When will I get an authorization letter?
11-08-2023 | 08:34 AM
#1
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When will I get an authorization letter?
I went it for an AME consultation with a history of anxiety and SSRI use. Went off the medication for 60 days with a letter from a psychiatrist saying I was good to go. Came back around 70 days later and I was issued a first class medical by an HIMS AME. I'm assuming the FAA will contact me once they get to my application requesting for more information or testing. When do these letters usually come in once you've been issued a medical? I've heard it could take years for them to question your medical. I would like to start training but I'm afraid the FAA could put a halt on it. Should I wait 60 days? Should I wait for the authorization letter? Thoughts and opinions? Thanks!
11-08-2023 | 12:16 PM
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There are conditions under which an aviation medical examiner may issue your medical certificate, and there are circumstances in which the AME must defer the application to the FAA.
If you've been issued a medical certificate, you may begin flight training.
The FAA does have the option of reviewing any medical application, and does. It's possible that an airman might be contacted at any time about a medical matter, but generally if you've been issued the certificate, you should be able to begin your training and move forward.
Suppose you wait 60 days and begin training, and then receive word of additional review at 70 days? 80 days? You could postpone your training indefinitely, on the off-chance that the FAA. comes calling. Or you could simply get on with your training.
In general, if you have been off the SSRI for at least 90 days, AND your use of the SSRI was for a period less than 60 days, the AME can issue the medical certificate wihout deferring. This appears to be your case.
Where the FAA typically looks for more information are cases which have been deferred to the FAA, by the AME. This was not your case.
The FAA looks at the duration of SSRI use, the length of time since that use, and the reason for use.
The medication must have been only one of: Fluoxetine (Prozac), Sertraline (Zoloft), Citalopram (Celexa), Escitalopram (Lexapro), or Bupropion (Wellbutrin) Extended Release (XL) or Sustained Release (SR).
The medication cannot have been prescribed for psychosis, suicidal ideation, electro convulsive therapy, involve treatment with multiple SSRIs concurrently or involve multi-agent drug protocol use (prior use of other psychiatric drugs in conjunction with SSRIs.).
Your description of issuance by your HIMS AME indicates that your medical was issued using "decision path 1," which involves stopping use of the drug for 60 days minimum, obtaining an evaluation, then making a medical application. If you'd elected to continue using the medication, it would need to be one of the meds listed above, and then you'd be subject to SSRI "decision path 2." You'd need to be on the medication for at least 6 months, and would need the appropriate evaluations, which continue every six months, going forward.
Because your case has been addressed without deferral, unless there is something in the diagnosis or treatment history that raises a red flag, you should be able to press forward with your training. It's important to understand that every case is decided on a case-by-case basis.
https://www.faa.gov/ame_guide/app_pr...ntidepressants
Decision Path 1:
https://www.faa.gov/ame_guide/media/...ion_Path-I.pdf
Decision Path 2:
https://www.faa.gov/ame_guide/media/...on_Path-II.pdf
If you've been issued a medical certificate, you may begin flight training.
The FAA does have the option of reviewing any medical application, and does. It's possible that an airman might be contacted at any time about a medical matter, but generally if you've been issued the certificate, you should be able to begin your training and move forward.
Suppose you wait 60 days and begin training, and then receive word of additional review at 70 days? 80 days? You could postpone your training indefinitely, on the off-chance that the FAA. comes calling. Or you could simply get on with your training.
In general, if you have been off the SSRI for at least 90 days, AND your use of the SSRI was for a period less than 60 days, the AME can issue the medical certificate wihout deferring. This appears to be your case.
Where the FAA typically looks for more information are cases which have been deferred to the FAA, by the AME. This was not your case.
The FAA looks at the duration of SSRI use, the length of time since that use, and the reason for use.
The medication must have been only one of: Fluoxetine (Prozac), Sertraline (Zoloft), Citalopram (Celexa), Escitalopram (Lexapro), or Bupropion (Wellbutrin) Extended Release (XL) or Sustained Release (SR).
The medication cannot have been prescribed for psychosis, suicidal ideation, electro convulsive therapy, involve treatment with multiple SSRIs concurrently or involve multi-agent drug protocol use (prior use of other psychiatric drugs in conjunction with SSRIs.).
Your description of issuance by your HIMS AME indicates that your medical was issued using "decision path 1," which involves stopping use of the drug for 60 days minimum, obtaining an evaluation, then making a medical application. If you'd elected to continue using the medication, it would need to be one of the meds listed above, and then you'd be subject to SSRI "decision path 2." You'd need to be on the medication for at least 6 months, and would need the appropriate evaluations, which continue every six months, going forward.
Because your case has been addressed without deferral, unless there is something in the diagnosis or treatment history that raises a red flag, you should be able to press forward with your training. It's important to understand that every case is decided on a case-by-case basis.
https://www.faa.gov/ame_guide/app_pr...ntidepressants
Decision Path 1:
https://www.faa.gov/ame_guide/media/...ion_Path-I.pdf
Decision Path 2:
https://www.faa.gov/ame_guide/media/...on_Path-II.pdf
Last edited by JohnBurke; 11-08-2023 at 12:45 PM.
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