med is 3 generations behind in most areas and ALWAYS 2 generations behind in all Medical knowledge or in the approval process. FDA approval does not equal FAA approval. THAT is why you don't tell the FAA anything but," No Changes" except in a few areas. (Surgeries, DUI (arrest - not conviction on the Medical application), DVT and a couple more.
I know it's tough, hang in there!
I've had friends that went for their Medical with a cold or the flu and had to spend months getting their Medical back from OKC and/or DCA.
There's your Doctor and there's your AME, "never the twain shall meet."
In a 121 operation, depression is easy or at least easier. You go out on Medical Leave, you see a Doctor, you get prescribed one of the four approved anti-depressants, you have to be on a stable dosage of one of the four approved anti-depressants for a year, take a partial HIMS-like psych eval, send the paperwork into FAA Aero-Medical in OKC and you're good (pretty much).
1) Choose a Doctor to treat your depression, that Doctor will have to share your medical history with the FAA. Do NOT use your Primary Care Physician or any AME.
2) Consider using the services of an organization such as Virtual Flight Surgeons (Their name has changed but you can still find them on a google search) or AOPA may have Doctors that liaison between your Doctor (remember #1) and the FAA.
3) If your dosage increases, it starts your year over. I don't know if your dosage being reduced starts your year over or not.
4) Remember that you WILL have to sign a HIPAA release form for the Doctor (Sorry, remember #1) to share your information with the FAA, so don't tell that Doctor anymore than you need to, assume the entire record is going to Aero-Med, OKC.
I don't know the rules under part 91, I don't "think" they're too different.
Perhaps the first step ought to be a VFS or AOPA Doctor consult. Just make sure the conversation is confidential and cannot/will not be shared with the FAA.
FAA Aero-Med is 3 generations behind in most areas and ALWAYS 2 generations behind in all Medical knowledge or in the approval process. FDA approval does not equal FAA approval. THAT is why you don't tell the FAA anything but," No Changes" except in a few areas. (Surgeries, DUI (arrest - not conviction on the Medical application), DVT and a couple more.
I know it's tough, hang in there!
08-25-2014, 03:42 PM
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2006
Position: Lovin' life at .4 (ish) mach
Posts: 1,317
Originally Posted by 3Bears
I'm sorry, but the first day of Flight Training, I was told, "Never, NEVER discuss ANYTHING with your AME."
I've had friends that went for their Medical with a cold or the flu and had to spend months getting their Medical back from OKC and/or DCA.
There's your Doctor and there's your AME, "never the twain shall meet."
In a 121 operation, depression is easy or at least easier. You go out on Medical Leave, you see a Doctor, you get prescribed one of the four approved anti-depressants, you have to be on a stable dosage of one of the four approved anti-depressants for a year, take a partial HIMS-like psych eval, send the paperwork into FAA Aero-Medical in OKC and you're good (pretty much).
1) Choose a Doctor to treat your depression, that Doctor will have to share your medical history with the FAA. Do NOT use your Primary Care Physician or any AME.
2) Consider using the services of an organization such as Virtual Flight Surgeons (Their name has changed but you can still find them on a google search) or AOPA may have Doctors that liaison between your Doctor (remember #1) and the FAA.
3) If your dosage increases, it starts your year over. I don't know if your dosage being reduced starts your year over or not.
4) Remember that you WILL have to sign a HIPAA release form for the Doctor (Sorry, remember #1) to share your information with the FAA, so don't tell that Doctor anymore than you need to, assume the entire record is going to Aero-Med, OKC.
I don't know the rules under part 91, I don't "think" they're too different.
Perhaps the first step ought to be a VFS or AOPA Doctor consult. Just make sure the conversation is confidential and cannot/will not be shared with the FAA.
FAA Aero-Med is 3 generations behind in most areas and ALWAYS 2 generations behind in all Medical knowledge or in the approval process. FDA approval does not equal FAA approval. THAT is why you don't tell the FAA anything but," No Changes" except in a few areas. (Surgeries, DUI (arrest - not conviction on the Medical application), DVT and a couple more.
I know it's tough, hang in there!
I've had friends that went for their Medical with a cold or the flu and had to spend months getting their Medical back from OKC and/or DCA.
There's your Doctor and there's your AME, "never the twain shall meet."
In a 121 operation, depression is easy or at least easier. You go out on Medical Leave, you see a Doctor, you get prescribed one of the four approved anti-depressants, you have to be on a stable dosage of one of the four approved anti-depressants for a year, take a partial HIMS-like psych eval, send the paperwork into FAA Aero-Medical in OKC and you're good (pretty much).
1) Choose a Doctor to treat your depression, that Doctor will have to share your medical history with the FAA. Do NOT use your Primary Care Physician or any AME.
2) Consider using the services of an organization such as Virtual Flight Surgeons (Their name has changed but you can still find them on a google search) or AOPA may have Doctors that liaison between your Doctor (remember #1) and the FAA.
3) If your dosage increases, it starts your year over. I don't know if your dosage being reduced starts your year over or not.
4) Remember that you WILL have to sign a HIPAA release form for the Doctor (Sorry, remember #1) to share your information with the FAA, so don't tell that Doctor anymore than you need to, assume the entire record is going to Aero-Med, OKC.
I don't know the rules under part 91, I don't "think" they're too different.
Perhaps the first step ought to be a VFS or AOPA Doctor consult. Just make sure the conversation is confidential and cannot/will not be shared with the FAA.
FAA Aero-Med is 3 generations behind in most areas and ALWAYS 2 generations behind in all Medical knowledge or in the approval process. FDA approval does not equal FAA approval. THAT is why you don't tell the FAA anything but," No Changes" except in a few areas. (Surgeries, DUI (arrest - not conviction on the Medical application), DVT and a couple more.
I know it's tough, hang in there!
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