Can pilots fly with depression?

FAA policy on depression and other mental health conditions. To fly, pilots must have a medical certificate approved by an FAA aviation medical examiner (AME). Under the current guidelines, depression, anxiety, and similarly categorized psychological conditions don't lead to automatic disqualification.

Can you still be a pilot if you have depression?

The FAA encourages pilots to seek help if they have a mental health condition since most, if treated, do not disqualify a pilot from flying.

Can airline pilots be on antidepressants?

The FAA has determined that airmen or FAA Air Traffic Control Specialists (FAA ATCS) requesting medical certificates while being treated with one of four specific selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be considered. The Authorization decision is made on a case-by-case basis. The Examiner may not issue.

What disqualifies you from being a pilot?

These medical conditions include a personality disorder manifested by overt acts, a psychosis, alcoholism, drug dependence, epilepsy, an unexplained disturbance of consciousness, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, and diabetes requiring medication for its control.

Can pilots take antidepressants 2022?

The use of a psychotropic drug is disqualifying for aeromedical certification purposes. This includes all sedatives, tranquilizers, antipsychotic drugs, antidepressant drugs (including SSRI's - see exceptions), analeptics, anxiolytics, and hallucinogens.

Mental Health of Pilots

Can you be a pilot with anxiety and depression?

FAA policy on depression and other mental health conditions. To fly, pilots must have a medical certificate approved by an FAA aviation medical examiner (AME). Under the current guidelines, depression, anxiety, and similarly categorized psychological conditions don't lead to automatic disqualification.

Which antidepressants will the FAA allow?

Do pilots have high divorce rate?

Just as with flight attendants, the pilot divorce rate is high at 30.5%. Divorce is so common among pilots that there's a term for it in the industry: Aviation Induced Divorce Syndrome.

Can a pilot take ADHD medication?

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder ( ADHD ), formerly called Attention Deficit Disorder ( ADD ), and medications used for treatment may result in cognitive deficits that would make an airman unsafe to perform pilot duties.

Is there a weight limit for pilots?

Yes, but there are some limitations to take into account. The limit of obesity is a maximum BMI at 35. Like if you are 180 cm and weigh over 120 kg you could lose your medical license. This is a crucial matter because if an emergency appears you need to evacuate through the window and fit!

What anxiety meds can a pilot take?

Anti-Depressants / Anxiety – Single-use Anti-Depressants such as: Celexa (Citalopram Hydrobromide), Lexapro (Escitalopram Oxalate), Prozac (Fluoxetine Hydrochloride), Zoloft (Sertraline Hydrochloride) or Wellbutrin (Bupropion) may be approved by the FAA for depression on a case by case basis only.

Do pilots go through mental health?

Pilots suffer from anxiety and depression just as the rest of the population does. But they seem to be even less likely than those in other careers to seek support and treatment.

Can I be a pilot on Lexapro?

The present FAA policy prohibits virtually all other psychotropic / mood ameliorating medications. Pilots who take one of four (4) antidepressants – Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa or Lexapro (or generic SSRI equivalents) may be considered after extensive testing and evidence of successful use without side effects for a year.

Why can't pilots go to therapy?

The FAA bars pilots from the cockpit if they report seeking regular talk therapy for even mild anxiety or depression; this may last for months and sometimes even years based on the assumption they pose an unacceptable risk to safety.

Does depression disqualify?

Mood Disorders

You're also disqualified if you have bipolar disorder or affective psychoses. For depressive disorders (for example, major depressive disorder), disqualification from the service occurs if a person had outpatient care that lasted for more than 12 months or any inpatient care.

Can I take Adderall as a pilot?

Commonly-prescribed Disqualifying ADHD Meds you cannot take if you want to fly: Adderall. Concerta. Ritalin.

Does the FAA approve Adderall?

Some of the medications that individuals take for ADHD are Adderall, Concerta, Ritalin, Strattera, Vyvanse, and Dexedrine. Take note: These medications are either amphetamine-based or methylphenidate-based stimulants. The FAA does not accept the use of any of these medications.

Can pilots take Wellbutrin?

Despite widespread miss-interpretation by many pilot associations, the present FAA policy effectively prohibits the use of most psychotropic/mood ameliorating medications.

Who are pilots most likely to marry?

Male aircraft pilots and flight engineers are most likely to marry female elementary- and middle-school teachers or male human-resource workers.

What it's like dating a pilot?

As the partner of a Pilot you need to be flexible to fit your life around their schedule. You need to be ok with not always having a routine. Understand this is absolutely not a regular job. Your partner won't know their schedule from one month to the next, sometimes not even from one week to the next.

Do pilots age faster?

Chou did the math, and it turns out that frequent fliers actually age the tiniest bit more quickly than those of us with both feet on the ground. Planes travel at high enough altitudes that the weak gravitational field speeds up the tick rate of a clock on board more than the high speeds slow it down.

Can you be a pilot on Prozac?

Four of the SSRI medications have been acceptable to the FAA since April 2010, Prozac (fluoxetine); Zoloft (sertraline); Celexa (citalopram); and Lexapro (escitalopram). There are two pathways that airmen can take to gain medical certification when they have had a bout with depression.

Can the FAA see my prescriptions?

The FAA does not release medical information without an order from a court of competent jurisdiction, written permission from the individual to whom it applies, or, with the individual's knowledge, during litigation of matters related to certification.

Does the FAA allow Xanax?

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has a list of these medications that are not allowed for pilots who hold FAA-issued medical certificates, because the FAA has determined that they have the potential to interfere with the safe operation of an aircraft. Xanax is one of these medications.

Why can't pilots take antidepressants?

Antidepressants can sometimes cause fatigue, insomnia, blurred vision, dizziness, and agitation, according to the Mayo Clinic.