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Can I be cabin crew if I take antidepressants?

Pharmaceutical Considerations: The use of a psychotropic drug is disqualifying for aeromedical certification purposes – this includes all antidepressant drugs, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).



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Flight attendants are not medically certified as are pilots. The decision about whether a flight attendant can fly using a prescription medication is a decision made by the flight attendant's personal physician.

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Aviation Authority Background Check: (FAA / CAA etc)
Certain previous convictions such as crimes involving an aircraft or any violent crime, felony or time spent in jail would prevent you from being able to work as a Flight Attendant. What is this?

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Aspiring cabin crew is also subjected to drug tests and sometimes alcohol tests to discover any substance abuse issues. Speech defects are not accepted. Any candidate with anemia, epilepsy, diabetes or such will not be considered fit to fly.

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Pharmacological treatment Medication is sometimes prescribed on a temporary basis to treat the symptoms of a flying phobia, such as anxiety and nausea. These drugs are usually taken shortly before a flight. They include: Anti-anxiety medication, such as diazepam (Valium) or alprazolam (Xanax).

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Cabin crews are particularly affected by anxiety and post-traumatic stress following air accidents (Dyregrov et al., 1992; Marks et al., 1995). Although the vast majority of flights run without incident, up to 37% of cabin personnel feel anxiety before take-off.

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Any prior history of mental illness and antidepressant use is not accepted for cabin crew.

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Wellbutrin (Bupropion) Extended Release (ER) and Sustained Release (SR) are acceptable on a case by case basis while Immediate Release (IR) is not. Typically these are approved by the FAA for mild to moderate depression on a case by case basis only.

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Opiates, such as Morphine, Codeine, Lortab, Percodan, Oxycontin. Muscle relaxants, such as Soma, Sonata, Flexeril. Anicholinergics, such as Levsin, Bnetyl, Transderm Scop. Sedating antihistamines, such as Benadryl, Chlorpheniramine, Zyrtec.

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Applicants must have a healthy blood count that shows sign of no anemia, infections, HIV or Hepatitis C, according to Flight Attendant Central. A vaccination record is also required along with a chest X-ray.

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Cabin crew interviews are demanding and there are lots of interview stages to pass. Speaking with the recruiter is the one chance a candidate has to really impress.

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