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FAA: Pilots can take antidepressants

The Federal Aviation Administration is set to begin a new policy Monday that will allow some pilots to take antidepressants. The FAA says the policy will improve safety by encouraging pilots who ignore symptoms of depression, or lie about their depression to keep from losing their licenses, to come forward. A six-month amnesty period will also begin for pilots who use antidepressants to come forward without punishment.

From the AP:

Under the new policy, pilots who take one of four antidepressants -- Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa or Lexapro or their generic equivalents -- will be allowed to fly if they have been successfully treated by those medications for a year without side effects that could pose a safety hazard in the cockpit. The antidepressants are classified as SSRIs, which help regulate mood.

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Patience Mason's picture
Patience Mason - Apr 2, 2010

About time!
Flying with antidepressants has been legal all over the world except here.

Walt Slazyk's picture
Walt Slazyk - Apr 3, 2010

The text of the FAA announcement will need to be scrutinized. Does being treated for a year without side effects mean that current pilots must take a year off and then can resume flying? If that's the policy it will only encourage pilots to continue hiding, or worse, ignoring, their situation.