Nytol and Flight Crew drug testing

[SDdriver]

I can't say that I am 110% sure that they won't test for OTC items such as Benadryl. I can say from working in the testing field for a few years that standard drug test do not test for those type drugs. Like I had said before, they normally just test for
Amphetamines, Methamphetamine, Barbiturates,
Benzodiazepines, Cocaine, Marijuana, Opiates, PCP, and Tricyclics.
Most all of these items are illegal or must be used by Rx only and all of them are mood altering whch is why they are not allowed.
There are custom test that can be administered that can test for just about anything, but something you need to think about is if the FAA wanted to test for things such as Benadryl and such, can you imagine the amounts of OTC medications they would have to test for. There are hundereds of OTC medications that you shouldn't take and fly, but you are ok to take them if you allow the required amount of time to elapse before flying. Drug screening is expensive enough as is, but if you added all of those OTC medications it would be very time consuming and very expensive.

Rule of thumb,

Don't take anything before flying that has a warning label that says do not operate heavy machinery or that this product may cause drowsenss.

If you need to take something like Benadryl for sinus problems then I would get something that is in its non-drowsy form. You will be fine with that.
In your original post however you were refering to using the product at night to help you sleep. In that case I would be aware of the time constraints involved in taking that medication and flying. The above posters posted those time constraints, but as far as testing positive on a drug screen for Dipahydramine, I would say if it is a standard drug test, no I don't see how you could test positive for something that you are not even being tested for. Here is a web site that shows approved medications for FAA

http://www.leftseat.com/medications.htm

In here it says things such as Benadryl are not approved, that is because it has an antihistimine and a side effect of antihistamines is drowsyness.
If you are concerned about using it the day before you fly and then being randomly drug tested and it showing up on your test, I would not be to concerned. Things such as antihistamines are not tested for in standard drug screens. If you need solid confirmation then I would suggest calling a local drug screening facility and ask them if antihistimines will show up on a standard drug screen, I am pretty sure they will say no, but I would suggest calling them just for your own piece of mind and so that you can sleep better at night knowing for sure No pun intended...well maybe just a small one..haha..Take care and feel free to ask anything else if you need..

SD

P.S. If you were curious how I know about a lot of this it is because I worked in a Psychiatric and Chemical Dependency Unit for several years and we did our drug and alchohol testing at our facility and for us to be able to test for anything that was out of the ordinary like Benadryl and OTC medications we had to request specificly what we were wanting to test for. If you just wanted to do a standard drug screen for employment then it would just screen for the drugs I had mentioned in the beginning of this post.

 

[flight-crew]

I'd like to say thanks to both MetroSheriff and SDdriver for the great info. It's people like you who make this board so informative.

 

[SDdriver]

Surplus1,

If you are referring in anyway shape or form to me, I believe that I have essentially just paraphrased what Metrosherrif has cut and pasted. I am not guessing about anything, all of the things in my post that I have STATED can be backed up by plenty of literature. I am certinly not asking anyone to take my word for it, everyone should research the things they are concerned about. As you see in my post if there was anything that I wasn't sure about, I claimed it and suggested that more research be done in that area. Remember it is a forum for anyone to post thier opinions or experience, I was speaking from my experience in that specific field.
If we all just cut and pasted why would we even need a forum?


P.S. Metrosherrif, I also think you have done a good job to add to the concerns of this thread poster.

 

[mckpickle]

What about Viagra?????????

Come on now everyone was thinking it

 

[MetroSheriff]

What about Viagra?????????

Come on now everyone was thinking it

I was afraid someone would ask...LOL. McPickle, let me guess, you are asking for a friend of your's, right??? Just kidding.

In case any of you fellas are having trouble "staying on glide slope", so to speak , may I offer the following information:

From ALPA Aeromedical

Male Impotence medication: FDA recently authorized Viagra (sildenafil citrate) as the first oral form of treatment (pill) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. The FAA recommends that the medication be used strictly in the dosages recommended by the manufacturer and all contraindications (reasons not to use the medication) be strictly observed. Pilots should not use Viagra within 6 hours of performing their (aviation) duties. The VFS section on Viagra contains extensive information from many sources and a link to the Federal Air Surgeon's Bulletin article on Viagra. Uprima has not yet been approved by the FDA.

I like the part about 6 hours. If you need to take Viagra within 6 hours of performing your (aviation) duties, you need to ask crew scheduling for a new FO.

 

[mckpickle]

hum hum you said duties! Certainly looks a new perspective on the stick pusher!

 

[Typhoon1244]

If you need to take Viagra within 6 hours of performing your (aviation) duties, you need to ask crew scheduling for a new FO.

Gives a whole new meaning to being "extended..."

 

[surplus1]

If we all just cut and pasted why would we even need a forum?

What Metro Sheriff is "cutting and pasting" are the opinions of the Agency and medical doctors whose profession is dedicated to the protection of airmen and their certificates. There is no better source of accurate information for pilots.

Don't be so sensitive. I'm not challenging your work in the testing field. However, no matter how many years you may have worked as a tester, unless you're and MD whose specialty is aero medicine, I'll stick with them.

Yes, this is a forum and a place for opinions. When an airman's career could be at stake, opinions are no substitute for facts. An unknown and anonymous source such as me or you, is just not a good substitute for the "official" statements of specialists in the field. That I implied as much, is not a reason for you to be offended.

Your posts are informative and appear to be well versed, but I don't know who you are, just like you don't know who I am. I do know who the men that wrote what Metro posted are.

Hope that clarifies. It's nothing personal.

 

[dashtrash]

Sddriver,

Your breakdown of a diet to be Carb vs. Protien is not accurate. I suggest you read any college level basic nutrition book and not the "Atkins Diet Revoloution."

 

[SDdriver]

The Yale Guide to Nutrition:

Simple sugars require little digestion, and when a person eats a sweet food, such as a candy bar or a can of soda, the glucose level of the blood rises rapidly. In response, the pancreas secretes a large amount of insulin to keep blood glucose levels from rising too high. This large insulin response in turn tends to make the blood sugar fall to levels that are too low 3 to 5 hours after the candy bar or can of soda has been consumed. This tendency of blood glucose levels to fall may then lead to an adrenaline surge, which in turn can cause nervousness and irritability... The same roller-coaster ride of glucose and hormone levels is not experienced after eating complex carbohydrates or after eating a balanced meal because the digestion and absorption processes are much slower.

I was not trying to promote the Atkins diet. I was just staing that large amounts of SIMPLE Carbohydrates can help cause problems for some people when trying to relax or sleep at night. If you read your nutrition book you would understand that Carbs are broken down into sugar as stated above. THis was the rollercoaster ride I was speaking of and for people that are stuck in airports or somewhere where they can't have a good balanced meal it is real easy to eat 5 bags of chips and a few candy bars with a couple of sodas and then they wonder why they can't sleep when they get home. I am not advocating cutting CArbs out of the diet completly, because the body does need carbohydrates. I was simply stating that if a person stays away from large amounts of them it will prevent the roller coaster effect described above. I believe the only people that need HIGH carbohydrate intakes are athletes. But hey, don't take my word for it read your nutrition book
Maybe I should have been more specific in saying I would avoid simple carbs, not complex carbs.

Carbohydrates The total number of carbohydrates, the primary source of energy, is derived by adding all the carbohydrate sources, including dietary fiber, sugars, and other carbohydrates (a voluntary listing that includes ingredients like flour). There are two types of carbohydrates: simple (those found in soda, candy and other sweets) and complex (found in starchy or fibrous foods like breads, grains, and fruits). Complex carbohydrates should constitute the bulk of our diets—55 to 65 percent of the total calories, per leading authorities. Each gram of carbohydrate has four calories.

Sedentary adults need about 36 grams of protein (the building block of our muscles, blood, skin, hair, and nails) per pound of body weight per day. Meaning, if you weigh 150 pounds, you need 54 grams daily. Active people may require more—about 0.54 to 0.82 grams per pound, depending on exercise level, intensity, and goals. Each gram of protein has four calories.

Maybe this will help to clarify. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

SD