I am not really sure I agree with the FAA letting people with diagnosed depression fly airplanes, medication or not.

BUT, I believe Anti-depressants should not be on the no-fly list and I think this is a good move on their part.

Why? Because I was diagnosed with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) following a parasite infection. I tried all kinds of meds and had little relief. I went on medical leave for 6 months to be treated on Paxil CR, an anti-depressant. My primary physcian has great success treating his IBS patients with this drug, DESPITE the fact that IBS is not depression, the thought behind it is a mind/body connection disorder. In which stress (just normal stresses, like commuting, relationships etc.) can drive the bowel to disruptions. I was on Paxil for 6 months and my IBS nearly 99% went into remission. It was the ONLY drug that did anything to help. Problem was - no fly.

So I stopped taking it to get back to work and have missed quite a few days of work because of it. I am THRILLED about this change from the FAA and can't wait to get back on the Paxil. Not sure how long I'll have to be on it, but it allows me to do my job.

So before you throw your arms up about safety in the skies, think for a minute. Not all of those prescribed anti-depressants are actually depressed. I'm far from being depressed. Was just under a lot of stress from my job, an intestinal infection and some other things that threw my bowels into a very bad state. Thank God for Paxil, it got my life back.