Medical Just got BQ. Do I stop Adderall use now? Am I disqualified?

[HopeToBeATC]

I didn't realize Adderall was a disqualifying medication. I don't believe I need it to function as I was never formally diagnosed with ADHD. I started taking the medicine in college. My doctor prescribed it after I mentioned issues with focusing during class/studying, but they never formally diagnosed me with anything.

What are the steps to take to prevent myself from getting disqualified for using this medication? Should I make a doctors appointment and ask them to document that I no longer am being prescribed it or taking it? Do I take steps now or wait to see if I'm even selected for the next part of the process(I got best qualified, pool 2)?

Any additional info is appreciated!!

 

[boots]

You’re fucked

 

[JulietWhiskey0314]

I didn't realize Adderall was a disqualifying medication. I don't believe I need it to function as I was never formally diagnosed with ADHD. I started taking the medicine in college. My doctor prescribed it after I mentioned issues with focusing during class/studying, but they never formally diagnosed me with anything.

What are the steps to take to prevent myself from getting disqualified for using this medication? Should I make a doctors appointment and ask them to document that I no longer am being prescribed it or taking it? Do I take steps now or wait to see if I'm even selected for the next part of the process(I got best qualified, pool 2)?

Any additional info is appreciated!!

Honestly doesn't sound good. I'd coordinate with your doctor and get documentation before your medical appointment/forms you do. They're incredibly strict with these meds. I'd get out in front of it right now personally because it'd be the worst idea to try and hide anything like that. Good luck!

 

[GulfCharlie]

Yeah, Adderall is a non-starter but nonetheless follow through with your doctor and the flight surgeon.

 

[HopeToBeATC]

Honestly doesn't sound good. I'd coordinate with your doctor and get documentation before your medical appointment/forms you do. They're incredibly strict with these meds. I'd get out in front of it right now personally because it'd be the worst idea to try and hide anything like that. Good luck!

I'm going to make an appointment now to tell my doctor that I want to stop taking it and ask them to notate I am no longer being prescribed the medicine. Is there anything else I should do besides waiting for FAA to contact me about the next step in hiring process (if I'm chosen)?

Yeah, Adderall is a non-starter but nonetheless follow through with your doctor and the flight surgeon.

So for now, just talk to my doctor and stop the medicine, and then wait to be contacted by FAA for the next step (if I'm chosen)? is there anything else I can do that can help my chances of this not becoming a disqualifying issue?

 

[JulietWhiskey0314]

I'm going to make an appointment now to tell my doctor that I want to stop taking it and ask them to notate I am no longer being prescribed the medicine. Is there anything else I should do besides waiting for FAA to contact me about the next step in hiring process (if I'm chosen)?

Might want to inform your HR rep if you have one right now.

 

[HopeToBeATC]

Might want to inform your HR rep if you have one right now.

Okay. I don't think I have one.. all i have is an email saying I'm best qualified and "If you are selected by the ATO, Aviation Careers will contact you by email with a tentative offer letter to start the hiring process. If you are not selected, your application status in AVIATOR will be changed to "You have not been selected." Status updates will not occur until the referral lists are closed out, which may be up to 180 days. If you have questions, please contact Aviation Careers at (405) 954-4657, or email at [email protected]."

Should I reach out via call/email?

 

[JulietWhiskey0314]

Okay. I don't think I have one.. all i have is an email saying I'm best qualified and "If you are selected by the ATO, Aviation Careers will contact you by email with a tentative offer letter to start the hiring process. If you are not selected, your application status in AVIATOR will be changed to "You have not been selected." Status updates will not occur until the referral lists are closed out, which may be up to 180 days. If you have questions, please contact Aviation Careers at (405) 954-4657, or email at [email protected]."

Should I reach out via call/email?

hey do what you can. At some point you'll get into contact with medical and regional offices. Have these things documented for them just in case.

 

[bomber996]

This is about to be a very expensive endeavor for you. Not only are you going to need to PROVE that you've been off of the medication for 2 years, but you'll need a psychiatric (or psychological, can't remember) evaluation up to the FAA's snuff. Not any specialist will do, unfortunately. They need to write it to the FAA's liking. Unfortunately specialist like these are pricey. Mind you all of this will come out of your pocket. The FAA will not pay for any of it.

I would recommend reaching out to an Aerospace Medical Examiner and get their opinion. Again, just like I said above, not any doctor will suffice.

It's not insurmountable, but it's certainly not easy. Good luck.

 

[Raise when?]

Not looking good brotha. I’d move on to another career field if I were you being completely honest. We don’t get raises that keep up with inflation and you can hardly take any medicines you need due to an archaic and draconian system

 

[GroundClutter]

I heard UPS Drivers do pretty good.

 

[HopeToBeATC]

This is about to be a very expensive endeavor for you. Not only are you going to need to PROVE that you've been off of the medication for 2 years, but you'll need a psychiatric (or psychological, can't remember) evaluation up to the FAA's snuff. Not any specialist will do, unfortunately. They need to write it to the FAA's liking. Unfortunately specialist like these are pricey. Mind you all of this will come out of your pocket. The FAA will not pay for any of it.

I would recommend reaching out to an Aerospace Medical Examiner and get their opinion. Again, just like I said above, not any doctor will suffice.

It's not insurmountable, but it's certainly not easy. Good luck.

I found 2 FAA approved doctors in my area. I made an appointment for a regular physical and I guess I will talk to him about it then and see what he says. Most is covered by my insurance. They said when I do a FAA exam (physical, drug test, vision), it's $140 for the visit.

I missed if you already disclosed to the faa that you take it…but if you haven’t just lie….what’s the worst that happens you don’t get a medical? You ain’t getting one if you admit it either, it’s clear as day against the FAR….

Some people said if you don't take it for 3 months, you should be good. It is prescribed and in my medical history, so to lie would seem foolish.

 

[GulfBravoPapa]

This is about to be a very expensive endeavor for you. Not only are you going to need to PROVE that you've been off of the medication for 2 years, but you'll need a psychiatric (or psychological, can't remember) evaluation up to the FAA's snuff. Not any specialist will do, unfortunately. They need to write it to the FAA's liking. Unfortunately specialist like these are pricey. Mind you all of this will come out of your pocket. The FAA will not pay for any of it.

I would recommend reaching out to an Aerospace Medical Examiner and get their opinion. Again, just like I said above, not any doctor will suffice.

It's not insurmountable, but it's certainly not easy. Good luck.

They don't even have a TOL yet.

I found 2 FAA approved doctors in my area. I made an appointment for a regular physical and I guess I will talk to him about it then and see what he says. Most is covered by my insurance. They said when I do a FAA exam (physical, drug test, vision), it's $140 for the visit.

You are getting WAY ahead of yourself.

1. Because of insurance reason you can't get medication without being diagnosed, so you very likely were diagnosed with ADHD.
2. Assuming you get a TOL, which with BQ is likely, you will have to fill out the MedExpress form which will ask about all of this.
3. You will not get cleared medically with your history.
4. There is an appeal process you will have to go through, at your own expense, if you have any hope of getting medically cleared. You could complete the entire expensive process and still get denied a medical clearance. You cannot start this process on your own without FAA guidance.
5. You may as well start trying to get all the documentation now from when the medication was originally prescribed because they are going to ask for it.
6. See you in two years for an update.

 

[bomber996]

They don't even have a TOL yet.

Doesn't mean they can't start the process of proving they're off the medication. If they actually got Best Qualified their chances of getting a TOL are pretty high.

You are getting WAY ahead of yourself.

1. Because of insurance reason you can't get medication without being diagnosed, so you very likely were diagnosed with ADHD.
2. Assuming you get a TOL, which with BQ is likely, you will have to fill out the MedExpress form which will ask about all of this.
3. You will not get cleared medically with your history.
4. There is an appeal process you will have to go through, at your own expense, if you have any hope of getting medically cleared. You could complete the entire expensive process and still get denied a medical clearance. You cannot start this process on your own without FAA guidance.
5. You may as well start trying to get all the documentation now from when the medication was originally prescribed because they are going to ask for it.
6. See you in two years for an update.

1. Checks
2. Checks
3. Correct
4. If OP applies for and is denied a Class II aviators medical they will probably be able to get the process rolling. Class II aviators and the ATC medical are damn near identical. Trust me, this is how I got my medical disqualification rolling. I got my Class II medical kosher and then got my ATC medical after using my Class II as a reason to overturn my ATC medical disqualification. I did a whole post about it a few years ago.
5. Meeting with an AME will more than likely get them started on the documentation needed.
6. Checks. While my process was for a much different reason, I've seen examples of VERY similar processes to obtain a clean medical.

 

[Brotallion]

You don’t think anyone ever did a career in the military after lying about asthma or ADHD? Also, I can’t help but imagine how many planes I could work if was on addy.

 

[RomeoTangoRT]

I have absolutely nothing to offer to this conversation aside from when I joined the military, I disclosed that I had previously been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD and had about a 10 year history of taking adderall. I informed them it had been years since I’d taken it and subsequently underwent a whole slew of cognitive testing up to and including a “gov doctor issued IQ test.” (Technically I’m a genius, but I digress) Testing in whole took about 4 months before I was cleared. Again, this was military and not FAA.

Anyways, when it was all said and done the doc said there were zero issues and I was good to go.

Lastly, this has never once been brought up in any flight physical nor any of the 3 or 4 times I’ve applied to the FAA.

 

[GulfBravoPapa]

This is what you will need to do.
Adderall In High school/Freshman in college an issue?

 

[doodii]

Adderall is mind-altering, therefore you cannot take it. I’d get your medical info saying you don’t have ADHD but we’re prescribed the medication. Then, get a current doctor to say you’ve been off of it for a couple weeks with no adverse reaction, AND you still don’t have ADHD.

The FAA is really harsh with medication. Shit, NyQuil downs you for what, 2-3 days mandatory?

 

[SunnyATC]

I would recommend researching a HIMS FAA Medical examiner and having a conversation with them about how to best prepare yourself to get a medical. You may be able to do things now that can help you later on if you do need to apply for a medical. The HIMS examiners deal with this more than the random FAA examiner.

 

[BPM31694]

There is no such thing as being prescribed medication without having a diagnosis to go with it. That’s how insurance works.