What substances are banned by FAA?

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.



The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) enforces strict rules on "hazardous materials" and substances that can be brought onto an aircraft. Flammable liquids and solids—such as gasoline, lighter fluid, strike-anywhere matches, and spray paint—are strictly banned from both carry-on and checked bags. Oxidizers and corrosives, including bleach, acid, and certain fertilizers, are also prohibited. For passengers, consuming your own alcohol on board is banned; you may only drink alcohol served by a flight attendant. Narcotic substances that are federally illegal, including cannabis (even if legal in the departing state), are technically banned from flight as airports and aircraft are under federal jurisdiction. For pilots, the list is even stricter: they are banned from using a wide range of medications, including certain antihistamines, sleep aids, and any mind-altering substances, as these can impair performance. In 2026, the FAA also maintains strict limits on lithium batteries; they must be in carry-on bags and never in checked luggage to prevent untended fires in the cargo hold.

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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.

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If you aren't sure whether your medication falls into one of these categories, you should check with your AME:
  • 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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The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA's) drug and alcohol testing regulation (14 CFR part 120) requires that each covered employee has an equal chance of being tested each time selections are made.

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That's the same limit as for other critical jobs, such as air traffic controllers, ambulance drivers, and some ship captains. But pilots aren't required to take a breathalyzer test before boarding their assigned plane each time. Instead, pilots are tested randomly or if there is reasonable suspicion.

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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.

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Botox – Botulinum Neurotoxin may be FAA approved on a case by case basis only for severe muscle cramps, cosmetic wrinkle treatments or diagnostic purposes. Cancer – Most cancer treatment/medications, such as; Chemotherapy, must be completed prior to resuming flight duties.

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Due to the risks to flight safety posed by ADHD, regulatory authorities worldwide consider ADHD a disqualifying condition for pilots. Unfortunately, pilots sometimes fail to disclose ADHD to their Aviation Medical Examiner (AME).

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Can Pilots Take Antidepressants?
  • The SSRI pathway only allows consideration for pilots who take one of four SSRIS: fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), or sertraline (Zoloft). ...
  • Other antidepressants do not have a Special Issuance pathway.


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Diazepam and similar controlled drugs are illegal in a number of countries. They may be confiscated or you may find yourself in trouble with the police. The passenger may also need to use a different strategy for the homeward bound journey and/or other legs of the journey.

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Pilots may not use alcohol “while on-duty or within 8 hours of performing flight crew member duties.” The regulations also require that crew members submit to blood alcohol tests when requested by law enforcement officials authorized to ask for those tests.

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FAA regulations say a pilot cannot have a blood or breath alcohol concentration of 0.04 or more, which is half the legal limit for driving in the United States.

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Employer Response to a Failed Drug Test 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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DOT - As a flight attendant, a safety-sensitive designated position, you are subject to drug testing developed by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration.

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According to CFR Part 40.85, the standard urine samples are tested for marijuana metabolites, cocaine metabolites, amphetamines, opioids, and phencyclidine (PCP).

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Decongestants. Decongestants, such as Sudafed, are often used with allergies to constrict blood vessels in the nose and relieve the running nose. Pseudoephedrine, found in Sudafed, is approved for use while flying. This medication acts throughout the entire body by constricting blood vessels.

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Beta Blockers Because the maximum heart rate is limited, pilots on this medication may have difficulty achieving their maximal predicted heart rate on treadmill stress tests. These medications are usually well tolerated but a small number of people will experience fatigue and decreased sexual function.

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