Alcohol history for Aviation Medical

[Bryskee11]

Hi everyone. I’m hoping to begin my journey towards earning my CPL. First step is the aviation medical which I have booked for next week.
I am very healthy with no disabling medical problems or concerns. I do take medication for anxiety called Anafranil, but I would imagine that would be acceptable as it is not a mood-altering drug nor is my anxiety considered serious or debilitating.
My one worry with this exam however, is that I am a recovering alcoholic. I went to treatment (rehab) in 2018 and have been completely sober ever since. I am currently roughly 3 and a half years sober with a very healthy way of life and very little chance of relapse in the future.
I do not want to start off my aviation career by lying to the doctor next week. I will be 100% up front and honest regardless of the outcome. My question is, will this history of mine stop me from passing my medical? Truth is, if I know I will be rejected for life do to my alcohol history, I would rather know now and accept that I cannot ever become a pilot, rather than get my hopes up.
Any information or experiences would be greatly appreciated. Stay safe.

[frog]

Typically, the doctor asks you how many drinks a day or week you're having.
They don't ask you if you were an alcoholic in the past as far as I know.

[dialdriver]

Hi everyone. I’m hoping to begin my journey towards earning my CPL. First step is the aviation medical which I have booked for next week.
I am very healthy with no disabling medical problems or concerns. I do take medication for anxiety called Anafranil, but I would imagine that would be acceptable as it is not a mood-altering drug nor is my anxiety considered serious or debilitating.
My one worry with this exam however, is that I am a recovering alcoholic. I went to treatment (rehab) in 2018 and have been completely sober ever since. I am currently roughly 3 and a half years sober with a very healthy way of life and very little chance of relapse in the future.
I do not want to start off my aviation career by lying to the doctor next week. I will be 100% up front and honest regardless of the outcome. My question is, will this history of mine stop me from passing my medical? Truth is, if I know I will be rejected for life do to my alcohol history, I would rather know now and accept that I cannot ever become a pilot, rather than get my hopes up.
Any information or experiences would be greatly appreciated. Stay safe.

Best to be completely honest. Lots of recovered alcoholics flying. Your anxiety will likely be looked at more closely. Expect a request for a psychiatric assessment.

Dr Brendan Adam's in Calgary is an expert on these issues.

[Liftdump]

I have to agree with FROG,just answer the question.

[Bryskee11]

Thanks friends. I have my medical on Thursday. My assumption would be that it will be rejected due to the anti anxiety meds I take. My hope is that I will pass everything else and they will allow me to pass as long as I no longer take that medication, which I would manage without no problem.

[tsgarp]

Answer the questions honestly, but don’t volunteer anything they don’t ask about. Don’t be too worried; TC medical is a lot more open minded than the used to be. Things that would have knocked you out of the running 20 years ago, like depression or diabetes, aren’t such a big deal anymore.

[Bryskee11]

That’s extremely reassuring thank you. I was always planning to be honest, there’s no use in not being truthful. It’s good to know that they will at least be understanding and hopefully we can come up with a solution that will grant me my medical approval.

[altiplano]

As was mentioned, don't volunteer more information than it takes to answer a question or to raise unneeded concern.

"How many drinks per week?"

"I don't drink."

Done.

"Do you have a history of alcohol or drug use?"

"I used to drink, but I don't anymore."

Done.

Don't get going with any more than it takes to answer the question.

Don't know about the anxiety meds... you will have to tell them about that... maybe check the TC or FAA sites and will give you an idea if it's not compatible with a medical.

[Bede]

Thanks friends. I have my medical on Thursday. My assumption would be that it will be rejected due to the anti anxiety meds I take. My hope is that I will pass everything else and they will allow me to pass as long as I no longer take that medication, which I would manage without no problem.

That’s not how it works. You won’t “fail” the medical. You will get a letter asking for more information. Once they receive all the information they will make a decision. Do you have evidence that you completed your addictions program? Bring it to your medical so the CAME can include in the file so they have the information already.

For the anxiety, there is a good chance that they will just give you a shorter medical interval ie 3 months.

You will have to disclose all of this as the questions are open ended. “Do you have any history of mental illness?” That includes addictions, anxiety, etc. (BTW in case anyone is wondering, psychosis is an absolute disqualified.)

I knew somebody with a pretty bad pulmonary condition. I walked him through the process and told him the information that he needs from his doctor and he got a class 1 medical. They are quite helpful, albeit slow.

[co-joe]

... I do take medication for anxiety called Anafranil, ...

I'd be cautious about this one. Make damn sure it's on the list of approved medication before bringing it up at a Cat 1 initial.

https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/public ... s-tp-13312 is a starting place, it talks about SSRIs, but not tricylic antidepressants. Ever since the German Wings kid, anxiety is a touchy subject.

[Bede]

^ that's terrible advice. You have to disclose everything, especially if it affects your medical status. Failing to do so is an AA contravention. Forget TC enforcement- that goes straight to the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. Big fine and/or jail time.

[Inverted2]

My aviation doctor said in TC’s eyes anything over 3 drinks a week is a heavy drinker and that could put you on their shit list including a possible testing schedule etc.

[dialdriver]

^ that's terrible advice. You have to disclose everything, especially if it affects your medical status. Failing to do so is an AA contravention. Forget TC enforcement- that goes straight to the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. Big fine and/or jail time.

Full disclosure will give you the best long term outcome and a clear conscience.

[co-joe]

^ that's terrible advice. You have to disclose everything, especially if it affects your medical status. Failing to do so is an AA contravention. Forget TC enforcement- that goes straight to the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. Big fine and/or jail time.

Full disclosure will give you the best long term outcome and a clear conscience.

I'm not saying he should lie about anxiety or depression, but he should make sure the drugs he's taking aren't going to preclude him from a career in aviation prior to walking in the door.

[dialdriver]

^ that's terrible advice. You have to disclose everything, especially if it affects your medical status. Failing to do so is an AA contravention. Forget TC enforcement- that goes straight to the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. Big fine and/or jail time.

Full disclosure will give you the best long term outcome and a clear conscience.

I'm not saying he should lie about anxiety or depression, but he should make sure the drugs he's taking aren't going to preclude him from a career in aviation prior to walking in the door.

The only way to find out is by doing a medical so that Transport Canada can assess it. The medical form requires full disclosure of medical treatment and drugs taken.

[hithere]

Talk to Dr Brendan Adams. He is located in Calgary but does telephone consults which can be confidential and/or anonymous if you wish. He is an expert in difficult cases like this.
https://www.aviationdoc.com

[dialdriver]

Talk to Dr Brendan Adams. He is located in Calgary but does telephone consults which can be confidential and/or anonymous if you wish. He is an expert in difficult cases like this.
https://www.aviationdoc.com

Best advice in this thread.

[Lycosaurus]

This site provides FAA medical drugs advice, allowing you to search for specific drugs or medical purpose of the drug:
https://www.aviationmedicine.com/medica ... h_purpose=

Scroll down to Search Results and you will see that Anafranil is NOT ALLOWED by the FAA, and by extension, likely not allowed by TC.

I have tried to paste the result here for Anafranil (please excuse the formatting):

Drug Trade Name ............. Common Generics .......... Category ........... Purpose ........... FAA Allowed .......... Additional Notes
Anafranil ........................ clomipramine ............... Psychiatric ....... Antidepressant ......... N ................. NOT ALLOWED

Unfortunately I did not find a similar site for Canada, therefore this is the best guidance for you other than speaking to TC or your AME. I use it for guiding my family doctor when he is to prescribe a medication, or when I purchase OTC drugs. As an example, if you have allergies, Claritin is approved while Allegra is not. Also try to search Drug Purpose, as it can give you alternate drug recommendations. If in doubt though, contact your AME.

[Bug_Stomper_01]

https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/medica ... -questions

So from what I’m reading here mood altering drugs are allowed But aren’t allowed. Idk, the way I read this you may be declined.

[dialdriver]

https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/medica ... -questions

So from what I’m reading here mood altering drugs are allowed But aren’t allowed. Idk, the way I read this you may be declined.

The only way to find out if and how to get a medical is by doing the exam so Transport Canada can assess you.

Anxiety isn't necessarily disqualifying, but they will tell you what it will take to get certified. I do know of a pilot who is on medications for anxiety and has a medical.

Here is a quote from that link:

"There are a number of SSRI’s and related medications presently on the market. These go under such trade names as Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Luvox, Serzone, and Effexor to name a few. Similar classes of mood alternating medications, which are equally important, are listed in the table below. In some ways these medications have revolutionized the treatment of mental health problems. The indications for use of these medications are expanding almost daily and more and more aviation personnel are candidates for or should be candidates for their use. These medications may be acceptable for aviation activities in selected circumstances.

At the present time, all new applicants, current aviators and air traffic controllers using mood-altering medications, will initially be refused certification or have their medical certification suspended until the circumstances of the case are reviewed.

Transport Canada’s medical advisors must determine if the medical situation requiring treatment represents a threat to flight safety. We are concerned with both the underlying medical condition for which the medication has been prescribed and the side effects arising from the medication. Every case is considered individually and assessed according to diagnosis, severity of symptoms pretreatment, medication dosage and type, response to treatment, side effects of medications and prognosis for recovery or need for prolonged therapy".

[Bug_Stomper_01]

https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/medica ... -questions

So from what I’m reading here mood altering drugs are allowed But aren’t allowed. Idk, the way I read this you may be declined.

The only way to find out if and how to get a medical is by doing the exam so Transport Canada can assess you.

Anxiety isn't necessarily disqualifying, but they will tell you what it will take to get certified. I do know of a pilot who is on medications for anxiety and has a medical.

Here is a quote from that link:

"There are a number of SSRI’s and related medications presently on the market. These go under such trade names as Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Luvox, Serzone, and Effexor to name a few. Similar classes of mood alternating medications, which are equally important, are listed in the table below. In some ways these medications have revolutionized the treatment of mental health problems. The indications for use of these medications are expanding almost daily and more and more aviation personnel are candidates for or should be candidates for their use. These medications may be acceptable for aviation activities in selected circumstances.

At the present time, all new applicants, current aviators and air traffic controllers using mood-altering medications, will initially be refused certification or have their medical certification suspended until the circumstances of the case are reviewed.

Transport Canada’s medical advisors must determine if the medical situation requiring treatment represents a threat to flight safety. We are concerned with both the underlying medical condition for which the medication has been prescribed and the side effects arising from the medication. Every case is considered individually and assessed according to diagnosis, severity of symptoms pretreatment, medication dosage and type, response to treatment, side effects of medications and prognosis for recovery or need for prolonged therapy".

Yes thanks for the copy and paste. I did read the entire document. He will be initially refused and then they’ll have to initiate further steps to assess qualification for a medical the way I read it. It will be a crapshoot looks like especially on an initial. Worth a try I guess let the chips fall where they may

[co-joe]

I guess we don't ever get to hear what the answer was?

[Bug_Stomper_01]

I guess we don't ever get to hear what the answer was?

Likely denied until further assessment/‘s are evaluated by TC. Who knows, the industry does have its share and then some of recovering and current addicts. The big joke when the FAA brought in random drug and alcohol testing years back was if that came to Canada they industry would shut down lol

[Castorero]

Anafranil is a bit of an old horse of a drug for the treatment of anxiety and being a tricyclic antidepressant will never fly past a RAMO assessment.
My approach would be to defer the medical and see a Psychiatrist for a review of the medical history and reassessment of the current treatment.
Switching from anafranil to something else takes time and should be supervised. There is usually more to these medical issues than meets the eye or that can be resolved on a forum.

I am always amazed to see how some pilots are willing to play the legal skirting game , as if they were being questioned in a police interview when in a doctors office.
The law is pretty clear on this issue, and it obliges us all to disclose past and present medical issues to the examiner.
I dont want to be a hard ass about it, butt there are some people that should not be driving people around in the air.

A medical assessment is part of a collective effort to ensure a level of safety in the air.

[pilotidentity]

Bryskee 11,

Good for you for being alcohol free.