Can pilots take painkillers?

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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?? 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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Is Paracetamol ok to take whilst flying? If Paracetamol is being taken for resolving muscular back ache which has no restriction on safe flying capabilities, Paracetamol has been used before without any significant side effects, then its generally going to be ok to use.

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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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As with most safety-related jobs, professional pilots get drug tested for employment. Airline and charter pilots are also subject to the same Department of Transportation random drug testing programs that other industries have.

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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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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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Forms of caffeine convenient for in-flight use include caffeine gum and caffeine pills, but the latter requires prescription and dispensation by the flight surgeon. All services prohibit the use of most dietary supplements by flight crew, including performance enhancers and energy drinks.

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Medically required liquids will be subject to additional screening that could include being asked to open the container. You can bring your medication in pill or solid form in unlimited amounts as long as it is screened. You can travel with your medication in both carry-on and checked baggage.

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According to The May 2021 Occupational Outlook Handbook, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the salary for commercial pilots is $99,640 per year. The median annual wage for airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers is $202,180.

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The employer is required to immediately remove the pilot from safety sensitive duties, provide a list of Substance Abuse Professionals (SAP), and report the failed test to the FAA within 2 working days. Unfortunately, the employer can also terminate the pilot's job at this time.

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