Pharmaceuticals (Therapeutic Medications)

As an Examiner you are required to be aware of the regulations and Agency policy and have a responsibility to inform airmen of the potential adverse effects of medications and to counsel airmen regarding their use. There are numerous conditions that require the chronic use of medications that do not compromise aviation safety and, therefore, are permissible. Airmen who develop short-term, self-limited illnesses are best advised to avoid performing aviation duties while medications are used.

Aeromedical decision-making includes an analysis of the underlying disease or condition and treatment. The underlying disease has an equal and often greater influence upon the determination of aeromedical certification. It is unlikely that a source document or list could be developed and understood by airmen when considering the underlying medical condition(s), drug interactions, medication dosages, and the sheer volume of medications that need to be considered.

A list may encourage or facilitate an airmen's self-determination of the risks posed by various medical conditions especially when combination therapy is used. A list is subject to misuse if used as the sole factor to determine certification eligibility or compliance with 14 CFR part 61.53, Prohibition of Operations During Medical Deficiencies. Maintaining a published a list of "acceptable" medications is labor intensive and in the final analysis only partially answers the certification question and does not contribute to aviation safety.

There are medications for which examiners should not issue the applicant without clearance from the FAA and medications which can seriously degrade pilot performance, for which the examiner should advise airmen to not fly and provide additional safety information to the applicant. For details, see Do Not Issue – Do Not Fly.

The list of medications referenced below provides aeromedical guidance about specific medications or classes of pharmaceutical preparations and is applied by using sound aeromedical clinical judgment. This list is not meant to be totally inclusive or comprehensive. No independent interpretation of the FAA's position with respect to a medication included or excluded from the following should be assumed.