adhd treatment

[betster]

I know ADHD treatment is a big no no in the USA but I can't find any legit Canadian info. A friend of mine wants to start treatment for ADHD but is worried about losing her medical. She has been flying for years but has been untreated and this is affecting her life. If the stimulants are out, what about Strattera? I can't understand why pilots would be allowed to fly on prozac but not Ritalin. It has a much higher proven safety record.

[RatherBeFlying]

The Aussies are on the leading edge on allowing pilots to fly on antidepressants. Transport Canada typically is about a decade behind.

So I'd check out what medications CASA allows.

The aviation medical authorities are aware that many pilots simply avoid treatment if they know that their medical will be toasted.

One approach is to stop flying, get treated and once you can get along without the drug, renew your medical some years later.

Another approach is to develop strategies that will enable the pilot to cope with the condition without drugs.

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/adhd_ad ... tegies.htm

[Beefitarian]

Has she tried Tai Chi or any other martial arts? The exercise combined with learning something helps immensely... I've heard.

Tai chi is particularly good because it's not initially or necessarily a fighting art. You can do it if you're old and it helps you stay physically active once that happens.

[Tom H]

I know ADHD treatment is a big no no in the USA but I can't find any legit Canadian info. A friend of mine wants to start treatment for ADHD but is worried about losing her medical. She has been flying for years but has been untreated and this is affecting her life. If the stimulants are out, what about Strattera? I can't understand why pilots would be allowed to fly on prozac but not Ritalin. It has a much higher proven safety record.

For what it is worth...

I have a young son with a number of issues including ADHD related issues...and my wife and I don't like pharmaceutical solutions if they can be avoided.

After many years of working through things we finally caved to low level pharmaceutical drug therapy, at the lowest possible levels to get an affect.

About 18 months ago my wife after a lot of research thought we should try natural therapy to see if it could at least back off the drugs somewhat.

I highly recommend your friend see a naturopath and check into it as we have had exceptional success with our son.

The diet changes and dropping some things (gluten as an example) from his diet has made a far greater difference that the drug therapy and its all natural.

Yeah I know what some of you are thinking....but no I am not a hippy, dippy type, rather meat potatoes and white bread (still am). But it has been remarkable for our son, reduced the drugs and great improvements.

I recommend you at least check into it as an alternative...won't hurt.

In my highly biased personal opinion

Tom H

[burhead1]

It is also considered a disability and you can get funding and tax breaks from the government.

[Beefitarian]

My wife can usually tell if our son has had red food dye. I scoff at things like, "The human body is not designed to digest cow's milk." But I believe there are some nasty things added to food that we probably should avoid. The US is even better at it.

[GyvAir]

So what you're saying is, his red Smarties are up for grabs?

[Beefitarian]

There seems to be different red dye in those. The good stuff seems to be in pop like fruitopia at Burger King. That will get him going.

[GyvAir]

I'm pretty sure all the stuff in fast food fountain drinks is "the good stuff". Nothing puts me off my game for the rest of the day like a coke from the dispenser at Costco. Actually, maybe in that particular case it's that it's so watered down that my body doesn't get the caffeine dose that it rightfully expects and deserves.
Why was I trying to nourish myself at a Costco restaurant? I really don't have an acceptable answer to that question.
This isn't thread drift, btw. I firmly believe that what you eat directly affects your cognitive abilities both in the short and longer terms.

[Beefitarian]

I quit coke for a long time. This year I started having it again because it seems to be lower in sugar than my traditional choices. Root beer for example. I don't know if it's the coke in coke or what but I seem addicted to it, so I decided to quit it again. Weird because Pepsi would not sooth me like coke when I had the cravings.

[Lost Lake]

I quit coke for a long time. This year I started having it again because it seems to be lower in sugar than my traditional choices. Root beer for example. I don't know if it's the coke in coke or what but I seem addicted to it, so I decided to quit it again. Weird because Pepsi would not sooth me like coke when I had the cravings.

Rob Ford knows how you feel. I prefer crack myself. The only bad side effect is very time I smoke it, I get a strong desire to quit flying and run for mayor.

[Beefitarian]

I have avoided all recreational drugs except alc. I have a addictive personality and was concerned about being able to stop.

[DanWEC]

I have battled the entire complement of "disorders". ADHD, bipolar and depression are all intrinsically linked. I put the term in quotes because I don't think mild levels can be labelled as such. In a lot of ways, it simply because part of who you are as a person, and you have to control and embrace it. Believe it or not there are a lot of positives that can come from the gong show of energy and abstract thinking.
I have a really hard time accepting that the vast majority of people have what can really be called a disorder, and they are too quick to go straight to the meds (or more so, their physicians are). I firmly believe a disorder is only such, and justifies drugs if it's sincerely debilitating and really affecting your life in such a negative manner that you positively can't do anything about it.
Now, that being said, the ones that suffer (often in confusion and silence) from extreme levels have just as much a disability if not more, as losing their legs. It's a terrible battle to be fighting your own mind, and in this case it's really a awful thing. While I'm nowhere near that affected, I laboured for years trying to figure out why I was having the learning issues and emotions that I did, and it wasn't until I was in my 20s that I realized my lack of focus wasn't something everyone had, phases, etc. That's when I got medicated for a very short term and it was the worst period of my life. The meds created more problems than they solved by far, as most drugs that affect the brain do. I plead to anyone who has these issues to simply look to counselling, positive living, etc. I am lucky enough to have essentially outgrown the issues and I couldn't be happier, but I can attribute quite a bit to recognizing there was a problem, and working to control myself.
Best of luck to your friend, try to steer her away from the chemicals. If you want to chat further feel free to PM me, I'll be happy to pass on everything I've learned over the years.
Cheers,
Dan

[Sidebar]

For decades I experienced low frustration thresholds and simmering anger, sometimes hostility, with periodic violent outbursts where I ended up destroying some object. I feared that I might hurt someone. I also had suicidal thoughts. All this while I was actively flying. I knew it would affect my medical certification so I never told anyone how I felt. I got my CAME to refer me to counselling for "stress." Finally I had thoughts of killing other people and the suicidal urges became so strong that I told my CAME all this and said "I need help."

He prescribed Celexa (an SSRI) 20 mg once per day, and told me he needed to report to TC and I was not to fly. I began taking the medication the same day. My moods stabilized quickly with no adverse side effects, fortunately.

TC wanted a psychiatric evaluation, so I went and was diagnosed with "bipolar disorder not otherwise specified." Then they wanted additional psychiatric assessment and required me to either be medication free or on a different drug than Celexa. I can't remember which drugs were acceptable. Then, if I was recertified, I would need a psychiatric assessment every six months.

The Celexa worked very well for me, and I decided I did not want to stop taking it or experiment to find another drug that worked. So, my flying days are over.

Three years later, life is better for me. My wife tells me I'm like a different man. I have patience, seldom become frustrated, and I can interact normally with people I used to want to strangle. It's been months since I had a suicidal thought, and its intensity was much subdued compared to when I did not take medication.

Medication worked well for me.

If you are suffering, help is there. Please reach out.

[DanWEC]

If you are suffering, help is there. Please reach out.

A big plus one. Absolutely, it's nothing to be ashamed of. I hope your candor strikes home with someone and helps them as well. I'm glad to hear that meds worked for you. I suppose the newer stuff is more effective. I was going through the process in the days of the 1st gen antidepressants (ssri's) like Zoloft, I might as well have had a lobotomy. The Man Parts didn't work very well for about a year either.. that was the worst part.

[A346Dude]

Sidebar, thanks for sharing your experience.

[human garbage]

About 10 years ago I spoke to the Chief Medical Examiner from TC's Pacific Region about Ritalin and medicals. I had a potential student on the stuff. He told me that Ritalin was a disqualifying medication as it is basically an amphetamine (speed). No bueno for even a CAT3 medical. Student was out of luck needless to say.

Obviously my information is very old, so call TC and get it right from the source. The gentleman I spoke to was more than happy to spend 20 minutes on the phone with me to discuss the matter. One of the nicest TC employees I've dealt with for sure. Amazing for a guy so far up their food chain...