Medication education
Stock your medicine cabinet carefully
By Anita Fetzer
Q: Which medications does the FAA “allow” for pilots to use?
A: The FAA offers a list of common medications, both over-the-counter and prescription, used to treat common conditions. These include cold and sleep aids as well as prescriptions for diabetes and hypertension.
AOPA maintains a medication database for our members, which has been confirmed through communications with the FAA. For any medication not on this list, contact AOPA. We have an agreement with the FAA where we can inquire about medications with full anonymity to the members.
Another consideration is dietary supplements, which fall into the category of nonprescription medications. The FDA does not regulate dietary supplements, so airmen may be putting themselves at risk by taking them. Do your research to ensure a supplement’s authenticity and side effects before use. See here for a listing of the FAA “not allowed” supplements.
BasicMed is a way for pilots to fly without holding an FAA medical certificate, provided they meet certain requirements. For those under BasicMed, there is no database of “allowed” or “not allowed” medications. Following the FAA recommendations for grounding periods or “do not fly” guidelines for medications is always good practice.
Airmen are always responsible under FAR 61.53 to assess if they are flying with a known medical deficiency that may inhibit their ability to safely operate an aircraft.
Anita Fetzer is a senior medical certification specialist in the AOPA Pilot Information Center
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