Comments on: ADHD Medication and Commercial Pilots

By: Sue

Sue — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:20:03 +0000

How did you “cheat” on the FAA drug screenings? Mindless gov workers is a mild characterization for sure

By: shea deanna

shea deanna — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:33:50 +0000

heck yehh im rite there witch ya..i toatlly embrace my learnind disorder..to the max..i wouldn be who i am..today with out it..i wouldn of even found my dream of flying with out it for sure..and i deff agree on tha 11 ‘oclock and 2′ oclock thing… haa deff. know wut u mean

By: shea deanna

shea deanna — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:21:47 +0000

i agree with u so much… idk how bad it iss with me, but never have taken medicine..and jus really would like to know im not getting my hopes up.. like with my dreams of an a&p mechanic & pilot with ADHD.. I mean yeh i have sum problems with organizeing..and remembering some things but im good at concentrateing on that.or gettin better now that im gettin the ideal of whats been goin on with me after all this time…ALL the teachers would say i was a bad kid, & i talked to much but, hey i thought that was jus everyone…lol but i mean i knooo im smart and perfectly capable of doing all that the job requires…with my special “intellectual” suffering…lmao :0 (good way to put itt) -im just worried after al my school-ing and hand onn expierences..will this ADHD hold me back in the FAA ‘s eyes???????? like job wise.. or just established wise..???

By: shea deanna

shea deanna — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:01:32 +0000

see iv never lied about anything but they never asked me either about ADHD… & i would have to say most the time in school id sit ther in stareee at the teachers lips and not hear a thing goin on..or jus stare at tha chalk board.but not really be seein tha chalk board at alll. so yeh i think wut u have around u to be intrested inn.. has alot to do with it..and im sayin it has taken me most my life to figure out what i really wanted to do…because iv jus ben so wishy washy about everything i like or do…. one of the biggest un decisive people ever…. but once i got tha rush outa actually takeing props and wings off planes…mannn i knew id never get tired of that…soo findin somethin u really love is a huge thing that helps for me mos deff..

By: shea deanna

shea deanna — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:49:56 +0000

well as an A&P mechanic (in training)lol-& student pilot… I also wonder the same thing…i think its a BIGG possability that people with ADHD would be more subjective to the aviation industry, because tha work pace it self, rather it be mechanic-ing or just fyling, is a very fast paced environment. but, whitch is a good thing, cuz then wer never bored, things are always changing,.. its a must’ to have a fast minded responce,& we’l never lose intrest in what were doing. Because just as fast as our ideals are flowing inn-& out of our brains.. the enviornments & our working habbits or what u call chores of tha job”…change just as quickly… so in ” our ” little shortly intrested world.its a perfect ideal job.. well i think so.. o & another thing id much rather my pilot be one who does.. DOES have ADHD ..BUT..-doesnt take any medication for it..– i jus look at it like this people..im 22 im perty sure i have ADHD never been diagnosed with it..but have every symptom in tha book..iv worked @ a airport for almost 5 yrs working on private sized cessna’s or beechcraft.or bonanza’s single or twin engines. airframe & powerplant work.under tha supervision of my superior Administrator… with NO medication..jus running on straight adrenaline to succeed.& yet has it seem to stand in my way..i mean yehh i sometimes do a cple diff task at one time..in the mechanic-ing area..but they all get done right and correctly and again… under the teachings of my adminstrator of course…. sooo yess i would like to kno anything about pilots and ADHD and A&P mechanics…

By: Norma

Norma — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 02:08:05 +0000

Was the bill passed?

By: kevin

kevin — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 23:11:59 +0000

hi my name is kevin I studying to be a pilot but i have one question flying a plane is not a problem for me but the theory work is. it is ok to used the medicine for the theory work.

By: skypilot

skypilot — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 03:31:57 +0000

Of course the FAA wants pilots to be “perfect” and basically drug-free. If you take ADHD meds, consider another profession as aviation may be too much trouble. Believe it or not: I hold an ATR (air transport rating-basically an airline pilot’s licence and I have logged thousands of hours as an airline pilot and as a military aviator. And I have a bad case of ADHD. Alway had it and probably always will; I have taken amphetamines (dexedrine, recentlyAdderal) forever and have cheated on the drug tests-hate to, but had no options. I retired from the reserved as a colonel and from the airlines as an international captain. At 65 I volunteer as a bush pilot flying medical evacs in various medically underserved areas of the world. Don’t was your time fighting the FAA; they are a mindless, stupid bunch of government workers.

By: tanya

tanya — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 12:52:02 +0000

My son is 15 yrs old and going throught the Young Eagles program. His dream is to become a small aircraft/private pilot. However, as of 2 years ago he has been medicated for mood disorder with lamictal and ADHD with concerta. Is it possible for him to still pursue being a pilot as a career? After everything I’ve read it breaks my heart for him that it may not be possible. He will need to be on those medications at least proabably through high school to get through it. Any suggestions?

By: Luke

Luke — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 18:12:59 +0000

Hey Ben thanks a lot for your insight. Actually, because of the overwhelming talk about the AOPA, I decided to join them a couple of days ago. They do have a lot of information on all sorts of medical issues and the no fly list.

As for anyone else that needs information on ADD and ADHD, I feel like there are a few things that I need to tell you. First off, JOIN THE AOPA! Their cheapest fee is $35 a year, and that’s not a lot of money considering all of the help you’re going to get! They have a number you can call, and medical specialists that you can email. The best part is that you can ask all the questions you want without incriminating yourself by talking to an AME first.
Secondly, you CAN get a medical certificate if you stay off all of your medications for 90 days, and you pass certain neurophycological tests after being off the drug. *IMPORTANT* Make sure that you talk to your doctor first about weening off the drug instead of just dropping it “cold turkey” as they say, thats not good for you!
Finally, if you’re like me, then you will do whatever it takes to fly. I have come to the conclusion that I don’t need a drug to survive… and that I would rather struggle just a bit when it comes to concentration rather than giving up my possibly future career as a helicopter pilot! If you have ADD or ADHD, this isn’t where your interest in aviation stops. Trust me, this is only a minor speed bump in a long journey of excitement! Don’t give up my friends, don’t be discouraged!

Good luck to everyone, and continue on these comments with any other questions!
-Luke