Was wondering if someone could help me out with a question. Was talking to my doctor yesterday about losing some weight and she offered to put me on Phentermine. I looked it up and it is under "NOT ALLOWED" by the FAA - under DO NOT ISSUE. So the AME cannot even issue a medical if you are using it -- okay I get that.

But what about when you are not exercising your medical privileges? I'm a little confused, because under the AME guide, it breaks this up into two categories: Do not ISSUE and do not FLY. Under the do not ISSUE, it says:

"Do Not Issue. AMEs should not issue airmen medical certificates to applicants who are using these classes of medications or medications....

Controlled Substances (Schedules I - V). An open prescription for chronic or intermittent use of any drug or substance.
This includes medical marijuana, even if legally allowed or prescribed under state law.

Note: for documented temporary use of a drug solely for a medical procedure or for a medical condition, and the medication has been discontinued, see below. (I assume it's referring to the DO NOT FLY portion).

Phentermine is a schedule IV drug. But the words "open prescription" are ambiguous. Are they talking about an on-going prescription for a controlled substance? Is there such a thing?? I didn't think that was even possible.
________________________________________________

Under the do not FLY it says:

Do Not Fly. Airmen should not fly while using any of the medications in the Do Not Issue section above or while using any of the medications or classes/groups of medications listed below without an acceptable wait time after the last dose. All of these medications may cause sedation (drowsiness) and impair cognitive function, seriously degrading pilot performance. This impairment can occur even when the individual feels alert and is apparently functioning normally - in other words, the airman can be "unaware of impair."
For aviation safety, airmen should not fly following the last dose of any of the medications below until a period of time has elapsed equal to:

5-times the maximum pharmacological half-life of the medication; or
5-times the maximum hour dose interval if pharmacological half-life information is not available. For example, there is a 30-hour wait time for a medication that is taken every 4 to 6 hours (5 times 6)

So my question is, are you allowed to use a DO NOT ISSUE as long as you comply with the DO NOT FLY? Or if you use a DO NOT ISSUE are you exempt from flying PERIOD. The latter just wouldn't make any sense to me so I figured maybe one of you guys who knows about this could clarify. It doesn't make sense, that (for example) you are coming off a pain med that's a schedule four drug and are prohibited from flying period (because it's under the do not ISSUE) even after the drug is given time to get out of your system.

Just want to make sure I understand this completely so I don't do anything wrong.

Thanks in advance fellas.

Ref: https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org...pharm/dni_dnf/

technically you are correct. You can not fly while taking phentermine. An AME cannot issue a medical if you are taking phentermine at the time of the exam.

Whatever you do, don't...I repeat...DO NOT try to circumvent the FAA. You will lose. Trust me on this!



atp

Understood... but what are the consequences when someone discovers that they made a mistake and own up to it by notifying the FAA on their own. By approaching the FAA, is certificate action still very likely? Even when a pilot reports that an error was not intentional and pleas for forgiveness?

IMHO, it's subjective. Given that the "situation" or "issue" went unreported, they, the (FAA) may just do a full blown investigation into your past w/o you ever being aware that they are. If anything comes up, your new name will be...OVER. That ship will have sailed.

atp

First, you need to speak with your AME BEFORE taking the Medes listed in your link.

Second,

The two categories are separate, not both. If you are taking a drug in the DNI list, you can't get or exercise your medical as a pilot. The are disqualifying. The DNF list implies short-term use but are NOT disqualifying.

GF

Tell us more.

Oh, no story here! I had to go through 3 HIMS evals. First time around, doctors recommended no certification. Certification recommended on the other two. However, when you respond to the chief psychiatrist for the FAA and inform him that his findings, (ASPD), are ludicrous and absurd....yeah, IMHO, personal decision made concerning a professional matter.


atp