Can pilots take pain killers?

?? Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen (Lortab®, Vicoden®, Norco®): these pain medications can cause sedation and/or dizziness and are unacceptable for flight. Besides, if you need a narcotic pain medication, you shouldn't be flying.



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It is a violation under the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR; 14 CFR 61.53) to operate aircraft while using impairing medications. Should a pilot take one of these medications for any reason, the underlying medical condition will always need assessment to obtain medical certification.

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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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Controlled medications are those that carry a risk of abuse and/or dependency (like opioid pain medications). As such, they're regulated more strictly. You can take controlled prescription medications on the plane.

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Acute conditions should be considered grounding, but pilots may legally fly on non-sedating over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin, acetaminophen, naproxyn or ibuprofen.

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For pilots and flight attendants, a pre-employment drug screening is conducted after an individual is given a conditional job offer. The drug test is meant to identify the use of marijuana, cocaine, opiates, PCP, amphetamines, and opiates.

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Pilots and air traffic controllers should not use Viagra within 8 hours of performing their (aviation) duties. Levitra, approved by the FDA in August 2003, has a similar profile to Viagra. The FAA initially allowed the use of Levitra in pilots/controllers.

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Does the FAA have a list of prescription and over-the-counter drugs that pilots can and cannot take while flying?
  • Tranquilizers, such as but not limited to Valium, Librium, Ativan.
  • Most antidepressants. ...
  • Opiates, such as Morphine, Codeine, Lortab, Percodan, Oxycontin.
  • Muscle relaxants, such as Soma, Sonata, Flexeril.


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