What medications are OK for pilots?

It’s a question that pilots often have: What medications — both prescribed and over the counter — can I take and still be safe to fly?

In a column in the January FAA Safety Briefing called “Mind your Meds,” FAA Federal Air Surgeon Dr. Susan Northrup lists some of the most common medications prescribed in the U.S. that are “usually acceptable” for pilots to use. Among those:

• Atorvastatin, also known as Lipitor, which is prescribed for high cholesterol
• Amlodipine, also known as Norvasc, which is prescribed for high blood pressure
• Losartan, also known as Cozaar, which is also a high blood pressure medication
• Levothyroxine, also known as Synthroid, Unithroid and Levoxyl, which is prescribed for thyroid issues
• Metformin, which is prescribed for diabetes.

She also lists a number of medications that are strictly prohibited, including:

• Gabapentin, also known as Neurontin, which is used for seizures and nerve pain and can make you drowsy or dizzy, may slow your thinking, and cause loss of coordination.
• Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen, also known as Lortab, Vicoden, or Norco, which are pain medications that can cause sedation and dizziness. “Besides, if you need a narcotic pain medication, you shouldn’t be flying,” she notes.
• Diphenhydramine, also known as Benadryl, a common over the counter medication that is used for allergies and sleep medications. It is also the most common medication seen in fatal aircraft accidents.

The full post, which contains a number of links to FAA resources, is well worth the read, especially if you have any questions about one of your own medications. Check it out here.