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Old 05-27-2015 | 04:07 PM
  #183185  
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RetiredFTS
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Joined: Apr 2012
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From: 7ER Costar
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Originally Posted by Roadkill
From the latest email I got from DALPA, a change to FAA wait times for self-medication. Both of these items are what most folks take for a cough or allergy/runny nose thing... If I have to wait 60 hours for the one and 48 hours for the other now, it will literally double the amount of times I will have to call in sick--even if I might be pretty much "on the mend" and getting over my symptoms, I'd still not be legal to fly for 2.5 days! Who stops taking cough medicine when trying to get better for a trip, 2 days prior???

This is kind of a big thing, surprised I didn't see anyone discussing it?

"The wait time from taking diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in many cold and allergy products including Benadryl, has changed from 12 hours to 60 hours. The wait time for taking dextromethorphan, the active ingredient in many cough medications, has increased to 48 hours.

Wait time is defined as the time from when you last take the medication until you engage in ANY activities pertaining to flight, such as flight planning or pre-flight inspection. "
I was reading some FAA stuff regarding this and most medications. Their take is one must wait 5x the half-life of the med. That is, if your med says take every 4-6 hours, then 5x6 hours must pass before flight duties. This general rule was for medications not approved for flight duties. And even these require proof that side effects don't happen.

Too lazy to look it up as I self medicate with an IPA.