FAA says Commercial Pilots can Take Anti-Depression Medications and still Fly with their Approval First

By Victoria Brown on April 5, 2010

Digital News Report – Airline pilots may be able to fly beginning April 5th if they are taking prescription medication to treat mild to moderate depression announced the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA will look at case by case beginning this Monday to determine if a pilot would be able to fly.

The medications are antidepressant prescription medications Fluoxetine (Prozac), Sertraline (Zoloft), Citalopram (Celexa), or Escitalopram (Lexapro) and if they pilot has been treated for at least 12 months could be given the ok to fly again by the FAA.

If pilots haven’t disclosed their use of taking these medications and are flying still, the FAA is giving them a six-month opportunity to tell the FAA of any previously non-disclosed diagnosis or taking these antidepressant medications and will not pursue civil enforcement action against them.

Human Intervention and Motivation Study (HIMS) program psychiatrists will work with the FAA to determine if a pilot is able to fly while taking these medications.

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2 thoughts on “FAA says Commercial Pilots can Take Anti-Depression Medications and still Fly with their Approval First”

  1. That’s nice, now can you cite your source. A FAA website citing the specifics to get the special waiver medical while taking one of the specific SSRI’s, while being stable for more than 12 months would be appreciated.

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