Some herbs or supplements may cause positive results on DOT / FAA drug testing. Another problem, that some supplements create for pilots, is their effect on blood pressure, heart rate or other readings obtained during an FAA medical examination.
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Medical Problems
Unfortunately, some medical or health issues may cause you to fail the extensive medical examinations required to become a pilot. This includes certain heart diseases, conditions such as epilepsy, poor hearing, bad vision, and even common allergies, as certain allergy medications can make you drowsy.
Regardless of state laws, THC is still a Schedule 1 illicit substance in the eyes of the federal government and with that, the FAA has a zero-tolerance policy.
Yes, you can take pre-workout supplements on a plane in the United States. Pre-workout supplements are classified as “Protein or Energy Powders” by the USA Transportation Security Administration (TSA). If you are traveling with less than 12 oz. / 350 mL, you can leave them in your carry-on bag during airport screening.
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.
Psychiatric Conditions. The use of a psychotropic drug is disqualifying for aeromedical certification purposes. This includes all sedatives, tranquilizers, antipsychotic drugs, antidepressant drugs (including SSRI's - see exceptions), analeptics, anxiolytics, and hallucinogens.
There's finally a catch, though. A doctor from an Air Force base is now warning pilots--all of them, including commercial pilots--not to take Viagra within six hours of flying. He says the drug can cause a kind of color blindness, making it difficult to tell blue from green.
For pilots, avoidance is recommended when it comes to any CBD products. It's helpful to become aware of other common CBD terminology like “full or broad spectrum” and read product labels carefully, including the ingredients.
An airline pilot can be an extremely stressful job due to the workload, responsibilities and safety of the thousands of passengers they transport around the world. Chronic levels of stress can negatively impact one's health, job performance and cognitive functioning.
How many pilots suffer from mental illness? This study found 233 (12.6%) airline pilots meeting depression threshold and 75 (4.1%) pilots reporting having suicidal thoughts.