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Going for medical after taking disqualification meds...

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nubi78

Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2001
Posts
11
I let my medical expire a few years ago,

Since then, I was put on ritalin and an anti-depressant due to stress related to working full time, taking college classes, and raising a young family. I am now finished with my college degree and am off the medications per my personal doctor. Looking back, the meds helped me but I also think I had too many things on my plate at that point in my life. I don't regret the choice to take the medications because I realized that flying is not the sole reason for existing on this planet.

Now, I have been thinking about getting current again and possibly flight-instructing on the side. This would probably be in about six months from now but I also have come to terms that I may never get to fly again if my past medications disqualify me.

So, I believe I have two avenues..

1. Walk in to the physical and say that I did not take any disqualifying meds. I am fairly confident that I could pull it off but don't really feel like lying to the government and who wants to live with a bad conscious?

2. Walk in and tell them my medical history. This is my preferred choice.

So, is there a recommended wait time after being off of disqualifying meds that one should wait for if it will make the re-certification process easier? In other words, should I walk into the medical examiner now and expect trouble, or wait six months and fare a smoother procedure?

Thanks!
 
I let my medical expire a few years ago,

Since then, I was put on ritalin and an anti-depressant due to stress related to working full time, taking college classes, and raising a young family. I am now finished with my college degree and am off the medications per my personal doctor. Looking back, the meds helped me but I also think I had too many things on my plate at that point in my life. I don't regret the choice to take the medications because I realized that flying is not the sole reason for existing on this planet.

Now, I have been thinking about getting current again and possibly flight-instructing on the side. This would probably be in about six months from now but I also have come to terms that I may never get to fly again if my past medications disqualify me.

So, I believe I have two avenues..

1. Walk in to the physical and say that I did not take any disqualifying meds. I am fairly confident that I could pull it off but don't really feel like lying to the government and who wants to live with a bad conscious?

2. Walk in and tell them my medical history. This is my preferred choice.

So, is there a recommended wait time after being off of disqualifying meds that one should wait for if it will make the re-certification process easier? In other words, should I walk into the medical examiner now and expect trouble, or wait six months and fare a smoother procedure?

Thanks!

Has it been over 3 years since you let your medical expire? I was thinking that you needed to list what you are currently taking...not what you took in the past (anyone please correct me if Im wrong). If its been within 3 years, then if you list the doctors visits for stress related issues, the anti-depressants might come up. You could always have your doctor write you a really good letter explaining your circumstances and what caused you to stress out. Were you diagnosed as being "depressed?" Or did you take the meds to help out with stress and that was it?

I had a friend that checked off, "depression" on the medical. It took him about 6 months and some good letters from the doctor to get his medical re-instated. He was depressed over a chk.....(these women I tell yah). Its not that he had any mental type problems. It happens. Not sure if that helps out.
 

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