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OK, so I have a realtively basic question about the proper way to handle a temporary illness. I'm used to the military where your primary care physician and your flight surgeon are one and the same person. So if you got a cold, injury, whatever they knew if what they prescribed you was okay to fly with or not.
So now, I have an AME who does my FAA physicals and a seperate primary care physcian. I take no medications regularly. So what happens if I get a bad cold and go to my primary care physician and she prescribes me some medicine. What is the correct way to find out if I can fly while I am taking it or not? Do I have to schedule another appointment with my AME? This would be very time consuming and expensive.
Also, on the same point, what is the offical answer on OTC cold medicines? Can you fly after taking any of them?

rickair7777

Theoretically the FAA would like you to contact your AME any time you are taking a new medicine.

The reality is that most folks don't do this. The FAA does not publish a public list of allowed meds because the effects might vary between individuals, and the underlying illness might also be grounding.

There are however a variety of informal "approved med" lists which are probably pretty safe as far as common meds go. These folks publish one, and include some narrative: "http://www.aviationmedicine.com/"

Note that most "approved" meds require a non-flying trial period (usually 12-48 hours) if you have never taken the med before. This is to ensure you have no unusual side-effects.

There are some OTC cold meds which are no-go, do your OWN research...SKW just fired a CA who was given a cold med by an FA and then failed a whiz-quiz (she took the FA's word for it ). I did the research, bought some approved meds and labeled them as good-to-fly....that way I won't grab the wrong pill by mistake.

Also if you look on the FAA medical form it only asks if you are currently taking anything...it does not (like the military) ask if you have taken any meds since your last medical. The way I see it, if you are not on meds the day of your medical and did not see a doctor about a past illness you don't have to mention it.

navigatro

A good resource is your union, if you have one.

Often they contract with a medical provider that can give you confidential and professional advice on aviation medical issues.

On a separate note, I am curious about the SKW captain situation.

Do you have more details?

rickair7777

Rumor is that she was a little under the weather, and asked the FA if she had any cold meds...the FA gave her a pill which contained a prescription narcotic (prescribed to the FA presumably). It sounded fairly innocent.

The CA subsequently got hit with a random drug test. I believe there may have been existing history between this CA and the company.

navigatro

Yeah, you should not take a pill, when you don't know what's in it.

Especially in other countries, where OTC medicines can contain codeine.