MEDICATIONS, Pilots, Cabin Crew and flying

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MEDICATIONS, Pilots, Cabin Crew and flying
Which medications are allowed when I'm flying?
A common question which crops up regularly "Is
there a list of approved medications for
flying?"   The answer is no and  aeromedical
doctors are loathed to answer the question
directly. The reason being is that its not
necessarily whether a medication is ok to fly
with but what the condition/ reason / ailment
necessitating  the medication being taken for.
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Is Paracetamol ok to take whilst flying?
"IT DEPENDS"
If Paracetamol is being taken for resolving
muscular back ache which has no restriction on
safe flying capabilities, Paracetamol has been
used before without any significant side effects,
then its generally going to be ok to use. If
Paracetamol is being used to curtail a fever
associated with a viral illness then the illness
would probably in itself need a period of
grounding and the use of Paracetamol whilst
flying becomes a moot point. If Paracetamol has
never being used before then a period of
grounding is necessary to see there's no side
effects to the medication and that the condition
for which it is being taken has improved.
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Is Paracetamol ok to take whilst flying?
"IT DEPENDS"
Similarly the condition may be acceptable but
some options for medications may not be. For
example- Hayfever commonly affects people during
summer.
Hayfever is not a condition which typically needs
a pilot to ground themselves. However taking over
the counter sedating antihistamines e.g.
Promethazine whilst wishing to fly is not a good
idea as they work centrally and can make pilots
sleepy and reduce cognitive functions. However
non-sedating antihistamines e.g. Loratidine are
acceptable as long as a ground trial to check for
possible side effects has been undertaken to
exclude only side effects. Remember even
'allowed' medications are not allowed if there
are side effects which have the potential to
affect the aircrews capabilities/ capacities.
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Ok in the UK may not be ok abroad
Other things to consider is where you are likely
to fly to. Over the counter painkillers like
Codeine are on a banned substances list in Dubai
( UAE) and Japan curtails the import and use of
common decongestants like Pseudoephedrine.
Common conditions
1) A list medications for musculoskeletal
conditions allowed by the UK CAA can be accessed
here 2) Medications which potentially affect
brain functioning e.g. sleep medications can be
found here this includes Melatonin 3) CAA Blood
pressure medications
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Acceptable medication
Thiazide diuretics if already established and no
side effects ( e.g Bendroflumethazide) Non-Loop
diuretics (e.g Spironolactone) ACE inhibitors
(e.g. Ramipril) Angiotensin II/AT1 blocking
agents (sartans) (e.g Irebesartan)  Slow-release
calcium channel blocking agents (e.g.
Amlodipine) Beta-blocking agents (e.g. Atenolol)?
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Unacceptable  Centrally acting agents (e.g.
Methyldopa)Adrenergic blocking drugs (e.g.
Guanethidiine)Alpha-blocking drugs ( Doxazosin
may be acceptable in exceptional cases, providing
not used as first line treatment- consult
AMS)Loop diuretics (e.g. Furosemide) ?
4) The CAAs requirements  related
to  Gastro-Intestinal (stomach) medications can
be found here ? 5) CAA's approved list for Benign
Prostate enlargement medication can be
found here ? Although focused on USA
regulations this resource offers excellent and
sensible advice on a range of medications.? ? If
you've had your last medical done with
FlyingMedicine and want further advice
please contact us.
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