Pilots who are taking an antidepressant will no longer have to have routine follow-up neuropsychological evaluations, according to new guidance from the FAA’s Office of Aerospace Medicine.
The FAA reviewed a decade’s worth of data before removing the requirement for routine follow-up neuropsychological evaluations, according to a report from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). The report notes that FAA officials estimated this will save pilots about $3,000 a year in medical costs.
The May 31, 2023, update to the FAA’s Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners also added another antidepressant to those allowed by the FAA: Bupropion, commonly known as Wellbutrin.
Other antidepressants that are allowed by the agency are:
- Fluoxetine (Prozac)
- Sertraline (Zoloft)
- Citalopram (Celexa)
- Escitalopram (Lexapro)
During a May 9, 2023, speech at the Business Aviation Safety Summit Federal Air Surgeon, Dr. Susan Northrup announced plans to add seven more SSRIs to the approved list.